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French Wine Scholar 2025 > FWS Bordeaux > Flashcards

FWS Bordeaux Flashcards

1
Q

What is the largest AOC vineyard area in France?

A

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has the largest AOC vineyard area in France.

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2
Q

What is the geographical size of Bordeaux?

A

100x125km

This area is four times the size of Bourgogne.

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3
Q

Where is the Left Bank of Bordeaux located?

A

From the Médoc Peninsula, heading south to the Graves-Sauternes area

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4
Q

Where is the Right Bank of Bordeaux located?

A

Southeast from Blaye to Castillon

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5
Q

What is Entre-deux-Mers?

A

The area between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers

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6
Q

How did the Dutch influence the Médoc Peninsula?

A
  • They drained the Médoc Peninsula in the 1600s for vineyard land.
    (They wanted white wine to distil into eau de vie and sweet wine)
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7
Q

What economic ties does Bordeaux have with England?

A
  • For 300 years, Bordeaux was England’s vineyard.
    (Eleanor of Aquitaine).

Red and white grapes were fermented together – a light red ‘claret’’.

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8
Q

What are the three ‘Golden Ages’ of Bordeaux?

A

1) 1100s: Marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet
2) 1700s: Expansion of the wine market
3) 1982: Robert Parker launched ‘Wine Advocate’

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9
Q

What are the 4 major waterways of Bordeaux?

A
  • Dordogne (E-d-M)
  • Garonne (E-d-M & Côtes de B)
  • Isle (Fronsac / Pomerol - pebbles)
  • Ciron (Sauternes)
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10
Q

What is the significance of the Dordogne river for grape growing?

A
  • tidal (salt water inland)
  • warm & sunny
  • cool clay soils (give texture)
  • limestone soils (give acidity and smooth tannins)
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11
Q

What types of soils are found on the Right Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Cool clay & limestone

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12
Q

What types of soils are found on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

A

Warm gravel & sand

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13
Q

What is the general climate of Bordeaux?

A

Maritime
warmed by the Gulf Stream
protected by Les Landes

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14
Q

What are the climate threats faced by Bordeaux?

A
  • Rain
  • humidity
  • frost
  • hail
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15
Q

What is passerillage in sweet wine production?

A

Twisting grape stalks to stop sap flow and desiccate berries.

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16
Q

What are the 3 types of sweet wines produced in Bordeaux?

A
  • Moelleux: late-harvest, may be botrytized.
  • Doux: non-botrytized wines
  • Liquoreux: must be botritized
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17
Q

What effect does botrytis have on grapes?

A
  • Reduces sugar content by 1/3
  • reduces tartaric acid and malic acid by 5/6
  • berry’s water content is reduced by ½ (overall result is an increase in extract)
  • The fungus produces gluconic acid which gives a honeyed flavour
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18
Q

What are the 3 major red grapes of Bordeaux?

A
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc
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19
Q

What are the 3 major white grapes of Bordeaux?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Muscadelle
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20
Q

What is the Bordeaux AOC?

A

A large region-wide appellation for various wine types

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21
Q

What distinguishes Bordeaux Supérieur AOC?

A

Stricter production standards
* lower maximum yield
+ higher minimum alcohol.
* Reds: aged until 15th June year after harvest.
* Whites must be moelleux (NOT dry)

22
Q

What is the ‘en primeur’ system in Bordeaux?

A

Wine sold prior to its normal release time, as futures, impacting pricing.

23
Q

What does ‘grand vin’ refer to?

A

The top wine or primary product of a Château.

24
Q

What is the primary grape planted in Médoc AOC?

25
What is unique about the Pomerol AOC?
It has iron-rich soils.
26
Describe the climate of the Sauternais region.
The damp mist created by the Ciron River promotes Botrytis cinerea.
27
What style of wine dominates the Entre-deux-Mers AOC?
Dry white wine (blend) E-d-M Produces 25% of the dry white wines of Bordeaux
28
What has caused changes in the red Bordeaux blend over time?
Global warming affecting grape ripening.
29
What are the 6 primary grape varieties used in Bordeaux wine production?
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle
30
How has the red Bordeaux blend evolved due to global warming?
* Petit Verdot ripens better; * Merlot has higher alcohol levels, so may be reduced in the blend; * 4 new red varieties have been approved since 2021 ## Footnote These changes aim to adapt to climate change.
31
What was the 1855 classification system?
* Ranking the top Châteaux from first to fifth growths * Intended to guide wine prices; * included 87 Châteaux
32
Which wines were omitted from the 1855 classification system?
* Right Bank wines * dry white wines
33
What are the 3 categories of the Cru Bourgeois classification system?
* Crus Bourgeois * Crus Bourgeois Supérieurs * Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels
34
What is the Graves classification system?
* Established in 1953 * revised in 1959 * ranks wines within Pessac-Léognan ## Footnote Wines are entitled to 'Grand Cru Classé de Graves' status.
35
What is unique in Bordeaux about the Graves classification system?
It’s the only Bordeaux classification that ranks wines, not estates
36
How did the 1855 classification system become famous?
After being showcased at the Universal Exhibition in Paris ## Footnote .
37
What changes occurred historically in the Cru Bourgeois classification system?
* 1932 recognized 444 estates; (2003 identified 247 estates; cancelled in 2007) * 2010 established annual quality procedure; * 2020 revised to rank 249 Châteaux
38
What are the 3 categories of the Cru Bourgeois classification system?
* Crus Bourgeois * Crus Bourgeois Supérieurs * Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels
39
When was the Saint-Émilion classification established and when is it reviewed?
Established in 1955, reviewed every 10 years ## Footnote The most recent revision was in 2022.
40
How is the Saint-Émilion classification structured?
85 Châteaux are ranked: * 2 Premiers Grands Crus Classés A * 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés B * 71 Grands Crus Classés ## Footnote The most recent revision was in 2022.
41
What are the regulations for the Cru Artisan designation in Bordeaux?
* Boutique wineries * responsible for all elements of their red wine production: from vineyard to barrel to bottle. ## Footnote This designation emphasizes quality and accountability.
42
What are Petits Châteaux?
Unranked Châteaux ## Footnote They do not have an official classification.
43
What is Saignée in winemaking?
A portion of juice is 'bled off' from red wine fermentation after a short maceration to produce rosé wine ## Footnote The remaining juice continues to ferment into red wine.
44
Who is Emilie Peynaud, what did she do?
* Encouraged use of fruit from young vine stocks under a second label (Professor of Oenology at University of Bordeaux) ## Footnote She was influential in modern winemaking practices.
45
Bordeaux map
46
Which river in Bordeaux creates a microclimate for Botrytis?
* The Ciron * creates mist when the cool waters travel through Les Landes and reach the warm waters of the Garonne
47
What style of wine is produced in DGC Haut-Benauge?
* dry whites made from Sauvignon Blanc (& Sémillon) * semi-sweet whites made from Sémillon (& Sauvignon Blanc)
48
Which parts of Bordeaux have more moderate temperatures?
* Gironde * Médoc * Haut-Médoc
49
Which areas of Bordeaux have more continental influences?
Inland areas to the South and East eg Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux
50
What’s the difference between claret, clairet and rosé?
* Claret is the English nickname for red Bordeaux wine. It comes from ‘clairet’. * Clairet is a semi-red wine, which is made like a red wine, but with a short (24-36 hour) maceration, using the saignée method. * A rosé can be made by direct press (no maceration) or saignée method.
51
What is significant about Ariarnoa, Castets, Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Alvarinho & Liliorila?
They are authorised for Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur

French Wine Scholar 2025 (31 decks)

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