Southwest France

Question 1

Dordogne White Grapes

Answer 1

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc,
Sauvignon Gris, Muscadell, Ugni Blanc

Question 2

Dordogne Red Grapes

Answer 2

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Côt (Malbec)

Question 3

Southwest and Pyrenees White grapes

Answer 3

Gros
Manseng, Petit Manseng, Corbu, Petie Corbu,
Mauzac, Sauvignon Blanc

Question 4

Southwest and Pyrenees Reds

Answer 4

Côt (Malbec),
Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Fer

Question 5

Geology

Answer 5

Starts on the Spanish border south of
Bordeaux. Cahors, the main city in the eastern
regions is 145 miles east.
Geology is highly varied from the Massif
Central to the Pyrenees

Question 6

Climate

Answer 6

varies from Maritime on the Atlantic coast to slight rain shadow effects from
the Pyrenees, Mediterranean climate on the Mediterranean coast

Question 7

Soils

Answer 7

vary vastly

Question 8

Regional History

Answer 8

Located in the original Aquitaine region, vines were planted here by the Romans and
continued by the royalty of the area.
13th-14th Centuries: Bordeaux merchants see this area as a threat, so they created a law
that no wines can be traded from the port of Bordeaux until most of the Bordeaux wines
has been sold.
This prevented the region from marketing and selling the wines. They until recently have
been considered regional specialties, and only in the 20th century are marketed widely.

Question 9

Wine Styles

Answer 9

Wine styles and preferences vary widely, but because of the influence of Bordeaux, new
oak barrels are used when possible for both reds and whites.

Question 10

Micro Oxygenation

Answer 10

Patrick Ducournau developed the process of micro-oxygenation in the 1990s in the region
of Cahors. This breaks down tannins in and allowed the wines of the region to be more
accessible.

Question 11

Bergerac AOP

Answer 11

Dry whites from Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, reds and rosé from Cabernet
Sauvignon, Côt, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Question 12

Côtes de Bergerac AOP

Answer 12

same as Bergerac, but with a higher required minimum abv.

Question 13

Peycharmant AOP

Answer 13

reds only from Cabernet Sauvignon, Côt, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Question 14

Sweet Wine Appellations in the style of Bordeaux

Answer 14

Monbazillac AOP, Saussignac AOP, Rosette AOP, Haut-Montravel AOP, and Côtes de Montravel AOP

Question 15

Cahors AOP

Answer 15

dry reds from mainly Côt, with Merlot and Tannat

Question 16

Madiran AOP

Answer 16

dry reds from mainly Tannat with Cabernet Sauvign

Question 17

Jurançon AOP

Answer 17

Dry to late harvest wines from Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng

Question 18

Gaillac AOP

Answer 18

Dry to sweet whites from Mauza, Len de l’El, Muscadelle, reds and rosé from Syrah,
Duras and Fer

Question 19

Major Villages

Answer 19

The regions stretch from Bordeaux to Toulouse, with Cahors being a major center for winemaking.