Regional Facts

Question 1

What size and type of oak vessels are traditionally used in premium Napa Cabernet Sauvignon?

Answer 1

225L French oak barriques

Question 2

What % of Bordeaux plantings are black grapes?

Answer 2

Nearly 90%

Question 3

What is the average annual rainfall in Bordeaux?

Answer 3

950mm

Question 4

What vine spacing is traditional in Bordeaux’s top quality vineyards?

Answer 4

10,000 vines per hectare

Question 5

Name three of the most common diseases that trouble Bordeaux’s vines.

Answer 5

Downy mildew
Powdery mildew
Botrytis bunch rot
Eutypa dieback
Esca

Question 6

What protects Bordeaux’s left bank from Atlantic storms?

Answer 6

The Landes Forest

Question 7

How many vineyards in Chablis have premier cru status?

Answer 7

40

Question 8

How many grand crus does Chablis have?

Answer 8

1

Question 9

How many vineyards make up the single Chablis grand cru?

Answer 9

7

Question 10

Name two of the vineyards that make up Chablis’ grand cru.

Answer 10

Les Clos
Vaudesir
Blanchot
Bougros
Grenouilles
Preuses
Valmur

Question 11

What is the most famous soil of Chablis?

Answer 11

Kimmeridgian

Question 12

What is the average annual rainfall of Chablis?

Answer 12

670mm spread throughout the year

Question 13

Name two of the principal appellations in the Cotes de Nuits.

Answer 13

Gevrey-Chambertin AOC
Morey-Saint-Denis AOC
Chambolle-Musigny AOC
Vougeot AOC
Vosne-Romanee AOC
Nuits-Saint-Georges AOC

Question 14

Name two of the principal appellations in the Cote de Beaune.

Answer 14

Aloxe-Corton AOC
Pernand-Vergelesses AOC
Ladoix-Serrigny AOC
Beaune AOC
Pommard AOC
Volnay AOC
Meursault AOC
Puligny-Montrachet AOC
Chassagne-Montrachet AOC
St Aubin AOC

Question 15

Name two of the principal appellations in the Cote Chalonnaise.

Answer 15

Bouzeron AOC
Rully AOC
Mercurey AOC
Givry AOC
Montagny AOC

Question 16

In general, what are the soils of Burgundy?

Answer 16

A mixture of limestones and clay.

Question 17

Name two of the principal appellations of the Maconnais.

Answer 17

Pouilly-Fuisse AOC
Saint-Veran AOC 
Vire-Clesse AOC
Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC
Pouilly-Loche AOC

Question 18

What is the climate of Beaujolais?

Answer 18

Continental.

Question 19

What is the average annual rainfall in Beaujolais?

Answer 19

740mm.

Question 20

What geographical feature moderates the temperatures in Beaujolais?

Answer 20

The Saone River.

Question 21

What weather phenomena can cause damage in Beaujolais?

Answer 21

The Mistral wind (cold and harsh wind - can affect flowering and damage leaves and grapes).

Question 22

What soils do the crus of Beaujolais have?

Answer 22

Fast draining granite, schist and sandy soils.

Question 23

What geographical feature helps protect Alsace from the rains that come from westerly winds?

Answer 23

The Vosges mountains.

Question 24

What % of wines produced in Alsace are white?

Answer 24

90%

Question 25

What is the average annual rainfall of Alsace?

Answer 25

600mm.

Question 26

What weather phenomena helps keep Alsace dry and at low risk of fungal disease?

Answer 26

The Fohn wind.

Question 27

What is the main grape of Alsace?

Answer 27

Riesling

Question 28

What are the four 'noble' varieties of Alsace?

Answer 28

Riesling Muscat Pinot Gris Gewurtztramier

Question 29

Which region of the Loire valley produces most of it's wine?

Answer 29

Anjou-Saumur.

Question 30

What is the main variety grown in the Pays Nantais?

Answer 30

Melon (Melon de Bourgogne or Muscadet).

Question 31

What wine making technique is commonly used in the Pays Nantais?

Answer 31

Sur Lie.

Question 32

What does the River Layon and its multiple tributaries help to achieve in Anjou?

Answer 32

It helps to create misty conditions ideal for the spread of botrytis at the end of the growing season.

Question 33

What are the principal varieties grown in Anjou-Saumur?

Answer 33

Chenin-Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Question 34

What is the principle white variety grown in Touraine?

Answer 34

Sauvignon Blanc.

Question 35

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 35

Continental.

Question 36

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 36

Mediterranean.

Question 37

What is the area under vine in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 37

4000 ha.

Question 38

What is the area under vine in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 38

66,000 ha.

Question 39

What weather phenomena can be an issue for the Northern Rhone?

Answer 39

The Mistral Wind (decreases vigour, lowers yields and production although raises concentration and reduces risk of fungal diseases).

Question 40

Name two of the main appellations of the Northern Rhone.

Answer 40

``` Cote Rotie AOC Condrieu AOC Saint-Josepn AOC Hermitage AOC Crozes-Hermitage AOC Cornas AOC Saint-Peray AOC ```

Question 41

Name the IGP in the Northern Rhone.

Answer 41

Collines Rhodaniennes IGP

Question 42

How do the vineyards of the Southern Rhone protect against the Mistral wind?

Answer 42

Low bush trained vines.

Question 43

Name two of the appellations of the Southern Rhone.

Answer 43

``` Gigondas AOC Vacqueyras AOC Vinsobres AOC Rasteau AOC Cauranne AOC Beaumes-de-Venise AOC Cahteauneuf-Du-Pape APC Lirac AOC Tavel AOC ```

Question 44

How many satellite appellations surround the Cotes-du-Rhone growing area?

Answer 44

7