France

Question 1

Major AOC Wine-Producing Regions in France

Answer 1

Bordeaux
Loire Valley
Champagne
Alsace
Burgundy
Rhone Valley
Provence
Languedoc
Roussillon

Question 2

France’s Mediterranean Coast

Answer 2

Roussillon
Languedoc
Rhone  
Provence
Corsica Island

Question 3

Wine Laws - France

Answer 3

INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine)
Vin de table/Vin
Vin de pays/IGP/PGI (Country Wine - 33% of wines)

Question 4

INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine)

Answer 4

governing body that is structured around a wine’s place of origin

Question 5

Vin de table/Vin

Answer 5

can come from anywhere in France

not of particular importance, only about 8% of total wine production

Question 6

Vin de pays/IGP/PGI

Answer 6

1. Considered Table Wines with Geographic Indication (PGI) 85% of the grapes must come within the 152 or so delimited Vin de Pays regions. Similar to AVAs in that it apart from specific geographic limitations on grape sources, but they allow the winemaker latitude to make whatever wine he/she wants to make. Compete with “international” style wines.
2. Four large vin de pays region (similar to Super AVAs)
   - IGP de Pays du Val de Loire - Loire Valley
   - IGP de Pays du Compte Tolosan - Bordeaux to the Pyrenees
   - IGP de Pays d’Oc - Perpignan near Spain to Avignon (west of Rhone)
   - IGP de Pays des Comptes Rhodaniens - Macon to Avignon East and east to the Swiss and Italian Borders (east of Rhone)

Question 7

Appellation d’Origine Controlee/AOP

Answer 7

AOC/AOP (Appellation d’origine controlee) aka nearly 50% of wines (more than 300)
1. used for cheeses and other agricultural along with wine
2. specific geographic area - e.g. Bordeaux, or a district e.g. Medoc, or Village e.g. Pauillac or vineyard e.g. Montrachet
3. grape variety - one or more
4. ripeness levels
5. Harvest yields
6. viticultural practices e.g. number vines
7. vinification techniques
8. minimum or maximum alcohol in finished wines
Broken down into:
- region, district, village/commune/parish, single vineyard/estate

Question 8

French White Grape Varieties

Answer 8

Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)
Chardonnay
Savignon Blanc
Melon de Bourgogne
Semillon
Chenin Blanc
Muscat

Question 9

Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)

Answer 9

most widely planted white grape in Franc

used almost exclusively for making brandy (Cognac and Armagnac)

Question 10

Muscat

Answer 10

mainly used for fortified wines (vins doux naturels)

Question 11

French Red Grape Varieties

Answer 11

Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Grenache
Syrah
Pinot Noir
Carignan
Gamay
Cinsaut
Pinot Meunier
Mourvedre