SW France

Question 1

Many of the grapes used in the Dordogne are the same ones you’d see in which other French wine region?

Answer 1

Bordeaux

Question 2

In what direction is the Dordogne region in relation to Entre-Deux-Mers?

Answer 2

East (further inland)

Question 3

What is the climate of the Dordogne?

Answer 3

Similar to Bordeaux (moderate maritime) though it has less moderating maritime influence.

Question 4

What are the two major appellations of the Dordogne?

Answer 4

Bergerac
Monbazillac

Question 5

What styles of wine does Bergerac make?

Answer 5

Dry, still red + white wines

same grapes as Bordeaux

Question 6

What style of wine is made in Monbazillac?

Answer 6

Sweet, botrytis-affected wines made from Sauvignon Blanc + Sémillon

A good alternate to Sauternes

Question 7

What river runs through the Bergerac AOP?

Answer 7

The Dordogne River

Question 8

In what direction is Cahors in relation to Bordeaux?

Answer 8

East (further inland)

Question 9

Which river runs through the Cahors AOP?

Answer 9

The Lot River

Question 10

What is the most important grape in Cahors?

What are the other two grapes planted in Cahors?

Answer 10

Most important: Malbec

Other two: Merlot, Tannat

Question 11

What appellation in the Southwest of France was historically known for its “black wines”?

Answer 11

Cahors AOP

Made with at least 70% Malbec

Question 12

What is the style of wines from Cahors?

Answer 12

A broad range of styles is produced, depending on whether the vineyards are:
- in the fertile valley bottom,
- on the poorer soils of the slopes, or
- on the plateau above

Question 13

What is the profile of the best wines from Cahors?

Answer 13

Deep color
High tannins
Concentrated dark berry fruits
Notes of cedar, oak, earth
Ageable

Question 14

What is the most important IGP of South West France?

Answer 14

Côtes de Gascogne IGP

Question 15

What is the principal grape in Côtes de Gascogne IGP?

What is it like?

Answer 15

Ugni Blanc

Light body, dry, green apples

Question 16

What appelation is located south of Cotes de Gascogne?

Answer 16

Madiran

Question 17

What is the style of Madiran wines?

Answer 17

Made from Tannat
Deep color
High tannin
Need aging in bottle for a long time to soften tannins

Question 18

What French AOP is in the foothills of the Pyrenées?

Answer 18

Jurançon

Question 19

What styles of wine are made in Jurançon AOP?

Answer 19

where both dry and sweet white wines

Question 20

What is the principal grape of Jurançon AOP?

Answer 20

Petit Manseng (high acidity)

Question 21

How are the sweet wines of Jurançon made?: (chose one)

botrytis
passerillage
fortified while fermenting

Answer 21

passerillage

The grapes remain free of botrytis and undergo passerillage.
The wines have pronounced apricot and grapefruit aromas, sometimes accompanied by spicy notes from new oak

Question 22

Braucol, Mansois, and Pinenc are all alternative names for what famous grape of Southwestern France?

Answer 22

Fer Servadou

Question 23

What other appellation overlaps Madiran AOP?

Answer 23

Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh,

covering sweet and dry white wines

Question 24

Which river runs through the Gaillac region of Southwest France?

Answer 24

Tarn

Question 25

What important (although still controversial) winemaking technique was developed in Madiran AOC?

Answer 25

The traditional approach involves extended maceration periods, which extract deep color and tannins from the Tannat grape.

Question 26

Fer Servadou is the main grape used in which communes in southwest France?

Answer 26

Madiran
Saint Mout (Pinenc)
Gaillac (Braucol)
Marcillac (Mansois)

Question 27

What is Arrufiac?

Answer 27

Arrufiac (or Arrufiat) is a white French wine grape variety that is primarily planted in the Gascony region of South West France.
It is a secondary grape in the wines from the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh appellation.

Question 28

What is the difference between moelleux wines and liquoreux wines?

Answer 28

Moelleux (medium-sweet): between 12 g/l and 45 g/l of sugar. Liquoreux (or sweet): at least 45 g/l of sugar, without an upper limit

Question 29

From what Southwestern France appellation are you most likely to find moelleux wines?

Answer 29

Jurançon

Question 30

Quels cépages pour le Gaillac Primeur?

Answer 30

Le Gamay est le seul cépage apte à élaborer le Gaillac Primeur Rouge.
Ondenc 60% et Sauvignon Blanc 40% for Gaillac Primeur Blanc.