French terms

Question 1

AOC

Answer 1

• Appellation dórigine controlee
• Controls varieties, planting density, allowed vine training, max yields, min alc, ageing length, when can wines be sold)
• Based the idea of terroir
• From 2009, variety labelling also allowed

Question 2

Croupes

Answer 2

Gravel hills of Left Bank Bordeaux

Question 3

Graves Superieures AOC

Answer 3

• Late harvested and/or botrytised ONLY
• 40 hL/ha

Question 4

Cotes de Bordeaux

Answer 4

• Created in 2009 for reds and whites
• For Right Bank regions
• Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs
• ie. “Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux”
• Max yield less than that of Bordeaux Superieure AOC

Question 5

Minor sweet wine appellations of Bordeaux (4)

Answer 5

• All around 40hL/ha yield cap
  1. Graves Superieures AOC
  2. Saint-Croix-du-Mont AOC
  3. Loupiac AOC
  4. Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux AOC

Question 6

Crus Bourgeois du Medoc classification (3)

Answer 6

• Initially rewarded to estates just one level below Cru Classé
• In 2010 revised to awarding to wines instead, lasts for five years once rewarded
  1. Cru Bourgeos
  2. Cru Bourgeois Superieur
  3. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel

Question 7

41B

Answer 7

High pH tolerant rootstock - good for limestone soil. Common in Chablis

Question 8

420A

Answer 8

Low vigour + high pH tolerant rootstock, often seen in Chablis

Question 9

Chablis vine training system

Answer 9

Double Guyot replacement cane VSP

Question 10

Bouzeron

Answer 10

Aligote only

Question 11

Cordon de Royat

Answer 11

• Common training system in Burgundy
• Limits vigour and thus yield
• Lots of wood and can harbour disease
• Now moving towards Poussard Royat

Question 12

Poussard-Guyot

Answer 12

• Gentler smaller cut pruning method to combat trunk diseases
• gaining popularity in Burgundy
• Keeps sap channels the same year to year

Question 13

Acidification in Burgundy

Answer 13

Allowed to acidify or deacidify up to +1.5-2%

Question 14

Piece

Answer 14

228L Burgundy barrels

Question 15

Remontage

Answer 15

Pumping over

Question 16

Pigeage

Answer 16

Punching down

Question 17

Burgundy classification

Answer 17

1. Regional/generic appellation - eg. Hautes Cotes de Beaune AOC - 52% total production
2. Village appellation - eg. Chambolle-Musigny - 47% total production
3. Premier Cru - eg. Les Amoureuses - not legally recognised, included in village level
4. Grand Cru - eg. Le Musigny - 1% total production

Question 18

George Duboeuf

Answer 18

• Father of Beaujolais Nouveau
• Negociant and producer

Question 19

Vendange tardive

Answer 19

Late harvest in France

Question 20

Selection de grains nobles

Answer 20

Botrytised berries of noble Alsatian varieties

Question 21

Flute

Answer 21

Bottle shape for Alsace wines

Question 22

Tuffeau

Answer 22

White marine compact soil Loire is famous for

Question 23

Fercal

Answer 23

• Rootstock for high lime content
• Wildly used in the Loire

Question 24

Riparia Gloire de Montpellier

Answer 24

• Rootstock for high lime content
• Widely used in the Loire

Question 25

Échalas

Answer 25

- Vine training method tied to one or two poles - Common in northern Rhone crus exposed to the Mistral - Either single or double guyot

Question 26

Vin de Paille

Answer 26

Vine hang dried sweet wines

Question 27

Demi muids

Answer 27

300-600L barrels, common in the Rhone

Question 28

Dentelles de Montmirail

Answer 28

Mountains northeast of southern Rhone

Question 29

Tramontane

Answer 29

Cool, dry wine coming blowing from the north-west for 200 days a year in the Languedoc

Question 30

Quality-focused Languedoc PDOs

Answer 30

- Minervois La Livinieres AOC - Faugeres AOC - Terrasses du Larzac AOC, eg. La Peira

Question 31

Rolle

Answer 31

Vermentino in Languedoc

Question 32

Two archetypes of rosé production in Provence

Answer 32

1. Hand harvest & pressing whole bunches 2. Machine harvest & short maceration/hold in press

Question 33

Tibouren

Answer 33

Floral berry-like black variety native to Provence

Question 34

Counoise

Answer 34

- Thick skin variety with high rotundone native to south France - Principal variety in Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC and Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC - both red AOCs - Also an allowed variety in Chateau-du-Pape

Question 35

Voluntary code of Cahors

Answer 35

Quality and price indication: 1. Tradition - inexpensive, 70-85% Malbec with the rest Tannat 2. Prestige - mid priced 3. Speciale - premium, 100% Malbec on the highest plateau

Question 36

Föhn

Answer 36

Drying winds from the Pyrenees, affecting Juracon and Madiran in spring and autumn helping with the high rainfall

Question 37

Tannat

Answer 37

- Mid-ripening variety native to the Madiran - Prone to botrytis - High vigour

Question 38

Passerillage

Answer 38

Sweet wine production method that uses grapes dried on vine