French Wine Flashcards
- What is Bordeaux’s Roman name?
Burdigala
- What is the name of the Cabernet Franc’s genetic ancestor? Who implemented it and from where?
Biuturica is the ancestor of Cabernet Franc who was brought from Spain by the celts.
- Which twelve century event would increase Bordeaux wines’ popularity in England?
The rise of the vineyard on the left bank, notably Bordeaux, was born in1152 by the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the future King of England, Henry II of Plantagenet. In his dowry, Aliénor offers the vineyard of Bordeaux to the English. Since then, many commercial exchanges are emerging: The English export food, textiles and various metals while importing the famous Bordeaux wine called “Claret”.
- When was the village of Saint-Emilion classified a Unesco site?
- 1999
- Which is Bordeaux’s most planted red and white grape varietal ?
Merlot and Semillon
- What is a « Cru Bourgeois »?
Historically, in the 15th century many bourgeois (inhabitants of the “burbs” of Bordeaux) were powerful merchants who enjoyed many privileges including the exemption from all taxes of their wine production. These winemakers were gradually getting rich, expanding their estates and building beautiful mansions or chateaux. Transmitted from generation to generation, these prestigious wines become Crus Bourgeois, with a very solid reputation. This notion of “Cru Bourgeois” is based on a reputation of high quality and tradition according to local, loyal and consistent practices. The Crus Bourgeois alliance has set up specifications to formalize this ranking released in 2008 with the recognition “Crus Bourgeois” for 250 Châteaux at affordable prices.
- One of Bordeaux’s main soil type is “Graves”. What is it ?
Graves is mainly gravel and sand mixed together.
- What is the name of the river that crosses the Sauternes area?
Le Ciron
- Please give the name of two satellite appellations of St-Emilion?
Lussac-Saint-Émilion, Montagne Saint-Émilion, Saint-Georges-Saint-Émilion, Puisseguin Saint-Émilion
- Explain the impact of Botrytis Cinerea on grapes.
Gray mold of grape, also known as Botrytis bunch rot, is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. It’s one of the most important diseases of grapes in the world, which can cause serious losses in grape yields. The fungus can occur anytime during the growing season, but most commonly occurs near the harvest time. At that time, birds and hail damage can encourage infection. Usually, Botrytis cinerea infects ripe berries. First infected berries become soft and watery, which under high relative humidity and moisture become covered with the grey sporulating growth of the fungus. When berries of white cultivars become infected, they turn brown, while berries of the purple cultivars turn red. Infected berries then shrive and become “mummies” which drop off. Symptoms of gray mold can appear also on the leaves, as dull green spots which turn brown and necrotic. Infection on pedicel and rachis appear as brown spots that turn black and cause shrivel, and drop off the cluster.
- What are the other names given to Malbec?
Côt / Auxerrois
- What are the grapes of the AOP Montbazillac?
Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle
- Explain the « method gaillacoise » process.
The wines come from only mauzac and rosé mauzac grapes; The wines must come from grapes harvested at good maturity, that is to say any unit batch of vintage presenting a richness in sugar which cannot be lower: - 153 grams of sugar per liter of must for sparkling wines; - 178 grams of sugar per liter of must for sweet sparkling wines. Only are entitled to the mention gaillacoise method, the wines produced by spontaneous fermentation of the wine in the bottles, fermentation controlled in temperature then light filtration before the end of the fermentation. The latter continues in bottles, thus fermenting just the natural sugars of the grapes without adding draft liquor (sugars + yeasts), which makes all the originality of this method. Aging: early bottling (November), followed by slow fermentation in bottles to give pressure. When the wine reaches its proper balance, the bottles are put on point for disgorging in order to evacuate the yeast deposit.
- Give 4 grapes recognized under AOP Gaillac.
L’En de l’El, Mauzac, Muscadelle, Ondenc, Sauvignon, Duras, Fer Servadou, Gamay, Syrah
- Give three culinary specialties / delicacies of the south-west area and a wine that would ideally pair with each of them Foie Gras Cassoulet Magret du Canard
Foie gras / Monbazillac Cassoulet / Cahors, Madiran, Bergerac Magret de Canard / Fronton, marcillac, Marmande, Gaillac Rouge
True or False AOP Jurançon produces only sweet wines? L’AOP Jurançon ne produit que des vins doux. AOP Cahors produces only white wines? L’AOP Cahors ne produit que des vins blancs. The Negrette grape is white. Le cépage Negrette est blanc. AOP Gaillac only uses the “methode Gaillacoise” for its sparkling wines. L’AOP gaillac ne reconnait que la “méthode Gaillacoise” pour ses vins pétillants ?
AOP Jurançon produces only sweet wines? L’AOP Jurançon ne produit que des vins doux. Right AOP Cahors produces only white wines? L’AOP Cahors ne produit que des vins blancs. Wrong The Negrette grape is white. Le cépage Negrette est blanc. Wrong AOP Gaillac only uses the “methode Gaillacoise” for its sparkling wines. L’AOP gaillac ne reconnait que la “méthode Gaillacoise” pour ses vins pétillants ? Wrong








- ? What is the origin and the meaning of the word “Champagne?
Campania in Latin. According to the Romans, the region of Champagne looked similar to that of Campania in Italy.
- ? What is the name of Epernay’s main avenue?
Avenue de Champagne
What are the names of the subregions of Champagne?
Montagne de Reims
Vallée de la Marne
Côte des Blancs
Côte du Sezannais
Aube
- Give the name of two person crowned in Reims.
Louis XIV – Francis I – Louis XVI – Napoléon Bonaparte…












