Bordeaux

Question 1

What are the 3 main white grapes of Bordeaux?

Answer 1

1. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Sémillon
3. Muscadelle

Question 2

What are the 6 main red grapes of Bordeaux?

Answer 2

1. Merlot
2. Cabernet Sauvignon
3. Cabernet Franc
4. Malbec
5. Petit Verdot
6. Carménère

Question 3

What was the most important foreign market of Bordeaux wines in the Middle Ages?

Answer 3

England

Question 4

A. 400 years ago, in the 17th century, what did Dutch merchants do to the marshes in Bordeaux, and why?

B. Their actions led to what important, beneficial trait to the soils of Bordeaux?

Answer 4

A. They built channels that drained marshes in Bordeaux – making the land more suitable for viticulture – to expand trade.

B. Drainage is the important soil trait – it allows roots to dig deeply for water, nutrients, and help ripen thick-skinned Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank.

Question 5

On which ocean is Bordeaux situated?

Answer 5

Atlantic Ocean

The ocean access made Bordeaux famous faster than other regions in France because the wines could be exported easily.

Question 6

In what area of France can you find the Bordeaux wine region?

Answer 6

Southwest

Question 7

What is the climate of Bordeaux?

Answer 7

Maritime

Question 8

On what parallel is Bordeaux?

Answer 8

45th

Question 9

What moderates/affects the climate in Bordeaux?

Answer 9

1. The Gulf Stream
   
   • warm waters carried up from the Caribbean keep Bdx mild (but humid)
2. Coastal proximity + waterways
   
   • breezes off of both keep air circulating

Question 10

What is the name of the pine forest that protects Bordeaux from strong winds + storms off the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer 10

Les Landes

Here’s a fun, easy-to-read article giving further background.

Question 11

What are the 3 main waterways in Bordeaux?

Hint: two are rivers and one is an estuary.

Answer 11

1. Gironde Estuary, which is formed by:
2. Garonne River
3. Dordogne River

Question 12

In which direction does the Gironde Estuary flow: away from the Atlantic or into the Atlantic?

Answer 12

Into the Atlantic

Fun Fact: Banks of a river are named “left” or “right” according to the directional flow of that river. The Garonne, Dordogne + Gironde flow from southeast to northwest and so, drifting downstream, Pomerol and St.-Émilion will appear on your right and the Médoc on your left. Ergo, Médoc is located on the left bank and Pomerol + St.-Émilion are on the right bank.

Question 13

What are the weather threats in Bordeaux?

Answer 13

1. Rain at harvest
2. Spring frost

Question 14

Where is Entre-Deux-Mers in Bordeaux?

Answer 14

Between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers

Question 15

What are the 3 main soil types in Bordeaux?

Answer 15

1. Gravel
2. Gravel, limestone, sand
3. Iron pan beneath sand + clay

Question 16

What is the predominant soil type found on Bordeaux’s Left Bank (e.g. Médoc, Graves)?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

Answer 16

• Soil: Gravel
• Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 17

What are the predominant soil types found in Saint-Émilion?

Give examples of grapes that grows well here.

Answer 17

• Soil: Gravel, limestone, sand
• Grape: Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Question 18

What is the predominant soil type found in Pomerol?

Give an example of a grape that grows well here.

Answer 18

• Soil: Iron pan beneath sand + clay
• Grape: Merlot

Question 19

What is Bordeaux’s most planted red grape?

Answer 19

Merlot

Question 20

Merlot is mostly planted on which bank?

Answer 20

Right Bank

Question 21

Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly planted on which bank?

Answer 21

Left Bank

Question 22

Bordeaux wines, both red and white, are typically:

• single varietals
• blends

Answer 22

Blends

Question 23

When you see a Right Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be _____.

Answer 23

Merlot

Question 24

When you see a Left Bank red wine, the main grape in it is almost always going to be _____.

Answer 24

Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 25

Name 3 Bordeaux appellations that make dry white wine.

Answer 25

1. Entre-Deux-Mers 2. Graves 3. Péssac-Léognan

Question 26

Which grape will almost always be the dominant grape in the blend of a white Bordeaux wine?

Answer 26

Sauvignon Blanc

Question 27

Do most red wines from Bordeaux see some new oak, or are most aged in stainless steel/neutral oak?

Answer 27

Most red Bordeaux wines will see at least **some new oak**. ## Footnote *Note: inexpensive supermarket wines will either see oak chips or just stainless steel. Oak barrels are reserved for middle and top-tier wines.*

Question 28

Vintage variation can be a really big deal in Bordeaux. What causes the vintage variation and how do the Bordelaise manage it?

Answer 28

_Causes_ * **Spring frosts** * **Rain at harvest** * **Crappy weather during the growing season** (rain, not a lot of sun = a cool vintage) * **Super hot weather during the growing season** (excessive temps = a hot vintage) _Management_ * **Plant different grape varietals** * all those grape varietals bud, flower and ripen at different times so an early-budding grape like Merlot could be affected by frost * **Make blends** * a late-ripening grape like Cabernet Sauvignon could get hit with rain at harvest

Question 29

What is the Bordeaux AOP hierarchy from largest to smallest (both in terms of size and production)?

Answer 29

1. **Bordeaux AOP** 2. **Sub-Regional / District** Appellations * e.g. Haut-Médoc AOP 3. **Commune** Appellation * e.g. Margaux AOP

Question 30

Bordeaux AOP wines make up \_\_\_\_% of the Bordeaux region's total production.

Answer 30

45%

Question 31

What colors and styles of wine are allowed to be made under the Bordeaux AOP?

Answer 31

**Dry + sweet** styles of **both red + white** wines

Question 32

The highest level of quality wines in Bordeaux are found in the \_\_\_\_\_ appellations.

Answer 32

Commune

Question 33

Saint Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint Julien, and Margaux are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

Answer 33

Left Bank

Question 34

Pomerol and Saint-Émilion are commune appellations on which Bank of the Gironde in Bordeaux?

Answer 34

Right Bank

Question 35

What size barrel is used in Bordeaux?

Answer 35

**225L** barrels called **barriques**

Question 36

When you see the word 'château' on a bottle of Bordeaux, what do you immediately know about the wine?

Answer 36

* The estate is under **single ownership** * The château's name isn't the name of its vineyard(s), it's the **brand name** * *vineyard names don't appear on Bordeaux wine labels!*

Question 37

What is the predominant soil type found on the Left Bank of Bordeaux?

Answer 37

Gravel

Question 38

What is the only color and style of wine allowed to be made in the Médoc?

Answer 38

Red, dry wines

Question 39

What are the 2 sub-regional AOPs of The Médoc?

Answer 39

1. Médoc AOP 2. Haut-Médoc AOP

Question 40

What are the 4 Commune appellations of The Médoc? Briefly describe the style of red wine each Commune is known for.

Answer 40

1. **Saint-Estèphe AOP** * most tannic 2. **Pauillac AOP** * most powerful 3. **Saint Julien AOP** * most floral + elegant 4. **Margaux AOP** * softest due to more Merlot

Question 41

What are the top Left Bank Bordeaux vintages between 2005-2016?

Answer 41

* 2005 * 2009 * 2010 * 2015 * 2016

Question 42

What did the 1855 Classification classify? How were the classifications determined (or, what were they based on)?

Answer 42

**It ranked the top properties on the Left Bank of Bordeaux into growths, First through Fifth**, for a world's fair that was held in Paris in 1855. The classification was commissioned by Emperor Napoléon III, who wanted to show off France's top wines at the fair. The classifications were **based on the prices each wine fetched at market**. The people who ranked the wines were those who sold them: merchants and brokers.

Question 43

What are the 5 First Growths of Bordeaux?

Answer 43

1. Château Latour 2. Château Lafite-Rothschild 3. Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated 1973) 4. Château Margaux 5. Château Haut-Brion

Question 44

Of the 5 First Growths of Bordeaux, **which 3** are found in Pauillac?

Answer 44

1. Château Latour 2. Château Lafite-Rothschild 3. Château Mouton-Rothschild (elevated 1973)

Question 45

Which château was elevated to First Growth in 1973?

Answer 45

Château Mouton-Rothschild

Question 46

Which First Growth is found in Graves?

Answer 46

Château Haut-Brion

Question 47

Where is Graves located: to the north or south of the city of Bordeaux?

Answer 47

**South** of the city of Bordeaux

Question 48

What is the soil in Graves?

Answer 48

Gravel

Question 49

Graves can make: * red wines only * white wines only * both

Answer 49

Both

Question 50

What are the grapes used in Graves, for both red and white wines?

Answer 50

_White wines_ * Sauvignon Blanc * Sémillon _Red Wines_ * Cabernet Sauvignon * Merlot * Cabernet Franc

Question 51

What is the sub-region of Graves AOP? Where is it located within Graves AOP?

Answer 51

**Péssac-Léognan AOP**, located in the **northernmost section** of Graves AOP.

Question 52

What sub-regional AOP of Graves is located in its southernmost section? ## Footnote *Hint: it's known for sweet wines.*

Answer 52

Sauternes AOP

Question 53

What is the only style of wine allowed in Sauternes AOP?

Answer 53

**Sweet white wines** whose grapes have been affected by the Botrytis fungus (it's humid in Sauternes, which encourages the fungus to grow).

Question 54

The sweet white wines of Sauternes AOP are known to be aged in: * new French barrique * neutral American oak * stainless steel

Answer 54

New French barrique

Question 55

What does Entre-Deux-Mers translate to in English?

Answer 55

Between two seas

Question 56

What is the soil type of Entre-Deux-Mers?

Answer 56

Fertile **silt**

Question 57

What is the color and style of wine allowed in Entre-Deux-Mers, and based on which grapes?

Answer 57

**Dry white wines** based on: * **Sauvignon Blanc** * **Sémillon** * **Muscadelle**

Question 58

If a red wine is made in Entre-Deux-Mers, what AOP does it take?

Answer 58

Bordeaux AOP

Question 59

Do the white wines of Entre-Deux-Mers typically see stainless steel or lots of new French barriques?

Answer 59

**Stainless steel** ## Footnote *This is an inexpensive appellation meant for early consumption so the wines are fresh + youthful and made in stainless steel (although there are always exceptions -- some EDMs with a light touch of oak on them do exist).*

Question 60

What are the 2 major AOPs of Right Bank Bordeaux?

Answer 60

1. Pomerol AOP 2. St.-Émilion AOP

Question 61

Wines from Pomerol AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP are allowed to be what color and style?

Answer 61

Dry red wines ONLY

Question 62

What are the 2 main red grapes in St.-Émilion?

Answer 62

1. Merlot 2. Cabernet Franc

Question 63

What are the soils of St.-Émilion AOP?

Answer 63

Largely **a bed of silt, clay and gravel**, but there is a limestone plateau and plots with more sand.

Question 64

What are the 2 AOPs of Saint-Émilion?

Answer 64

1. Saint-Émilion AOP 2. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP

Question 65

What is the difference between Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP and Saint-Émilion AOP?

Answer 65

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOP must: * **be aged longer** * **have an additional 0.5% abv**

Question 66

Which is geographically smaller: Pomerol AOP or Saint-Émilion AOP?

Answer 66

Pomerol AOP

Question 67

In what year was the St.-Émilion Classification established? When was its most recent review (or revision)?

Answer 67

1955 2022 ## Footnote In 1955 the French National Institute of Appellations (INAO) made a classification of the wines of St.-Émilion

Question 68

What are the 2 châteaux named as Premier Grands Crus Classé A?

Answer 68

1. Château Figeac 2. Château Pavie

Question 69

How many Premiers Grands Crus Classé B châteaux are there with the 2022 classification?

Answer 69

12

Question 70

How many Grands Crus Classé are there with the 2022 classification?

Answer 70

71

Question 71

Where is Pomerol AOP in relation to St.-Émilion AOP?

Answer 71

northwest

Question 72

What are the soils of Pomerol?

Answer 72

* Sand * Clay * Gravel * Iron pan + rich clay subsoils

Question 73

Does Pomerol have a classification system?

Answer 73

No, Pomerol does NOT have a classification system.

Question 74

Name Pomerol's arguably most famous château.

Answer 74

**Château Pétrus** ## Footnote *If you were able to buy it retail, the most recent vintage would cost roughly US$4,000. On a wine list it'd be much, much higher.*

Question 75

How are the wines of Bordeaux classified vs. those of Burgundy?

Answer 75

In Burgundy, the wines are classified by the place -- they're vineyard specific (village, 1er Cru, Grand Cru). In Bordeaux, it's the house, or château, that's classified -- not the vineyard or land itself.