Bordeaux

Question 1

What defines Cru Bourgeois?

Answer 1

A list created in 1932 of 444 châteaux from Médoc not included in the 1855 classification. It remains a member-based syndicate.

Question 2

What estate is the only Premier Cru Supérieur of the 1855 classification?

Answer 2

Château d’Yquem

Question 3

Bordeaux’s first vineyards were planted in what sub-region?

Answer 3

Graves

Question 4

What contribution did the Dutch make to Bordeaux winemaking in the 1600s?

Answer 4

They drained the Médoc peninsula in order to grow grapes for sweet white table wine and for wine to distill into eau de vie

Question 5

What is “Clairet”?

Answer 5

A semi-red wine made by the Saignée method.

Question 6

What are the four sub-regional designations of the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC”?

Answer 6

Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon, and Francs

Question 7

What are the main soil types of Bordeaux’s Right Bank?

Answer 7

Clay and limestone

Question 8

What are the main grapes of Bordeaux’s Right Bank?

Answer 8

Merlot and Cabernet Franc

Question 9

What Bordeaux soils are considered “warm”?

Answer 9

Gravel and sand because they radiate heat back to the vine

Question 10

What Médoc AOC is considered the most “feminine” and perfumed?

Answer 10

Margaux AOC

Question 11

What three Bordeaux winegrowing areas were included in the 1855 Classification?

Answer 11

Médoc (60 châteaux), Péssac-Leognan (1 château) and Sauternes (26 châteaux)

Question 12

What style of wine is produced in the Libournais?

Answer 12

All 10 Libournais AOCs are for dry reds only

Question 13

What are the three secondary red grape varieties in Bordeaux?

Answer 13

Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenère

Question 14

What are “Crus Artisans”?

Answer 14

Boutique wineries of quality in Bordeaux

Question 15

What did the 1953 Graves Classification rank?

Answer 15

The wines of 16 estates, rather than the estates themselves

Question 16

What Bordeaux AOC produces dry whites mainly from Colombard?

Answer 16

Côtes de Blaye AOC

Question 17

How are reds from Entre-Deux-Mers labeled?

Answer 17

“Bordeaux AOC” or “Bordeaux Supérieur AOC”

Question 18

What style of wine is made under the Entre-Deux-Mers AOC?

Answer 18

The Entre-Deux-Mers AOC is for dry white wines only

Question 19

What is “Les Landes”?

Answer 19

A man-made forest separating Bordeaux from the ocean.

Question 20

Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between:

Answer 20

Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc

Question 21

What Right Bank sub-region has a classification system?

Answer 21

St. Emilion

Question 22

How does Bordeaux Supérieur differ from Bordeaux AOC?

Answer 22

Stricter production standards, lower yields and higher alcohol. Reds must be aged 9 months. Whites are always semi-sweet.

Question 23

What defines the term “Petit Château”?

Answer 23

“Petit Château” is an unofficial term for an unclassified property in the Bordeaux region

Question 24

What Médoc AOC is considered the most “Californian”?

Answer 24

St. Julien

Question 25

What is the main grape of Bordeaux's Left Bank?

Answer 25

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 26

What Bordeaux soils are considered "cold"?

Answer 26

Clay and limestone because they retain moisture

Question 27

What style of wine is produced in the Cérons, Barsac and Sauternes AOCs?

Answer 27

Sweet whites affected by noble rot

Question 28

What are the three principal rivers of Bordeaux?

Answer 28

Gironde, Garonne, Dordogne

Question 29

What is the difference between St Emilion Grand Cru and St Emilion Grand Cru Classé?

Answer 29

The former is an AOC. The latter is a ranking within a classification system.

Question 30

What French wine region produces more AOC wine than any other?

Answer 30

Bordeaux

Question 31

What is the primary grape of Entre-Deux-Mers?

Answer 31

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 32

Why is Graves suited for sweet wine production?

Answer 32

Damp, foggy mornings followed by warm dry afternoons promote noble rot

Question 33

Why is Malbec seldom planted in Bordeaux today?

Answer 33

The winter freeze of 1956 destroyed most Malbec plantings.

Question 34

How many categories of "growths" were given to red wines in Bordeaux's 1855 classification?

Answer 34

Five

Question 35

What are the three primary white grapes in Bordeaux?

Answer 35

Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle

Question 36

A semi-sweet wine from Graves must labeled as:

Answer 36

Graves Superiures

Question 37

Where is the wine-producing area of Libournais?

Answer 37

On Bordeaux's Right Bank, around the city of Liborne

Question 38

What style of wine is produced in the Cadillac, Loupiac and Ste-Croix-du-Mont AOCs?

Answer 38

Sweet whites affected by noble rot

Question 39

Bordeaux's first vineyards were planted in what sub-region?

Answer 39

Graves

Question 40

What are the four St. Emilion satellites?

Answer 40

St-Georges, Lussac, Montagne and Puisseguin

Question 41

What moderates Bordeaux's climate?

Answer 41

The Gulf Stream, Les Landes, and the network of rivers

Question 42

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

Answer 42

Maritime

Question 43

What style of wine is made in the Médoc?

Answer 43

Dry reds only

Question 44

Merlot is a cross between...

Answer 44

Cab Franc x Magdeleine Noir