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French Wine Scholar > Fundamentals: Geography > Flashcards

Fundamentals: Geography Flashcards

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1
Q

France is divided into how many administrative regions?

A

13

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2
Q

Administrative regions are divided into what smaller divisions?

A

Administrative departements/departments

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3
Q

What are the Administrative departments divided into?

A

Communes; usually a single village or town, headed up by a mayor (le or la maire)

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4
Q

Is there any relationship between the political geography of France and the boundaries of wine regions?

A

No; the administrative structure of France does not necessarily correpond to wine region boundaries.

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5
Q

Why is France affectionately referred to as “L’Hexagone”?

A

Translated to “the hexagon”, due to its six-sided shape.

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6
Q

How large is France compared to other countries in Europe?

A

It is the largest country in Western Europe.

Mainland France is approx. 580mi/935km wide (at its widest) and 600mi/965km long (at its longest) with an impressive 3,637mi/5,853km of coastline.

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7
Q

What geographical features surround France?

A
  • English Channel (la Manche) separates France from the UK to the north
  • Atlantic Ocean: borders to the west
  • Pyrenees Mountains: barrier to the Iberian Peninsula to the south
  • Mediterranean Sea: lies to the south
  • Maritime Alps: forms vertical divide from Italy
  • Jura Mountains: separates from Switzerland
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8
Q

What countries border France?

A
  • Germany: abuts the northeastern sector
  • Luxembourg: abuts the northeastern sector
  • Belgium: abuts the northeastern sector
  • Monaco: ensconsced in the lower foothills of the Maritime Alps within Provence
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9
Q

What Mediterranean island is part of France?

A

Corsica

It lies 100mi/160km southeast of mainland France, 7mi/11km north of Sardinia and 50mi/80km west of Italy.
It is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean and the 4th largest in size (after Sicily, Sardinia and Cyprus).

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10
Q

What are the latitudes at which France lies at?

A

Between the 41st and 51st parallels north.

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11
Q

What are the geological areas that the “hexagon” is composed of?

A
  • Armorican Massif
  • Central Massif
  • Paris Basin
  • Aquitaine Basin
  • a long rift system
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12
Q

What are Massifs?

A

Landforms of varied nature and origin. Typically, areas of bedrock that are more resisant to erosion than the surrounding areas, often because the rocks are geologicallly older, and are commonly higher.

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13
Q

Where is the Massif Central located?

A

This tight amalgamation of mountains and plateaus is located in the south-central portion of the country encompassing roughly 15% or one-sixth of the entire surface of France.
The headwaters of many important rivers are located within these uplands, as are:
* Grands Causses: high limestone plateaus incised by gorges
* high plateau of Limousin
* Cevennes Mountains
* Montagne Noire
* western fringes of the Rhone & Saone river valleys
* a cluster of 450 extinct volcanoes

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14
Q

How high does most of the Massif Central lie?

A

Between 2,000-3,000ft/600-900m in elevation.

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15
Q

What features of the Massif Central allows the prevailing westerly, and cold north winds blow relatively unobstructed across much of the country?

A

The Loire River valley & Paris Basin to the north, the Bresse Plain to the east, the coastal plains of the Mediterranean to the south and the coastal flats of the Aquitaine Basin to the west all fan out around the massive tangle of stone at significantly lower elevations of around 650ft/200m.
This forces vignerons at lower elevations to choose vineyard sites with their “backs to the wind and their faces to the sun.”

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16
Q

How did the Massifs Central and Armoricain form?

A

These massifs are igneous & metamorphic rocks formed a billion years ago or more. They were internally deformed and uplifted about 350 million years ago during a mountain building period referred to as Variscan or Hercyian.
During the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (approx. 200-65 million years ago) these uplands were eroded down and sometimes became submerged under the sea. Younger strata were deposited upon them.
Over time, these layers of rock/sediment ballooned to the surface due to heat changes at depth to make land. Some of the younger strata eroded away revealing the ancient rocks below. These areas of tougher, older, rocks still make higher land. In the case of the Massif Central young volcanoes have erupted within them.
The Massif Central and Massif Armoricain are geologically related and joined at depth, beneath the younger strata.

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17
Q

Where is the Massif Armoricain located?

A

This covers a large portions of northwestern France encompassing Brittany, the western portion of Normandy and the Lower Loire.

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18
Q

How large is the Massif Armoricain?

A

Approx. 1,400ft/427m above sea level and 25,00mi²/65,000km² in size.

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19
Q

Where is the Paris Basin located?

A

This geologic depression or bowl roughly corresponds to the drainage basin of the Seine River.

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20
Q

How much area does the Paris Basin cover?

A

Approx. 54,050mi²/140,000km²

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21
Q

How old are the soils in Paris Basin?

A

These sedimentary soils comprise stratified marine deposits that formed when this portion of France was under warm shallow seas intermittently from the Triassic (251mya) to the Pliocene (2.6mya).

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22
Q

Where is the Aquitaine Basin located?

A

It is tightly framed by the Pyrenees, Massif Central and Atlantic Ocean but opens to the Paris Basin to the north.

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23
Q

How much area does Aquitaine Basin cover?

A

Approx. 25,000mi²/65,000km². It is triangular in shape and is not uniform in structure.

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24
Q

How old are the soils in Aquitaine Basin?

A

It was formed during intermittent marine incursions from the Triassic (251mya) to the Pliocene eras (2.6mya).

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25
Q

What are the geological characteristics of Aquitaine Basin?

A
  • The north is characterized by a plateau with fewer and thinner layers of sedimentation.
  • The south has more convoluted terrain with deeper layers of sedimentation.
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26
Q

How were the rift valleys of France formed?

A

As the Alps rose, round 34-24mya, the earth’s crust under the plains to the north became stretched. In places, the earth’s internal heat caused these thinned rockes to bulge upwards.
Later, the crest of the bulge collapsed to form these systems of rift valleys.

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27
Q

What areas make up the rift system?

A

The Upper Rhine Graben, which is flanked by the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany.
Further south, the Saone Graben (part of the larger Bresse or Rhone Graben) is flanked by the Morvan uplands to the west and the Jura Mountains to the east.

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28
Q

What areas of the rift system make prime vineyard land?

A
  • The Cote d’Or escarpment on the western flank of the Saone Graben
  • vineyards of Alsace planted on the foothills of the Vosges on the western flank of the Rhine Graben
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29
Q

What are some reasons for planted vineyards on hillsides?

A
  • In cooler & temperate growing areas, cold air sinks and settles at the base of slopes making higher planting ideal.
  • In warmer growing areas, elevation offers respite from heat.
  • Slopes typically drain well; grapevines do not like “wet feet”.
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30
Q

How much can the temperature drop with the influence of elevation?

A

For every 250ft/76m increase in elevation, the temperature drops 1°F/0.56°C.

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31
Q

Where is the sweet spot for ideal vineyard land on slopes?

A

Mid-slope

  • Soils are typically neither too thin nor too deep (steeper/upper portions do not absorb enough water from rainfalls, while lower slopes often gather too much)
  • the aspect promotes optimal sunshine (the sun is lower in the sky in northern latitudes)
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32
Q

What are the benefits of east-facing slopes?

A
  • captures early morning sun, drying up heavy dew
  • helps mitigate disease pressure from rot & mildew
  • in cooler, higher-latitude areas (Bourgogne), soils warm quickly at the coolest part of the 24-hour cycle (dawn)
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33
Q

What are the benefits of south-facing slopes?

A
  • receives the most sun & heat of all aspects
  • “backs” are to the cold north winds
  • grapes ripen with ample sugar levels & mature tannins (but run the risk of lower acidity)
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34
Q

What are the benefits of west-facing slopes?

A
  • receives sunshine later in the day
  • receives some of the hottest rays after a relatively cool morning

Note: some grape varieties, such as Pinot Noir, do not like such daily temperature extremes.

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35
Q

What are the benefits/challenges of north-facing slopes?

A
  • receives the least amound of sunshine & heat
  • grapes tend to ripen to moderate sugar levels, preserving a significant amount of acidity
  • some grapes run the risk of contributing herbaceous flavors and less mature tannins
  • some varieties thrive (Aligote of Bouzeron in the Cote Chalonnaise)
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36
Q

Historically, what have been considered to be the “ideal” vineyard slope orientations in France?

A
  • South
  • Southeast
  • East

However, many worry that global warming may render some of these sites too warm for the varieties to which they are now planted.

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37
Q

What are the 2 types of rivers found in France?

A
  • Fleuves: rivers that flow into a body of water such as a sea or lake
  • Rivieres: rivers that flow into other rivers

The river names are based on where they terminate.

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38
Q

Name the 5 major French fleuves.

A
  1. Loire
  2. Seine
  3. Garonne
  4. Rhone
  5. Dordogne
39
Q

Which is the longest river in France?

A

Loire

Approx. 620mi/1,000km; stretching from it headwaters in central France to its delta on the Atlantic coast near Nantes.

40
Q

Which way does the Loire River flow and how does this influence the aspects of vineyards planted along the banks?

A

It flows north from its source, positioning the banks of the Upper and Centre Loire with east and west aspects.
The river turns west in Orleans.
The river banks flanking the Middle and Lower Loire largely face north and south.

41
Q

Where in Loire Valley are the vineyards planted?

A

Many of Loire’s key vineyard zones are set well back from the river itself. Their topographies directly relate to the internal topography of the tributary valleys, such as:
* the Loir
* the Vienne
* the Layon
* the Aubance

All rivers have a way of wending their way through the landscape leaving a number of prized, south-facing vineyards slopes mides their convoluted turns.

42
Q

How long is the Seine River?

A

Approx. 480mi/775km

43
Q

Where is the Seine River located?

A

Its source lies about 19mi/30km northwest of Dijon.
It cuts through the vineyards of Champagne and the city of Paris en route to the industrial port of Le Havre on the English Channel.

44
Q

How long is the Garonnes River?

A

360mi/580km

45
Q

Where is the Garonnes River?

A

It springs from the Spanish Pyrenees in Aragon and runs north and then east to join the Dordogne in emptying into the Gironde, the largest estuary in Europe.

The Garonne cuts through Armagnac, Brulhois and the Cotes du Marmandais in South-West France before dividing the Sauternais and Graves from Entre-deux-Mers in Bordeaux.

46
Q

How long is the Rhone River?

A

505mi/815km

338mi/545km of this lies within France.

47
Q

Where is the Rhone River located?

A

Its source is in Switzerland, runs south through France reaching its delta on the Mediterranean coast of the south of France.
Its flow is augmented by the Saone River which merges with it in the city of Lyon.

48
Q

How was the current path of the Rhone River created?

A

It was carved during the last Ice Age, when the Rhone glacier slid west into France, collied with the Massif Central, then turned south, deepening and sculpting the existing rift valley.

Broken bits of rock leftover from the rush and tumble of this glacial melt were deposited on the Rhone Plain.

49
Q

How closely are the vineyards of Rhone situated near the Rhone River?

A

In Northern Rhone, the terraced vineyards hug the river tightly.
In Southern Rhone, vineyards stretch some 50mi/80km away from its banks.

50
Q

How long is the Dordogne River?

A

Approx. 300mi/485km

51
Q

Where is the Dordogne River located?

A

It rises in the Massif Central and runs through Bergerac and alongside Pecharmant and Montravel in South-West France before dividing the Right Bank appellations of Bordeaux from Entre-deux-Mers and converging with he Garonne as both spill into the Gironde.

52
Q

How do you determine where the right and left banks are positioned?

A

Facing the direction in which the water flows, the Left Bank is on the left and the Right Bank is on the right.

53
Q

Why are south-facing slopes near bodies of water in Europe referred to as the “warm fringes of a cold continent”?

A

Vineyards flanking rivers are approx. 2-4°F/1-2°C warmer than vineyards at equivalent latitude positioned away from substantial bodies of water.
This small temperature boost is enough to protect vines from frost.
The surface of the water magnifies heat and reflects light during the growing season.

54
Q

What winegrowing area is an exception to the rule of planting vineyards in the “warm fringes”?

A

The Serein River in Chablis; its low position pools cold air and the small size of the river has little thermal impact.

55
Q

What are some of the soil types/compositions found in France?

A
  • sand
  • clay
  • limestone
  • chalk
  • granite
  • schist
  • marl
  • flint
    etc.
56
Q

What are some characteristics of soil structures?

A
  • well-drained
  • water-retentive
  • shallow
  • deep
    etc.
57
Q

What are some examples of how soil composition is related to soil structure?

A

Normally water-retentive clays would have enough organic content to maintain an open pore structure, allowing for adequate drainage.

Roots struggling for nutrients and water on well-drained gravels can find what they need via finer-grained sediments that fill the spaces between the stones.

58
Q

How is it that the grape vine can survive where other food crops cannot?

A

It has very low nutritional requirements. Most quality vineyards are planted on shallow, moderately fertile soils.

59
Q

How does the grape vine benefit from shallow, moderately fertile soils?

A

This keeps the canopy small, thereby:
* optimizing sunlight & airflow
* focuses the vine’s energy on the fruit (instead of the foliage)

60
Q

What types of soils assist the vine and its fruit in moving through the ripening cycle more quickly?

A

“Warm” soils such as sands and gravels.
These absorb the heat of the sun and reflect this warmth back up into the vine canopy during the last rays of daylight each day.

61
Q

What factors does photosynthesis depend upon?

A

It is both light- and temperature-dependent. Extra warmth/heat (like that emitted from “warm” soils) will only keep the sugar-making process going if the sun still shines.

62
Q

What is the structural difference between “warm” and “cold” soils?

A
  • “Warm” soils: air between soil particles (in sand) or in pockets (between gravels) heats rapidly during the day
  • “Cold” soils: Typically clays, have compact, dense structures with less air within and heat up more slowly
63
Q

What are the latitudes in which grapevines can be planted?

A

Between the 30th and 50th latitudinal parallels in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

64
Q

Where is the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole?

A

The 45th parallel north is considered to be the marker.
The true halfway point is 9.9mi/16km north of this.
Two-thirds of France lies north of this point, placing the bulk of the country within the “northern temperate zone.” (according to James Wilson)

65
Q

Which wine regions does the 45th parallel pass through?

A
  • just north of Bordeaux
  • Rhone Valley
  • Provence
  • Piedmont, Italy
  • Willamette Valley, Oregan
  • Montreal sits just north of it, as does Harbin in China
66
Q

What topographical feature makes France much warmer than raw latitude suggests it should be?

A

Gulf Stream

67
Q

What is the Gulf Stream?

A

A fast-moving current in the Atlantic Ocean that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and bathes the west coast of Europe and Africa with warm water, thus impacting the climate.
The current averages 62mi/100km in width and 2,600-3,900ft/800-1,000m in depth and moves fastest at the surface (5.6mph/9kph).

Note: In the days of sail, ships would benefit from this current for faster passage back to the Old World from the New.

68
Q

What are the 3 principal types of climate found in France?

A
  • oceanic/maritime
  • continental
  • Mediterranean
69
Q

What characterizes an oceanic/maritime climate?

A
  • narrow diurnal temperature swings
  • narrow annual temperature range
  • temperate summers
  • cool winters
  • rain is plentiful, falling evenly throughout the year
  • storms are frequent, as is cloud cover
  • few temperature extremes in either direction
70
Q

What areas in France are influence by an oceanic/maritime climate?

A

Because much of western France is relatively flat, ocean influences reach as far inland as:
* Champagne
* city of Orleans at the eastern end of the Middle Loire
* Bordeaux
* South-West France
* Languedoc (Malepere, Limoux & Cabardes)

71
Q

What are the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate?

A
  • hot, dry summers
  • cool, wet winters
  • seasonal temperature differential is less disparate than in continental climates
  • only 2 seasons (no transitional spring/autumn period)
  • rainfall is light to moderate
  • rain mostly falls around periods of equinox and throughout winter
  • during summer, diurnal temperature swings are moderate near the coast, but significantly increase further inland (due to rapid heating from the sun and equally rapid cooling at dusk)
72
Q

Which areas in France have Mediterranean climates?

A
  • Provence
  • Southern Rhone
  • Languedoc
  • Rousillon
  • Coteaux Varois en Provence (with continental influences): sheltered by mountains in the heart of Provence
  • Pierrevert (with alpine influences): located in the northernmost section of Provence at significant elevation

Note: vineyards in the interior of these areas and/or at elevation can have continental or even alpine influences

73
Q

What are the characteristics of a continental climate?

A
  • warm summers
  • cold winters
  • large diurnal/annual temperature variations
  • heat spikes & winter freezes are common
  • Precipitation is moderate
  • marginally more rain falls during the warm months than the cold months (some in the form of violent thunder storms)
  • snowfall in winter
74
Q

Which areas in France have a continental climate?

A
  • Bourgogne
  • Alsace
  • Centre-Loire
  • Champagne (with maritime influences)
  • Maconnais (with Mediterranean influences)
  • Beaujolais (with Mediterranean influences)
  • Jura (with alpine influences)
  • Savoie (with alpine influences)
75
Q

What is photosynthesis?

A

It is a complex series of chemical reactions in which a plant’s chloroplasts utilize sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen.

76
Q

How does temperature influence photosynthesis?

A

The process is light AND temperature dependent.
Vines are more productive between 68-86°F/20-30°C.
No photosynthesis occurs under 50°F/10°C or over 95°F/35°C even if the sun is shining.

77
Q

How does the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen gas occur in photosynthesis?

A

Through small pores on the grape leaf called stomata.

78
Q

What is transpiration?

A

The process by which a grapevine release water vapor through it stomata (small pores on the grape leaf).

79
Q

When influences the rate of transpiration in a grapevine?

A

Temperature and other weather conditions.
Vapour lost is greatest during:
* hot
* dry
* sunny and
* windy conditions

Vapour loss is lowest when the weather is
* still
* cool
* moist and
* cloudy

80
Q

When will the stomata close up to prevent moisture loss? How does this impact photosynthesis?

A

When a grapevine starts to lose more water through its leaves than is being pulled up through its roots due to hot, dry, windy conditions.
When this happens the stomata no longer takes in carbon dioxide and photosynthesis shuts down.

81
Q

Which wine regions in France are particularly susceptible to the impact of heat and wind resulting in the shutdown of photosynthesis in their grapevines?

A
  • Languedoc
  • Roussillon
  • Rhone
  • Provence
82
Q

What characteristics can you find in grapes harvested from scorchingly hot vintages (such as 2003)?

A

Unripe grapes with green herbal characteristics, NOT overripe fruit!

83
Q

What happened during the Great Winter of 1709?

A

In the dead of night, as January 5th transitioned into January 6th, 1709, temperatures plummeted to -5°F/-20.5°C in Europe and hovered around that mark for 2 weeks and stayed below freezing for 3 more months.
The lakes, waterways & ports of Europe froze solid, as did people and animals. The ice on the Rhone & Garonne rivers was 11in/28cm thick - thick enough to support draft animals with their laden carts.

84
Q

What happened during the Great Freeze of 1956?

A

Another deep freeze hit France in February of 1956. One-quarter of the vineyards in Bordeaux were killed. When the Bordelais replanted, dead white cultivars were replanted with red, and Malbec, which had taken the brunt of the damage, was replaced by Merlot, changing the constitution of the vineyards significantly.
In Provence, temperatures dropped from 70°F/21°C to 1.4°F/-17°C overnight at the beginning of February, and freezing temperatures lasted almost 3 weeks. Only one-third of southern France’s olive trees survived; afterwards, former olive groves were replanted with grapevines.

85
Q

What are the primary winds that blow through France?

A
  • Westerlies: blow across much of France, reaching as far inland as Champagne in the northe and Languedoc in the south. These are humid winds & bring moisure.
  • Mistral: descends at Hermitage in the Northern Rhone, then hugs the ground as it speeds toward the Mediterranean Sea. Reduces heat & humidity. Other north winds Tramontane & Cers affect the Languedoc & Rousillon and are as powerful as the Mistral, blowing through the Toulouse-Carcassonne corridor.
  • South winds: oringinate over the Mediterranean, blowing inland across the south of France. They bring rain, humidity and cloudy skies. South winds such as Marin & Autan influence Languedoc & Rousillon.
  • Pyrnean winds: These include the hot/humid Vent d’Espagne (Spanish Wind) & the cold, dry Canigounenc, which descends from one of the highest peaks of the Pyrenees, only impact Rousillon.
  • Others: Easterly Levant; cold, dry northeasterly Grec; the hot Sirocco that originates over the Sahara and deposits a thin layer of sand over everything in its path.
86
Q

What is the Mistral?

A

An intense north wind that originates as a mass of cold air lying atop the North Sea & Atlantic Ocean. Cold air is pulled towards the warm air of the Mediterranean in an atmospheric equlization of temperture.

87
Q

How fast can the Mistral wind blow?

A

It can reach speeds of more than 60mph/96kpm. Although, it only blows sporadically year-round.

88
Q

What are the benefits and challenges presented by the Mistral?

A

Benefits:
* chases away clouds
* clears dust
* blows away disease-producing humidity
* creates sunny skies
* keeps the weather dry
* clears the air
* relieves heat by dropping the temperature
* disiccated the grapes, concentrating flavour

Challenges:
* break shoots
* rips-off leaves & berries

89
Q

How fast does the Autan wind blow?

A

It reaches speeds in excess of 48mph/80kph. It is almost equally formidable as the Mistral.

90
Q

How does the speed of Gale Force Winds compare to that of Hurricane Force Winds?

A
  • Gale Force Winds: 38-45mph/61-72kph
  • Hurricane Force Winds: 73mph/118kph and up

Note: The Autan reaches speeds of Gale Force Winds and the Mistral closely approaches the speeds of Hurrican Force Winds.

91
Q

What are the reasons that some French wine regions embraced the global warming trend as “Le Bon Probleme” (The Good Problem)?

A
  • Grape acid levels fell
  • sugar levels increased
  • less chaptalization was needed
  • riper fruit w/ sunkissed aromatics
  • more mature phenolics (pigment & tannin)
  • less pyrazine (green bell pepper notes)
  • The significant divide between the more structured & restrained wine styles of the Old World and the high-impact, fruit-forward wine styles of the New World began to fade.
92
Q

What are some of the profound shifts in weather patterns that has presented climate change as a problem for vignerons?

A
  • Hail: Bourgogne has been beset with increasingly damaging hailstorms (2013, 2014, 2017)
  • Flash floods, submerging vineyards, has occurred in the Rhone (2003) and Languedoc (2018 & 2019)
  • Frost damage; Savenniere lost 90% of its crop in April 2017; Champagne suffered a 20-70% loss depending on the sub-region; even Languedoc was impacted.
  • Excess/irregular/deficient rainfall: Loire went 4-5 months w/o rain in 2018 & 2019
  • Heat waves: Leaf burn compromises photosynthesis; sunburn on grape clusters results in berry fall, which reduces yield.
93
Q

What is the source of the increasing threat of frost damage?

A

The polar vortex, a swirling expanse of extremely cold Arctic air, has been temporarily and unpredictably dipping southwards, resulting in severe frost damage throughout the vineyards of France.

French Wine Scholar (34 decks)

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