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]