France - Bordeaux Flashcards
What key development in the 17th and 18th centuries enabled agriculture in the Medoc?
The large Medoc peninsula north of the city was marshy and unsuitable for agriculture until it was drained by Dutch residents of the city of Bordeaux and planted
Which wines were prominent by the mid 18th century, and where were they significant?
Properties such as Lafite and Margaux across much of Europe and even in America.
Why were some estate’s able to be successful as soon as the area was suitable for viticulture, and what did this lead to?
The city of Bordeaux had long been a centre for wine exports from other regions, such as Bergerac, leading to entrepreneurial merchants whose origins lay in Britain, Ireland, Germany, Holland and elsewhere.
Which system of distribution established in the 18th century remains in place today?
The entrepreneurial class of merchants and brokers distributed the wines of Bordeaux and established their international reputation. That system (carried out by specialised merchants rather than proprietors) is still in place today.
What was the name of the major commercial exhibition in 1855?
Exposition Universelle de Paris
What was the aim of the 1855 classification?
The Bordeaux chamber of commerce asked the region’s brokers to make a classification of the wines.
What was the 1855 classification based on, and what was the outcome for the estates?
Price, and the estates of the Médoc plus Haut Brion in Graves were classed into 5 bands, and estates of Sauternes into 3.
What was the official outcome of the 1855 classification?
Although classifications had been made before, they were informal assessments. The 1855 classification had official status and essentially remains unchanged today. It also still influences price.
