Introduction to France Flashcards
Where were vines only planted initially in france?
in the south of the country - Rhone Valley and probably near Bordeaux with easy access to the sea for trading
When did the major expansion on vineyards come to france?
1000 CE under Charlemagne and then the period of the monastaries
What happened during the Middle Ages in french Wines
establishment of important export markets in England, Scotland, Flanders and Holland with key markets developing because major rivers and seas facilitated the movement of wine
what was see in France from 17-19th C
huge expansion of exported wines esp from Bordeaux which eventually led to the 1855 classification
What was the key development in the 17C
the draining of the marshes in the Medoc by Dutch engineers
Where did ports become the key trading channel for wine destined for north of Europe and Paris
close to Bordeaux
what becamem challenges in the bordeaux regions in the 2nd half of the 19th C
powdery mildew, downy mildew, black rot, and phylloxera
what are the latitudes in France of wine growing regions
42-49
How is most of France vines planted
at high density with vines trained on trellises
bush vines used in some parts of Southern France
How are vines often trained in France overall?
cane replacement pruned Guyot system with vertical shoot positioning
Describe the amount of certified organic grapes growing in France
10% of all vineyard area - has increased nearly fourfold in the decade to 2017
What are the top ten grape varieties grown in france?
Merlot, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Carignan, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc (this includes grapes for table and brandy)
What type of enrichment was invented in France?
Chapitalization - used a lot in cooler regions
What is a standard part of French winemaking
maturation in barrels (small or large)
What is the INAO
Institut national des appellations d’origine now called Institut national des appellations d’origine et de la qualite
When was INAO founded?
1935
What does INOA oversee
the creation of AOC system and from 2009 the IGP
What are some of the standards overseen by AOC?
geographically defined appellations, rules on production, varieties, planting densities, allowed training systems, max yields, min alcohol levels, required length of maturation of wine before release and earliest date wine can be sold
what is the AOC system based on
the idea of terroir
What changed on French labels in 2009
agreement to allow varietal to appear on the label alongside the name of the appellation
what is the average size of vineyard holdings in France?
10.5ha much higher than Italy or Spain
How much wines do Co-Operatives produce in France?
40%
What is the largest production company in France?
Castel Freres (12 per total vol of sales)
Who does France export less wine than?
Italy and Spain by vol
