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Percentage of British respondents in a recent survey who thought that terroir referred to a small breed of dog. Another 30% said terroir was a type of French horror film. Reassuringly, 34% of those surveyed did connect the term to wine. The survey was commissioned by the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET), the world’s leading wine certification body, as part of their global Wine Education Week.

In the wine name Pouilly-Fumé, what does the “Fumé” refer to?

A. The smoky-colored gray bloom of yeasts on the grapes

B. The mists that rise up from the Loire River where the river makes a turn and begins to head south

C. The slightly smoky character of the wine

D. The morning fog that settles in the pockets of many of the best vineyards

According to the renowned French ampelographer Pierre Galet (known as the “father of modern ampelography”), sauvignon blanc grapes in the Pouilly area of the Loire Valley in France are known by the synonym Blanc Fumé after the smoky-colored gray bloom of yeasts that grow on the grapes there. The grape Blanc Fumé gave rise to the wine’s name Pouilly-Fumé.

How’s Your French?

Here are some tips on pronouncing some (often mispronounced) Champagne brand names. Moët et Chandon—Mo-ETTE ay Shan-DON. The “t” in Moët is indeed pronounced. Pol Roger—Paul Roe-ZHAY. Winston Churchill reportedly drank a glass of this… Continue reading

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