21. Southern France

Question 1

Southern France - 3 areas? IGP?

Answer 1

• West of Rhône: Languedoc, Roussillon
• East: Provence
• IGP Pays d’Oc: covers Languedoc & Roussillon

Question 2

Climate?

Answer 2

• warm Mediterranean climate
• summer often in excess of 30°C
• mild winters, low rainfall levels in growing season
• ideal for growing grapes

Question 3

Winds - 2? mountains - 3?

Answer 3

2 cool dry winds from the north:

• Mistral from North down Rhone valley between Massif Central & Alps
• Tramontane West between Massif Central & Pyrenees

Question 4

Geographic variability? better? worse? grape growing challenges (3)?

Answer 4

• very diverse
• vineyards in inland in foothills of mountains –> cooler, less fertile, well-drained soils
• coastal plains –> hot, opposite (fertile, not well-drained)
• biggest challenge: warm, dry climate
• fungal diseases less of a problem
• summer floods can happen

Question 5

grape varieties - most prominent black or white? top 5+2 black?

Answer 5

• local: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvèdre

- international: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 6

top 5+2 black varieties - character?

Answer 6

• Syrah: cooler sites
• Grenache: warmer sites
• Carignan: widely grown, high tannin/acid/colour but lack in fruit/finesse. High yields, so often - not always - poorer quality
• Cinsault: used in rosé, add red fruit flavours to red blends
• Mourvèdre: only in warmest sites, adding richness, colour, complexity
• Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon: significant plantings, often used for IGP wines

Question 7

technologies?

Answer 7

• most wines benefited from investments in modern equipment, improved cellar hygiene, temp control, oxygen mgmt, judicious use of oak
• semi-carbonic maceration sometimes practiced, can play role in softening tannins of Carignan

Question 8

white varieties - 2 dominant? other - 1? local ones - 2?

Answer 8

• Chardonnay & Sauvignon blanc, used a lot in IGP
• Viognier: significant
• most widely local: Muscat (mostly for sweet fortified wines), Grenache Blanc (soft peachy fruitiness, full body, low acidity, but oxidises easily, often blended)

Question 9

5 white local varieties - best known?

Answer 9

• Picpoul (Pinet, best known) - high acidity, green fruit & citrus flavours
• Mauzac (Limoux)
• Maccabeu (Roussillon)
• Rolle (Provence)
• Clairette (Languedoc, Provence)

Question 10

Largest appellation? from where to where? better sub-regions?

Answer 10

• Languedoc AC
• from Spanish border to Nimes
• those sub-regions can add their name to the label alongside Languedoc AC

Question 11

Vast majority of appellation wines - grapes? typical? cooler? best wines? rosés?

Answer 11

• Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, lesser extent Mouvèdre
• difficult to describe typical wine because manyappellations are large and very diverse in climates and soils
• cooler: lighter tannins, often best Syrahs,
• warmer: Mouvèdre at its best, some meaty, gamey flavours
• best: full-bodied, concentrated spicy, red fruit often with oak flavours
• rosés: often soft and fruity

Question 12

Languedoc - 6 appellations? short descriptions?

Answer 12

• from SW to NE: Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Fitou, Corbières, Minervois, Picpoul de Pinet
• Côtes du R.: more mountainous
• Côtes du R Villages: best, in the North
• Fitou: N of C. du R. V. - split in two (coast, mountain - lighter wines)
• Corbières: warmer sites near coast cooled by tramontane, 11 subregions
• Minervois: cooled by Atlantic influences
• Picpoul de Pinet: whites, near coast

Question 13

IGP wines - volume? coverage? why so successful?

Answer 13

• more IGP wines in Pays d’Oc than in any other region in France
• cover all departments from Languedoc, Roussillon
• success due to several factors:
• • IGP regulation allows for more flexibility (grape varieties, labelling)
• • warm sunny climate
• most wines excellent value for money

Question 14

Provence - climate advantage? predominant wines? characteristics

Answer 14

• several split up valleys protected from Mistral, great variety of climates and soils
• Rosés!: very pale in colour, light-bodied, dry, flavours of grapefuits, red fruits
• reds: range from fresh, fruity to full-bodied, barrel-matured

Question 15

Provence - largest appellation? majority of production? other appellations - where? what? most famous? characteristics?

Answer 15

• Côtes de Provence
• Rosés
• along the coast 3 pockets of vineyards, each with its own AC
• Bandol: premium reds based on Mourvèdre, dark, full-bodied reds with powerful tannins, ageing in bottle