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124 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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How old is a white wine that looks clear to light straw? |
1-3 years |
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How old is a white wine that looks yellow? |
3-5 years |
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How old is a white wine that looks golden? |
5+ years |
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How old is a white wine that looks brown? |
Doesn't matter, it's dead |
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How old is a red wine with purple colors? |
1-3 years |
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How old is a red wine with red colors? |
3-5 years |
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How old is a red wine with amber/brick colors? |
5+ years |
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How old is a red wine with brown colors? |
Doesn't matter, it's dead |
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How old is a wine with predominantly fruity, floral aromas? |
Usually 1-3 years |
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How old is a wine with predominantly earthy, mineral aromas? |
Usually 2-5 years |
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How old is a wine with mostly biological/chemical aromas? |
Usually 4+ years |
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How do wood/spice aromas affect your estimate of a wine's age? |
You subtract a few years, strong aging aromas are characteristics of younger wines that appear prematurely aged. |
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What does acidity tell you about the climate a wine was grown in? |
Higher level of acid generally indicates cooler climates |
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What does alcohol level tell you about the climate a wine was grown in? |
Higher alcohol content usually suggests a warmer climate |
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What does body tell you about the climate a wine was grown in? |
Thicker bodies tend to come from warmer climates |
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What does sugar content tell you about the climate a wine was grown in? |
It doesn't tell you very much, because sugar is often added to wines - if anything it is often added to more acidic less naturally sweet wines, indicating paradoxically a cool climate. |
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What climates are seen in New World vs Old World wines? |
New World wines are typically warmer Old World wines are typically cooler |
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What country produces the most wine? |
France |
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What are the six classic regions of France? |
Bordeaux Burgundy The Rhone Valley Champagne The Loire Valley Alsace |
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What percentage of the world's premium wine is produced in France? |
50% |
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How long has wine been produced in France? |
2600 years |
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What are the AOC laws? |
Laws which break French wines into four quality classifications, from strictest and highest quality to loosest, they are: Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AOC) Vin Delimite de Qualite Superieure (VDQS) Vin de pays Vin de table |
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How are French wines labeled? |
By the region in which they are grown, with the exception of Alsatian wines |
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Who were the first to plant wine grapes in France? |
The Greeks, sometime around the 6th century BCE, ~ 2600 years ago |
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How much of the world's wine is produced in France? |
20% |
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What are the three major climate zones of France? |
Cool-continental Temperate-maritime Warm-mediterranean |
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What classic wine regions of France have a cool continental climate? |
Champagne Alsace Burgundy |
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What classic wine regions of France have a temperate maritime climate? |
Loire Valley Bordeaux |
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What classic wine region of France has a warm mediterranean climate? |
Rhone Valley |
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What are the six non-classic but important regions in France? |
Languedoc-Roussillon Provence The Sud Ouest (Southwest) Jura Savoie Corsica |
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What non-classic wine region of France has a temperate-maritime climate? |
Sud Ouest |
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What body of water stabilizes the temperature of the regions of Bordeaux, Loire Valley, and Sud Oueste? |
The Atlantic Ocean |
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What non-classic but important wine regions of France have a warm-mediterranean climate? |
Provence Languedoc-Roussillon Mediterranean island of Corsica |
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What two important non-classic regions of France have a cool-continental climate? |
Jura Savoie |
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How is Viognier unique as a white wine? |
It prefers warmer temperature and has full body and power. |
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How is Pinot Noir unique as a red wine? |
It is thin skinned, delicate, high acidity, and prefers cooler temperatures |
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What are the rules regarding wine being labeled as "vin de table?" |
Translates to "table wine," these wines can be made from grapes from anywhere in France, and they cannot mention any specific region or grape variety, simply "Vin Blanc" (white wine), "Vin Rouge" (red wine), or "Vin Rose" (rose wine), and "Produit de France." These wines are rarely exported and make up less than a quarter of French wine. |
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What are the rules regarding wine being labeled as "vin de pays?" |
Translates to "country wine," refers to wine made in important but not classic wine regions - restrictions are more relaxed, allowing flexibility similar to those found in American wine laws. Labeled by the grapes used. |
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Where are 80% of French vin de pays wines produced? |
The most important regions are in southern France, especially Vin de Pays d'Oc. |
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What are the rules regarding wine being labeled as "Vin Delimite de QUalite Superieure?" (VDQS) |
Translates to "delimited wine of superior quality" - it is a temporary label for wine regions that are aspiring to move into the top quality classification. Less than one percent of wines in France are in this category. |
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What are the rules regarding wine being labeled as "Appellation d'Origine Controlee?" |
"Area of controlled origin" - named for the region in which they are produced, and the region is found between Appellation and Controlee, e.g. Appellation Bordeaux Controlee. |
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What governing body strictly enforces the AOC laws in France? |
Institut Nationale des Appellations d'Origine (INAO) |
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What does "Cru" mean? |
Cru, seen on French labels, means "Vineyard or Growth" - commonly seen as "Grand Cru" (great growth) or "Premier Cru" (first growth), quality designations that refer to top wines and have different meanings in the various regions of France. |
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What is the French word for dry? Sweet? |
Dry = Sec Sweet = Doux |
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What is the French word for hill or slope? Walled vineyard? Wine estate? Vineyard estate? |
Hill or slope: Cote Walled vineyard (common in Burgundy): Clos Wine estate (common in Bordeaux): Chateau Vineyard estate (common in Burgundy): Domaine |
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What French term is used to indicate a wine of higher quality than minimum standards, often earned with higher alcohol content and/or lower yields? |
Superieur |
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What is regulated in the production of wine that have the designation AOC? |
Origin - 100% of wines must be grown within specific boundaries Can only be made from approved varietals of the region There is a minimum and maximum alcohol content and time of harvest is dictated There is a maximum amount of grapes in weight that may be harvested with each vintage, thus forcing the winemakers to stress their wines They are told how long to age their wines and what they can use The methods for growing, planting, pruning, etc. vines |
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How did Bordeaux come under the control of England? |
Henry II of England wed Eleanor of Aquitaine, in 1152 CE. |
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What is the English name for French Red Bordeaux? |
Claret |
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How long did England control the Bordeaux wine region? |
300 years until the end of the Hundred Years War |
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How many wine producers are there in Bordeaux? |
20,000 |
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How much of France's premium wine is made in Bordeaux? |
25%, and thus 12% of the world's premium wine |
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What are the two most important red grapes grown in Bordeaux? |
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot |
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What are the two most important white grapes grown in Bordeaux? |
Semillon Sauvignon Blanc |
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What varietal is used in most dry white wines in Bordeaux? |
Sauvignon Blanc |
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What varietal is used in most sweet white wines in Bordeaux? |
Late harvest botrytised Semillon grapes |
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What do the French call those who produce wines from grapes purchased from growers? |
Negociants |
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What are the top left bank regions in Bordeaux? |
Medoc Haut-Medoc Graves |
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What are the top right bank regions in Bordeaux? |
Pomerol Saint-Emilion |
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What is the most commercially successful wine region in the world? |
Bordeaux |
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How is Sauvignon Blanc managed in Bordeaux? |
Used as a base for dry acidic white blends, or used to balance the sweetness of dessert wines with acidity. |
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Which areas produce most dry, Sauvignon Blanc-based wines in Bordeaux? |
Southern areas of the Left Bank and Entre-Deux-Mers. |
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What character does Semillon add to Bordeaux dry white wine? |
Semillon softens the acidity and adds body to the traditionally used Sauvignon Blanc |
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How is Cabernet Sauvignon used on the Left vs Right bank in Bordeaux? |
On the Left bank, it is the main varietal in the blend; On the Right bank, it is blended to Merlot or Cabernet Franc-based wines to make them more robust. |
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What varietal is most widely grown in Bordeaux? |
Merlot |
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What are five notable grapes blended into Bordeaux wines in small quantities? |
Muscadelle Cabernet Franc Malbec Petit Verdot Carmenere |
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How many acres of vineyards are found in Bordeaux? |
300,000 acres |
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How many subregions are found throughout Bordeaux? |
57 |
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What estuary and its tributaries divides the Bordeaux region into three subregions? Name the subregions. |
The Gironde estuary
Left Bank, Right Bank, and Entre-Deux-Mers |
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What is "Bordeaux" a contraction for? |
Au bord de l'eau - "Along the water" |
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What French region is divided into lower and upper, and produces mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with the upper region considered to produce superior wines? |
Medoc - divided into "upper" Haut-Medoc and "lower" Bas-Medoc |
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What four communes are thought to produce some of the top quality wine in Haut-Medoc? |
Margaux Pauillac Saint-Estephe Saint-Julien |
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What are two large lesser status communes in Haut-Medoc? |
Listrac and Moulis |
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What commune of Haut-Medoc has more classified growth estates than any other in Haut-Medoc and produces elegant smooth Bordeaux wines with soft tannins and intense aroma? |
Margaux |
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What commune of Haut-Medoc produces Bordeaux wines that are powerful, full-flavored, and long lived, and contain Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, and Chateau Mouton-Rothschild? |
Pauillac |
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What commune of Haut-Medoc is the most northern of the important communes and produces powerfully tannic, structured Bordeaux wines? |
Saint-Estephe |
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Which commune of Haut-Medoc is the smallest of the important communes and produces consistent, top quality wines, with focus on Cabernet Sauvignon? |
Saint-Julien |
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Which white wines are grown in Medoc and Haut-Medoc? |
None! |
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From what does Graves, an important region in the Left Bank of Bordeaux, derive its name? |
The gravelly soil found in the region which supports both white and red varietals. |
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What is the AOC designation in northern Graves that is considered to produce the best wine of the subregion, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc? |
Pessac-Leognan |
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What are some characters of Pessac-Leognan red Bordeaux wines? |
Tend to be softer because the winemakers blend more Merlot into their wine than others in the Graves |
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What kind of soil is found in the Right Bank of Bordeaux? |
More clay than other regions of Bordeaux |
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What two regions in the Right Bank produce some of the world's best Merlot? |
Pomerol and Saint-Emilion |
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Which commune of the Right Bank is the smallest of the top quality communes in Bordeaux and produces red Bordeaux wines that are almost purely Merlot? |
Pomerol |
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Where does Saint-Emilion derive its name? |
For the medieval village located in the center of the appellation |
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To what main region do Pomerol and Saint-Emilion belong? |
The Right Bank of Bordeaux. |
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What main region contains Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estephe, and Saint-Julien? |
Haut-Medoc in the Left Bank of Bordeaux |
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What main region contains the subregions Medoc, Haut-Medoc, and Graves? |
The Left Bank of Bordeaux |
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What is unique about the Entre-Deux-Mers region in Bordeaux? |
It is an island between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers |
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What kind of wine typically bears the AOC of Entre-Deux-Mers? |
Dry, white wines of average quality that are mostly made from Sauvignon Blanc. |
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What are some important subregions of Bordeaux that produce sweet wines, and which produces the highest quality? |
Barsac, Cadillac, Loupiac, Sainte-Croix-du-Mont The best almost always come from Sauternes |
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What region of Bordeaux is legendary for its late harvest, botrytised wines? |
Sauternes |
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What are the ranking categories from the 1855 Classification of Red Wines in Bordeaux? |
Mostly in Medoc and subregions, with one chateau in Graves, the categories are: Premier cru (first growth) through Cinquieme cru (fifth growth) |
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What are the five premier crus (red wine) in Bordeaux? |
Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves/Pessac-Leognan) Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Medoc/Pauillac) Chateau Latour (Medoc/Pauillac) Chateau Margaux (Medoc/Margaux) Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Medoc/Pauillac) |
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Which sweet wine estate in Bordeaux received premier grand cru status in the Classification of 1855? |
Chateau d'Yquem in Sauternes |
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What is the Cru Bourgeois system? |
Established in the 1930s by the estates of Medoc that were left out of the Classification of 1855 - 250 estates are classified under this system |
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What is the Cru Classe system? |
A classification system for estates in Graves - no rankings, simply a list of the best estates for red wines, white wines, or both |
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What estate is a member of Cru Classe AND the Classification of 1855? |
Chateau Haut-Brion |
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What is the Saint-Emilion classification system? |
Established in the 1950s, established two ranks grand cru classe and premier grand cru classe. Estates must petition each year, and they receive the label "Appellation Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe" |
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What two estates were given special status as Category A estates in the Saint-Emilion Classification? |
Chateau Ausone Chateau Cheval Blanc |
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What cities mark the northern and southern edges of Burgundy? |
Chablis is in the north, and 200 miles south is Lyons |
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When did Burgundy start growing grapes? |
200 CE |
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How many acres of grapes are grown in Burgundy? |
100,000 |
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What are the two noble grape varieties in Burgundy? |
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir |
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What is the name given to an estate that grows wine in Bordeaux? |
Chateau |
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What is the name given to an estate that grows wine in Burgundy? |
Domaine or Maison |
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How did the French Revolution (1789) affect the region of Burgundy? |
Inheritance laws changed requiring estates to be divided equally among all heirs, resulting in so many splits of estates that some growers only own two rows of vines or less. As a result, individuals who own the grapes do not have enough acreage to produce their own wines and so they sell their grapes to negociant-eleveurs (wine brokerage firms) that blend it together and label it under their own negociant label - this accounts for 70% of the wine produced in Burgundy. |
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What are the top Five regions (and two of the sub subregions of one of those) in Burgundy? |
Chablis Cote d'Or (Cote de Nuit, Cote de Beune) Cote Chalonnaise Maconnais Beaujolais |
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Which region in France is the most obsessed with terroir? |
Burgundy |
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Which group was the first to systematically map the terroir zones of Burgundy? |
The Benedictine Order of monks |
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What are the tiers in the classification of wine in Burgundy? |
Regional (lowest tier) -> Commune/Village -> Premier cru vineyard -> Grand cru vineyard (highest tier) |
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What tier would be "Appellation Borgogne Controlee"? |
Regional of Burgundy |
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What defines a wine as being of the regional tier in Burgundy? |
The grapes can be sourced from anywhere in the region of Burgundy |
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What defines a wine as being part of the Commune/Village tier in Burgundy? |
The grapes are produced in vineyards surrounding one of Burgundy's important subregions/communes or one of the famous villages |
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"Appellation Cote de Beune Controlee" and "Appellation Pouilly-Fuisse Controlle" are examples of what tier in Burgundy? |
Commune/Village |
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What are two minor grapes grown in Burgundy? |
Aligote and Gamay |
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What are characteristics of Chardonnay grown in Burgundy? |
A solid core of acidity and minerality, complex, intense, extremely precise, and some of the world's best food pairing wines. |
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Where would one find Chardonnays with a solid core of acidity and minerality, complex, intense, extremely precise, that pair excellently with food? |
Burgundy, France |
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What are characteristics of Pinot Noir grown in Burgundy? |
Seductive and complex, a balance of velvety mouthfeel, intense aroma, pleasant acidity, red berries, savory earthiness, and spicy structure. |
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Where would find a Pinot Noir that is seductive and complex, with a balance of velvety mouthfeel, intense aroma, pleasant acidity, red berries, savory earthiness, and spicy structure. |
Burgundy, France |
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Where would one find the small town of Chardonnay? |
In the southern Burgundy commune of Maconnais. |
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What is the top region in Burgundy for production of Aligote? |
Bouzeron in the Cote Chalonnaise. |
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What is the main red grape of Beaujolais? |
Gamay |
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What kind of wine is "passe-tout-grains?" |
A mixture of Gamay and Pinot Noir in Burgundy |
