Geography/Grapes/Wine Styles Flashcards
Where is Bordeaux located?
Southwest France, along the Atlantic coast
What is the climate in Bordeaux?
Maritime (Moderate) to continental (cool) moving from the coast inland
List the important bodies of water in Bordeaux:
The Atlantic Ocean,
Gironde Estuary, Garonne River, Dordogne River
Bordeaux is located on the ____ parallel.
The climate is moderated
by its waterways and its proximity to the _____ coast. The Gulf Stream
current brings warm waters up from the Caribbean, keeping the weather ______ yet ________
45th, Atlantic, mild yet humid.
The streams, rivers, and adjacent sea (warmed by the Gulf Stream) make Bordeaux’s climate fairly _________
humid
True OR False: The streams, rivers, and sea act to temper the climate and provides the vineyards of Bordeaux with a more stable environment
True
Atlantic Ocean Influence means:
1. ______ winters
2.. ______ summers
3. A moderate and stable climate with relatively _____ frosts
mild, warm, few
True or False:
The Gironde Basin: Banks of gravel provide warm, well drained soil for vines
True
True or False: The Gironde Basin is a factor that affects the varying quality and character of Bordeaux wines
True
True or False:
Drainage is by river and stream: best growths have good drainage
True
True or False:
River helps to keep even temperature by day and night in Bordeaux. This helps in reducing frost damage.
True
What are the two rivers that meet north of the city of Bordeaux and form the Gironde Estuary, which flows into the Atlantic
The Garonne River
and The Dordogne River
What are the 3 sections that are divided by bodies of water in Bordeaux
– Left Bank
– Right Bank
– Entre-Deux-Mers
Which river bank is West of Garonne and Gironde
The Left Bank
Which river bank is East and north of the Dordogne and Gironde
Right Bank
What is the area between the Garonne and Dordogne
– Entre-Deux-Mers
What AOPs are on the left bank of Bordeaux?
- The Medoc AOPs
- Graves AOPs
List the 2 smaller appellations of The Medoc
- the Medoc (near where the Gironde empties into the Atlantic)
- the Haut-Medoc (the upper Medoc, closest to the city of Bordeaux, farthest from the Atlantic
List the sub-regions and communes of the Medoc AOPs
Sub-Regions:
– Médoc AOP
– Haut-Médoc AOP
* Commune:
– Saint-Estèphe AOP
– Pauillac AOP
– Saint-Julien AOP
– Margaux AOP
List the famous communes (villages) of the Haut-Medoc from North to South
– Saint-Estèphe AOP
– Pauillac AOP
– Saint-Julien AOP
– Margaux AOP
List the Graves AOP and their geographical location
Sub-Regions
* Pessac-Léognan AOP Northernmost part of Graves
Sauternes AOP
Southernmost portion of Graves, bordered by the
Garonne and Ciron Rivers
What are the most important white grape varieties to know in Bordeaux
Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon
Small amounts of Muscadelle
Red Grape Variety Names for Bordeaux
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Small Amounts of: Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carménère
the most widely planted red grape in Bordeaux
Merlot
True or False:
Wines from Bordeaux are usually just Merlot Red Wines
False
Wines from Bordeaux are usually blends of two or more of the grape varieties
in the Bordeaux family
Name the commune and river bank of this typical wine style and blend from Bordeaux:
* Red Wines
– 70% Cabernet Sauvignon
– 30% Merlot
– Plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
– These wines are usually aged in new French oak barrels
- Médoc communes
- Left bank
Appellation on the Right Bank
* Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne
Saint-Émilion
List the Appellations of Saint-Émilion
- Saint-Émilion AOP
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
An appellation, not a classification
– Wines have an additional 0.5% alcohol and must undergo a
longer aging than wines labeled Saint-Émilion AOP
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP
- Along the Dordogne River near the town of Libourne to the
northwest of Saint Émilion - A very small appellation, only 3 square mile
Pomerol AOP
An Appellations that is Red wines only and no
Classification System
- Pomerol AOP
The AOP that is:
* Cabernet Sauvignon – based blends
* Red wines only
Medoc AOPs
Which AOP uses:
Grape Varieties
* White
– Sauvignon Blanc
– Sémillon
* Red
– Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Graves AOP
Subregion in the Northernmost part of Graves, including the most
highly regarded château
- Pessac-Léognan AOP
Subregion that makes:
– Dry white wines
– Dry red wines
– New French oak
- Pessac-Léognan AOP
Southernmost portion of Graves, bordered by the
Garonne and Ciron Rivers
Sauternes AOP
An AOP that makes:
– Botrytis-affected sweet wines
– Oak aged, often in new French barrique
Sauternes AOP
What AOP is:
Translates to “land between two seas”
* A large area between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
An AOP that makes White Grape Varieties:
– Sauvignon Blanc
– Sémillon
– Muscadelle
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
Name the AOP with no classification system,
* Dry white wines only
* Little to no oak, stainless steel
* Red wines made in this area fall under the Bordeaux AOP appellation
Entre-Deux-Mers AOP
Grape Varieties
* Red
– Merlot
– Cabernet Franc
– AOP for red wines only
Saint-Émilion
- Red Wines from ____ and ______ located on the (right bank), blend
– 70% Merlot
– 30% Cabernet Franc
– These wines also spend some time in French oak barrels
Saint-Émilion and Pomerol
What two regions make:
* Dry White Wines
– 80% Sauvignon Blanc
– 20% Sémillon
– The majority of inexpensive white wines from Bordeaux are
made without oak. Prestigious wines in the upper price tiers, however,
tend to be aged in new French oak barriques.
Graves (Pessac-Léognan) on the
left bank and Entre-Deux-Mers
Sweet Wines that are:
80% Sémillon
– 20% Sauvignon Blanc
– Muscadelle (small percentage)
– Many sweet wines of Bordeaux are aged in new French oak barrels
Sauternes and nearby communes
Grape Varieties
* Red
– Merlot and Cabernet Franc-based blend
* NO Classifcation system
*Red Wines Only
Pomerol AOP
What part of France describes this wine making style:
Region/ Sub-Region/Appellation dependent:
Blends of grape varieties
Dry white wines
Dry red wines
Botrytis-affected sweet wines
Use of new French oak for red and white wines
Bordeaux
What part of France describes this style:
Appellation dependant. Range of dry red wines, dry
white wines to lusciously sweet white wines.
Bordeaux
