South West France

Question 1

Which of the following wine producing areas lies within the Dordogne region?

Answer 1

Bergerac
Monbazillac

Question 2

Red Bergerac AOC wines must be made from at least two of the permitted varieties in the region and these varieties must make up at least 50% of the final blend. Which varieties must make up that 50%?

Answer 2

Malbec
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 3

What % of Bergerac is sold domestically?

Answer 3

90%

Question 4

90% of all Bergerac AOC wines are sold in France. What is the % breakdown to Supermarkets, Direct Sales, and Hospitality/Specialist Wine Shoppes?

Answer 4

50% = Supermarkets
30% = Direct Sales
10% = Hospitality & Specialist Wine Shops

Question 5

Monbazillac AOC only produces sweet wines. Via which production processes are these wines produced?

Answer 5

Late harvest
Botrytis bunch rot

Question 6

How does the winemaking of Monbazillac wine differ from Sauternes?

Answer 6

They are not fermented in oak which saves cost

Question 7

Monbazillac AOC wines must be an 80% blend of which principal grape varieties permitted in the region?

Answer 7

Sauvignon Gris
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Semillon

Question 8

Cahors is unique in France as its grape growing is based on a principal grape variety that’s different to all other regions. Which grape variety is this?

Answer 8

Malbec

Question 9

By what other name is Malbec known in Cahors?

Answer 9

Cot

Question 10

What is the color, aroma intensity, aroma/flavor, acid, tannin & quality of Cahors?

Answer 10

deep ruby
medium to pronounced aroma
floral/violet
med to med+ acid
high tannin
good to outstanding

Question 11

What grapes must make up the blend of Cahors?

Answer 11

70% Malbec
with Merlot & Tannat blended in

Question 12

Are wines in Cahors whole bunch or destemmed?

Answer 12

destemmed, to elminate underripe stems that could add aggressive tannin

Question 13

What are the voluntary codes used on bottles of Cahors wines to indicate quality and price.

Answer 13

Tradition
Prestige
Speciale

Question 14

What is the price, grape, soil and yield for Cahors Tradtion?

Answer 14

inexpensive
70-85% Malbec
grown on rich, alluvial soils
high yields/low fruit concentration

Question 15

What is the price for Cahors Prestige and where are they grown?

Answer 15

mid-priced
mid-slope

Question 16

What is the grape and price for Cahors Speciale and where are they grown?

Answer 16

100% Malbec
premium price
highest plateau

Question 17

What is the name of the late-harvest sweet wine made in Madiran AOC?

Answer 17

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

Question 18

What is the weather in Madiran?

Answer 18

warm, sunny summers
dry autumns
some atlantic influence
rainy winter and spring

Question 19

What wind warms the Madiran region?

Answer 19

Fohn

Question 20

What grape does well in Madiran due to the warm, sunny conditions?

Answer 20

Tannat

Question 21

What vine training systems are frequently used in Madiran?

Answer 21

Replacement cane
Cordon du Royat

Question 22

Which technique was pioneered in 1991 by Patrick Ducournau, in an attempt to soften the tannins in Madiran’s Tannat wines?

Answer 22

Micro-oxygenation

Question 23

When can wines from Madiran AOC legally be released?

Answer 23

From the beginning of the November in the year following the harvest.

Question 24

What are the three biggest export markets for Madiran AOC wines?

Answer 24

Belgium
UK
Germany

Question 25

Which mountain range has a significant impact on the vineyards of Jurançon?

Answer 25

Pyrenees

Question 26

How is the Föhn wind is beneficial to the production of sweet wines in Jurançon?

Answer 26

It helps dry the grapes and boost temps. The wind is warm and blows frequently throughout the spring and autumn. This ventilates the canopy, moving the air around and protecting the berries against rot/diseases etc. which is important for passerillage as the berries need to be clean. The warm wind also boosts temperature, therefore helping to further ripen the fruit. This boosts sugar levels to levels required for sweet wines.

Question 27

Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng are both early budding, highly aromatic, with thick skins and high acidity. Which one of them provides higher yields?

Answer 27

Gros Manseng

Question 28

How many IGP wines are in South West France?

Answer 28

14

Question 29

What is the largest IGP in South West France?

Answer 29

Cotes de Gascogne

Question 30

What grapes are used in the production of white Cotes de Gascogne?

Answer 30

Colombard Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay