15. SW France Flashcards
Gascony is located in what part of France?
Southwest
What are the 4 borders of Southwest France wine region?
Atlantic Ocean (w), Massif Central (e), Bordeaux (n), Pyrenees and Spanish border (s)
What are the 4 sub-regions of Gascony?
Bergerac and Dordogne River, Garonne and Tarn rivers, Lot River, Pyrenees
What is the climate of Garonne, Tarn and Lot subregions?
maritime, primarily Mediterranean with Atlantic influences (higher temperature and drier growing season)
What is the climate of Pyrenean Foothills subregion?
maritime climate with alpine influences (cool nights and effective rain-shadow)
What is the climate of Bergerac and Dordogne subregions?
maritime (warmer than Bordeaux)
How many regional AOC’s are in Gascony?
none
What are local names for Malbec in SW France?
Cot, Auxerrois
What are the blending partners for Malbec in Cahors?
Merlot and Tannat
What is the southern-most AOC of Southwest France?
Irouleguy
What is the only AOC from Basque Country?
Irouleguy
What is micro-oxygenation? Where was it developed?
minute amounts of exygen are slowly bubbled through the vat of wine causing the tannin molecules to bind to each other, reducing aggressive tannic edge on the palate, first done in 1991 in Madiran.
What style wine predominates in IGP Cotes de Gascogne?
white (dry or moelleux)
What is Armagnac?
a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. [wiki]
What is Cognac?
brandy, to bear the name Cognac, an Appellation d’origine contrôlée, its production methods must meet certain legal requirements. In particular, it must be made from specified grapes, of which Ugni blanc, known locally as Saint-Emilion, is the one most widely used. [wiki]
What is synonym for Cabernet Franc in Gascony?
Bouchy
What is synonym for Cabernet Franc in Loire?
Breton
Name 4 AOC’s in Garonne and Tarn Sub-Region.
Cotes de Duras AOC, Cotes de Marmandais AOC, Buzet AOC, Brulhois AOC, Saint Sardos AOC, Fronton AOC, Gaillac AOC, Cotes de Millau AOC
Name 4 AOC’s in Dordogne/Bergerac Sub-Region.
Bergerac AOC, Montravel AOC, Pecharmant AOC, Saussignac AOC, Monbazillac AOC
Name 4 AOC’s in Lot Sub-Region.
Cahors AOC, Coteaux du Quercy AOC, Entraygues-Le Fel AOC, Estaing AOC, Marcillac AOC
Name 4 AOC’s in Pyrenees Sub-Region.
Bearn AOC, Jurancon AOC, Irouleguy AOC, Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC, Madiran AOC, Saint-Mont AOC, Tursan AOC
Which AOC makes a sparkling white from 100% Mauzac?
Gaillac AOC, Tarn Sub-Region of Gascony
In the WSET 3 book, what are 2 main groups of wine in South West France?
Bordeaux copies and south-west wines
What is the major AOC in the Bordeaux copies group?
Bergerac AOC
What are the main grapes used in Bergerac AC?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Name 3 AOC’s in the Bordeaux copies group that make sparkling wine.
Monbazillac AOC, Saussignac AOC and Haut-Montravel AOC
What is the main grape used in Cahors?
Malbec
What is the main grape used in Madiran?
Tannat
What is the main grape used in Jurancon AC?
Petit Manseng
What is the most important area for production of IGP wines in SW France?
Cotes de Gascogne
What are 3 Regions just outside Bordeaux in SW France that replicate Bordeaux Wines?
AC Bergerac - Both Red and White
AC Monbazillac - Sweet Whites (botrytised)
AC Montravel - Dry Whites
Auxerrois refers to what?
the term in Cahors for Malbec; also a term used in Alsace for a cousin of Pinot Blanc
Where is Buzet AOC?
in SW France, between Bergerac and Madrian, just west of Cahors.
What style of wine is most common in Cotes de Gascogne IGP?
aromatic crisp light white wine from Armagnac varieties, with aromas and flavors of green apples
What are 3 modern methods used in Madrian to soften the tannic structure of Tannat?
riper grapes, destemming, micro-oxygenation during vinitifcation (as opposed to simply bottle age)
What river runs through the city of Toulousse?
Garrone
What river runs through Bergerac wine area?
Dordogne
What river runs through Cahors wine area?
Lot
What is the most important product of Jurancon AOC?
complex sweet wines from Petit Mensing using passerillage
