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French Wine Scholar > Fundamentals > Flashcards

Fundamentals Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the impact the Celts, Phocaeans, Romans and Franks had in the expansion of wine culture in France

A

Celts - Credited with the invention of the rollable stackable wooden cask as of 350 BCE

Phocaeans - Greeks from Asia minor established a colony called Massalia (modern day Marseille) in 600BCE the goal was trade not conquest

Romans- brought in by the Phocaeans when they were threatened by the neighbours. Rome sent legionaries and established what is now Provence. Rome wasn’t satisfied with just holding the border and started pressing inland and planting vineyards as they went

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2
Q

By the 1st Century CE where had Romans established Vineyards

A

South West France
Bordeaux
Bourgogne
Loire

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3
Q

By the second century CE one region in France (occupied by the Romans) was producing enough wine to export, which one?

A

Alsace

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4
Q

When was Champagne first under vine? Who planted?

A

End of the 4th Beginning of the 5th BCE

Romans

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5
Q

What led to the church taking over wine growing?

A

The slow decline of the Roman empire

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6
Q

What was Gaul

A

The parts of France controlled by Celts

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7
Q

When Rome fell Gaul was was attacked by invaders, what tribes united and under who to take control?

A

Germanic tribes united under Clovis

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8
Q

T or F Clovis was successful in his conquest of Gaul?

A

True - He became what many consider the first king of France

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9
Q

According to Legend Clovis made a deal with God to convert to Christianity if he was victorious? Where did he make this deal?

A

Reims

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10
Q

How was Wine involved in Clovis making a deal with God?

A

Bishop Remi of Reims brokered the deal and blessed a cask of wine saying as long as the cask did not run dry Clovis would be successful.

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11
Q

Clovis was baptised where?

A

Reims

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12
Q

What are the two impacts of Clovis being baptized

A

1) being baptized in Reims forever established Champagne as a wine of celebrationb and Reims was where kings were coronated from now on

2) being baptized made France one religion- christianity

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13
Q

What name is derived from Clovis? How many french kings have taken this name?

A

Louis - 18

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14
Q

Where do ‘table manners’ come from?

A

Clovis introduced France to the concept of eating while sitting instead of reclining which was the Roman way and so by sitting at a table table manners were developed.

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15
Q

Where did the tradition of farming goats for cheese in the Loire come from?

A

In the 8th century power had passed to Charles Martel who pushed the moors back across the Pyrenees Charles held the line in Poitiers in the Loire and the Arabs left their goats behind.

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16
Q

When did Charlemagne assume the crown?

A

Late 8th Century

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17
Q

Where did Charlemagne conquer?

A

Italy (Lombardy)
Germany (Bavaria)

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18
Q

Was Charlemagne religious?

A

Yes he was deeply religious

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19
Q

Was Charlemagne supported by the church?

A

Yes due to his religious fervour while conquering he solidified the strong monastic network and the pope crowned him holy Roman emperor

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20
Q

What pope crowned Charlemagne holy Roman emperor?

A

Leo III

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21
Q

Why was Charlemagnes empire split?

A

Due to his death it was split amongst his grandsons

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22
Q

How many grandsons did Charlemagne have?

A

3

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23
Q

How did the Norseman impact France? And when?

A

Their constant attacks in the 9th and 10th century led Charles III to offer them a portion of his land in northwest France in exchange for peace - they accepted and Norseman became Norman (Normandy)

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24
Q

What system of government developed from the continued fragmentation of France?

A

Feudalism

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25
Q

As the feudal dukes and counts gained power how did this impact the throne

A

As a result of the dukes and counts gaining significant power the king of the Franks was no longer the dominant power in the land.

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26
Q

Describe Van Des Vendanges

A

As feudalism set in in the middle ages in an effort to simplify collection of taxes the (droit de ban) the right to stop or prohibit was put on the growing of grapes which made every grape grower stop growing or pick their fruit.

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27
Q

Many bans were removed following the French revolution which was not and why

A

Ban De Vendanges as it helped delay very consistent quality of product in a given year

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28
Q

Who was William the conqueror

A

Duke of normandy

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29
Q

Who was William the conquerors grandson?

A

Henry Plantagenet

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30
Q

Who did Henry Plantagenet marry?

A

Eleanor Duchess of acquitaine

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31
Q

Why was Henry Plantagenets marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine significant?

A

Their combined land holdings were significant, stretching from Spain up to Normandy and across to Auvergne

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32
Q

Two years after marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine Henry changed, what happened?

A

He became King Henry II of England

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33
Q

True or false France was united before becoming a country?

A

False

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34
Q

When did France become a country?

A

1179

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35
Q

How did France become a country?

A

King Phillip Augustus was crowned King of France

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36
Q

When was the hundred years war

A

1337 - 1453

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37
Q

How did the hundred years war start

A

King of England refused to pay homage to the king of france

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38
Q

How did the hundred years war affect bordeaux

A

Having been in the hands of England for 300 years eventually the English abandoned Bordeaux and when Bordeaux realised this they surrendered and ended the war and it’s trade with england

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39
Q

Where did the word Claret come from?

A

When England controlled Bordeaux for 300 years it was common to.blend red and white grapes and not macerate the fruit so the English called the wine Claret coming from the French word for clear or brilliant.

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40
Q

How did champagne stumble upon sparkling wine?

A

One factor is during the Renaissance northern Europe entered a mini ice age and there were many decades that ferments would stop and then start in spring maybe with wines already bottled or casked. Hence bubbles

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41
Q

When did the thirty years war start?

A

1618

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42
Q

Why did the thirty years war start?

A

The rise of John Calvin in France and Martin Luther in Germany, their belief that pope was holy and that sale of I indulgences should be permitted. Many nobles converted to weaken the crown and war broke out

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43
Q

For the purpose of French wine what was the biggest impact of the thirty years war

A

Alsace was ravaged and changed hands from Germany to France

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44
Q

How did Champagne become enamoured by the court of Louis XIV

A

He was obsessed with food and all things novel and new and at this time the sparkling wines of champagne had just been invented

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45
Q

What were the two big scientific advancements of the 18th and 19th century for wine and whocmade them

A

Chaptalization (jean Antoine chaptal)

Discovery of Yeast ( Louis Pasteur (Jura))

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46
Q

Describe the Napoleonic code of inheritance

A

Meant everything you owned was divided evenly among your children

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47
Q

Was Napoleon’s code of inheritance adopted uniformly across wine regions?

A

No

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48
Q

How was the Napoleonic code of inheritance adopted differently in Burgundy vs Bordeaux?

A

Burgundians took it literally and divided their land whereas Bordeaux took it figuratively and divided shares in and kept land and whole

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49
Q

What gave birth to the Burgundian negociant?

A

The Napoleonic code of inheritance meant land owners had less and less and so would have to sell their fruit as they couldn’t make wine

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50
Q

In what year was the Bordeaux classification

A

1855

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51
Q

What was the Bordeaux classification initially?

A

A display of the top 87 Bordeaux wineries listed in order of auction price of their wines in a stand at the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in paris

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52
Q

How did phylloxera change the viticultural landscape of france

A

Essentially regrafting didn’t always work well so plantings of mouvedre went from 33% to 3% for example and you could not replant a vineyard by Layering (marcorrage) so once a vineyard was in rows it stayed that way

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53
Q

What was the difference in production between 1875 and 1889 why?

A

84.5 Million Hectolitres to 23.4 Million Hectolitres phylloxera and Mildews

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54
Q

Why was Champagne destroyed in WW1

A

It was the site of one of the wars most brutal battles. The line moved 90m in 4.5 years. 1/2 million soldiers died

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55
Q

What was a Weinfuhrer?

A

A German official sent to German occupied France to buy wines at prices set by Germans to then sell on the international market at huge profits.

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56
Q

List the administrative divisions of France from largest to smallest

A

Regions
Departments
Communes

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57
Q

What is an example of how administrative boundaries of France do not align with the wine regions of france

A

Southern Beaujolais belongs to the Rhone department of Auvergne Rhone Alpes while the northern portion belongs to the saone et Loire department

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58
Q

France has two basins name them and describe their location

A

Paris Basin - north
Aquitaine Basin South West

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59
Q

Define a massif

A

A landform that is resistant to erosion and so is often mountainous

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60
Q

France has two massifs name and describe them

A

Armorican massif
- west (left arm)

Central Massif
- central moving east to alps

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61
Q

Grabens are what?

A

Grabens are rift valleys caused by uplift of landmasses that collapse inward causing a valley

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62
Q

France has two important grabens with regards to wine regions which are they and which wine regions sit on them

A

Upper Rhine graben - Alsace
Saone Graben - Burgundy

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63
Q

For every how many metres in elevation do you get a 0.56C temperature drop

A

76

64
Q

Why are Vineyards usually planted on slopes

A

In hot regions the slopes are cooler (aspect depending)

In cool regions slopes get less frost

Vines prefer free draining soils

65
Q

The Rhone Valley was created by two geological features combining which were they and when did this happen?

A

The Rhone glacier slid west into France, collided with the massif central and then turned south deepening the rift valley.

Last ice age

66
Q

Why is mid slope ideal?

A

Too high on the slope and it there’s less time for rain to absorb into soil, top low is too much

Soils are neither too deep nor too thin

In higher latitudes the sun is lower in the sky so ample sunlight hits the mid slope

67
Q

Describe the 2 east facing benefits

A

Capture gentle early morning sun which helps to warm up the soils early and dry any dew minimising disease pressure.

68
Q

Describe the pros and cons of South facing slopes

A

Most sun and most heat but their backs to cool northern winds. Can lack acidity

69
Q

Describe the pros and cons of North facing slopes

A

Least sun and least heat most exposure to cool north winds.

70
Q

Pros and cons of west facing slopes

A

Cool early mornings but very warm afternoon heat. Some varieties like Pinot do not like this big heat variation

71
Q

What is the name for a river that flows into a Ocean or a lake

A

Fleuves

72
Q

What is the name for a body of water that flows into another river

A

Rivieres

73
Q

How do you tell what the left bank vs the right bank of a river is

A

Facing the direction of the river flow the left bank is on your left

74
Q

Why does left bank or right bank of a river matter?

A

Often it comes down to aspect and the direction the banks face however in some regions like bordeaux and the loire it can be about soil type.

75
Q

What river runs through the Loire Valley

A

Loire

76
Q

What river runs through Champagne

A

Seine

77
Q

What RIver runs through Burgundy

A

Saone

78
Q

What River runs through Bordeaux

A

The Gironde river meets the Dordogne and flows into the Garonne

79
Q

What river runs through the rhone valley

A

Rhone

80
Q

What river runs through Chablis

A

Sereine

81
Q

What two variables of soil contribute most to wine quality

A

Water Availability and Soil Fertility

82
Q

Define a warm soil, give an example

A

A soil type that either reflects / absorbs heat or that has air pockets that heat up quickly. Gravel is a good example of both of these factors

83
Q

Define a cool soil

A

A soil that either does not reflect heat and is so dense that it takes a lot of time and or energy to heat up. Clay is a good example of this

84
Q

What ocean current affects the climate of western Europe

A

The gulf Stream

85
Q

What are the three main climates of France

A

Maritime / Continental / Mediterranean

86
Q

Describe a Maritime Climate

A

Small Diurnal, and Yearly Temperature Swings - Even Rainfall across the year - Frequent Storms

87
Q

Describe a continental climate

A

Large Diurnal swings and yearly swings - Rain is moderate marginally more rain in warm months than cold. Winter rain often comes as snow

88
Q

Describe a Mediterranean climate

A

Bigger daily and annual swings than Maritime but smaller than continental. Only two seasons rainfall is light to moderate and mainly around equinox and through winter.

89
Q

What are the min max temperatures of photosynthesis

A

Min - 10 C
Max 35 C

90
Q

When is a vine most productive photosynthetically speaking

A

20-30 C

91
Q

If a vintage is exceedingly hot and or windy will the fruit be ripe or unripe? Explain

A

The fruit will be unripe as the vine will transpire more moisture through the stomata pores in the leaf and when this happens more than the available water supply the vine will shut down photosynthesis hence ripening will stop.

92
Q

Describe how Europes mini ice age led to the creation of sparkling wine

A

A theory postulates that the mini ice age that europe experienced between the 16th century and 17th gave birth to sparkling wine as the harsh winters would stop ferments and then they would restart once in cask creating bubbles.

93
Q

How did the winter freeze of 1956 affect the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Rhone

A

Bordeaux lost all of its malbec and replanted with merlot

94
Q

What region is impacted by the Mistral

A

Rhone Valley

95
Q

Does the Mistral truly blow south

A

Technically the MIstral is the result of warm air in the mediterranean sea pulling the cold air above the north sea in an effort to equalise atmospheric pressure

96
Q

What is the top speed of the mistral

A

96 kph

97
Q

What is the ‘bon probleme’

A

THe name for global warming when it began as the french winemakers embraced it as it helped achieve ripeness.

98
Q

What has been the impact of climate change in france

A

Increases in frost, floods and hailstorms plus increased average temperatures

99
Q

Parents of Aligote

A

Pinot x Gouais Blanc

100
Q

Parents of Auxerrois

A

Pinot x Gouais Blanc

101
Q

Parents of Chardonnay

A

Pinot x Gouais Blanc

102
Q

Parents of Chasselas

A

Unknown (Ancient)

103
Q

What is noteable about Chasselas

A

In the 1800s all grapes in the country were characterized as early or late ripening. the reference point for this was the most widely planted grape of the time, chasselas

104
Q

Parents of Chenin Blanc

A

Definitely related to Savagnin Blanc but parentage is still unknown.

105
Q

Chenin Blanc has the same DNA as a grape in Spain which one?

A

Agudelo

106
Q

Is Clairette prone to oxidative notes or reductive notes?

A

Oxidative

107
Q

Colombard Parentage

A

Chenin Blanc x Gouais Blanc

108
Q

Gouais Blanc is still grown in one region, which

A

Champagne

109
Q

Are Grenache Blanc, Noir and Gris all different varieties

A

No, they are the same with different outward expressions of their DNA

110
Q

Melon de Bourgogne Parentage

A

Gouais Blanc x Pinot

111
Q

Muscat a Petits Grains Parentage

A

Unknown

112
Q

Muscat d Alexandrie Parentage

A

Muscat a Petits Grains x Axina de Tres Bias (A black skinned table grape)

113
Q

Muscat Ottonel Parentage

A

Chasselas x Muscat Eisenstadt

114
Q

Where is Muscat Ottonel Grown?

A

Alsace

115
Q

Where is Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc grown

A

Alsace, Corsica, L-R, Provence, Rhone

116
Q

Petit Manseng Parents

A

Unknown x Savagnin

117
Q

How is Pinot Blanc related to Pinot Gris

A

A colour Mutation

118
Q

What does Piquepoul Blanc mean in France

A

Lip Stinger

119
Q

Riesling Parentage

A

Unknown x Gouais Blanc

120
Q

Why is Marsanne favoured to Marsanne

A

Less prone to mildew and more consistent yields.

121
Q

Sacy Parentage

A

Pinot x Gouais Blanc

122
Q

Is Savagnin related to Pinot

A

Yes

123
Q

Where is Semillon Native to

A

Sauternes

124
Q

Sylvaner Parentage (hint where is it native(

A

Savagnin Blanc x Ostereichisch Weiss

125
Q

Ugni Blanc Synonym

A

Trebbiano Toscano

126
Q

Viognier Parentage

A

Mondeuse Blanche x Unknown

127
Q

How is Gewurztraminer related to Savagnin Blanc

A

It is a pink skinned aromatic mutation

128
Q

Is Pinot Gris related to Pinot noir

A

Yes, colour mutation

129
Q

Synonym for Savagnin Rose

A

Klevener

130
Q

How is Savagnin Rose related to Gewurztraminer

A

It is the stepping stone from Savagnin Blanc, so same colour mutation as Gewurz but not aromatic

131
Q

Cabernet Francs Place of origin

A

Basque Country Spain

132
Q

What is Cab Francs Synonym in Loire Valley

A

Breton

133
Q

Cabernet Sauvignons parentage

A

Cab Franc and Sauvignon Blanc

134
Q

Carignan’s place of origin

A

Spain

135
Q

Carmeneres Parentage

A

Cabernet Franc x Gros Cabernet

136
Q

Cesar Parentage (honk)

A

Pinot x Gansfusser

137
Q

Where is Cesar Grown

A

Bourgogne

138
Q

Where was Malbec (Cot) native to

A

Cahors

139
Q

Malbecs Parentage

A

Prunelard x Magdeleine Noire des Charentes

140
Q

Gamay Noir A Jus Blanc Parentage

A

Gouais Blanc x A member of the pinot fam

141
Q

Where is Grenache Noir native to

A

Spain

142
Q

Merlot parentage

A

Magdeleine Noire des Charentes x Cabernet Franc

143
Q

Is Meunier related to Pinot?

A

Yes but unlike, Gris and Blanc it is not a phenotypic variant it is chimeric so its flesh is identical to Pinot Noir but its skin is something different

144
Q

Where is Pinot most likely native to

A

Jura

145
Q

Syrah Parentage

A

Mondeuse Blanche x Dureza

146
Q

Why do good vintages come in pairs

A

The buds for next year are grown the same vintage s the current fruit. So good vintage makes good fruit and good buds

147
Q

What Pruning method means fan in French

A

Eventail

148
Q

Which pruning method has two Guyot arms but in the same direction

A

Valee de La Marne

149
Q

Where would you find the Chablis training method

A

Champagne for Chardonnay

150
Q

What is Lutte Raisonee

A

Reasoned FIght

151
Q

How does yeast create flavour

A

Most flavour precursors are bound to sugar molecules. the precursors must be cleaved off the sugar molecule in order to become volatile, each yeast strain wild or cultured has its own set of enzymes and ratio of enzymes that work with specific molecular bonds.

152
Q

who are the two people responsible for the AOC legislation

A

Capus & Boiseaumarie

153
Q

What is a cahier des charges

A

A set of rules that defines the production of an AOC ( Isaac need to study this more)

154
Q

Whats the name of the organisation that oversees the AOC system

A

Institut national de l origine et de la qualite

155
Q

Why was origin and production standards codified into law

A

Due to the rampant wine fraud. Soft vintages in burgundy saw the blending of rhone wines. Bordeaux regularly blended with wines from southern france

156
Q
A

French Wine Scholar (5 decks)

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