8 - South of France Flashcards
How large is the Languedoc-Roussillon?
240,000ha > Chile, Australia, South Africa
Generally speaking how well do AOCs within L-R yield? Why?
Lowest of all regions - about 1/2 Champagne or Alsace on average - low rainfall + warm, windy climate –> high evapotranspiration
Describe the growing environment of the Languedoc
Climate: Mediterranean, sunny, 600mm rain
Winds: Tramontane (cool, dry, NW) –> disease pressure
Topography: most production in the alluvial plain near sea, hillier areas further north
Outline the history of wine production in the Languedoc
Large production by c19th - railways to Paris
90% co-ops in 1950s
Growth when wine stopped being imported from Algeria post-1937
Area under vine halved between 1968 and today as demand fell
Inexpensive wine is bulk of production + increased small production
What are the climatic challenges for growers in Languedoc?
Low levels of rainfall + warmth + wind = water stress –> yields
What are the most widely grown grapes in Languedoc?
Describe Carignan
Late budding
Late ripening - requires warm climate
High yields - 200 hL/ha –> concentration (old vines limit yield and improve concentration)
Vulnerable to: powdery mildew, grape moth
Difficult to harvest mechanically - grapes attached to vine
Typical: med ruby, simple black fruit, high acid, high tannin, acceptable-good/inexpensive
HQ: intense black fruit, spice, earth, premium-SP
How has vineyard management evolved in the Languedoc?
Bush vines - provides shade but required labour - increasingly scarce
Trellised vines –> mechanisation which has improved
IGP wines = machine harvested, many AOC wines machine harvested
Describe the winemaking process for inexpensive red wine in Languedoc
1. Ferment - Crushed Fruit
Crushed fruit ferment with short maceration (5-7 days) –> tannins
Ferment in SST or concrete
Cultured yeast –> speed and consistency
Mid-range - primary fruit
2. Ferment - Wholebunch
Carbonic maceration - fruity wines from Carignan by limited tannin extraction
Can also make HQ wines (see below)
Maturation
Limited with wines stored in SST or concrete –> early drinking
How do IGP regulations differ from AOC within Languedoc?
How much IGP is made cf. to AOC?
Higher max yields e.g. 90 for red/whites cf. 40-60 for AOCs
More varieties - up to 58 authorised
Varietal labelling common
IGP = 70% of production
How can different IGP’s in Languedoc overlap?
Regional e.g. IGP Pays d’Oc
Departmental e.g. IGP Gard
Local e.g. IGP Côtes de Thongue
Break down the quantities and styles of wine produced within IGP Pays d’Oc.
Where is it sold?
Largest single IGP - 10-15% of annual French production
50% red, 25% white, 25% rose
Fresh, fruity, little or no oak, early drinking. Good-VG/inexpensive-mid-priced.
50 domestic - mainly supermarkets
50 export - Germany, Netherlands, Belgium
Describe the general rules on blends applied within Languedoc AOCs
- Each AOC has principal and allowed grapes
- All require at least two varieties –> all AOCs wines are blends
- Most have an upper limit for any one variety allowed e.g. 80%
- Almost all AOCs require Grenache Noir, and most require Syrah and Mourvedre
- Carignan is a principal grape in Corbieres and Fitou
- Sub-regions may have different rules from the larger appellation e.g. Saint-Chinian-
Roquebrun AOC requires more GSM than S-C AOC - Different % can be set for plantings - this also unused grapes to be used for other wines e.g. rose, IGP or VDF
What yields are typical of AOCs in Languedoc?
Languedoc AOC - 50 red, 60 white
Sub-regional AOCs - 45-50
Sub-zones - may be lower e.g. 40
Compare the style of a regional, sub-regional (named) and sub-zone (sub-appellation)
Describe the situation, climate, wines, sub-zones and business of Corbieres AOC
Situation: hilly with mountain ranges Tauch and D’Alaric and altitude up to 450m
Climate: cool northern winds + altitude = moderation
Wines: 90% red wine + white + rose
Sub-zones: Corbieres-Boutenac - higher % of principals
Business: mainly sold in France (70) via supermarkets, China, Ger and Belgium are main export markets
Nota bene:
- 10,000ha, 4th largest appellation in France
Describe the situation, climate, wines, sub-zones of Minervois AOC
Situation: extensive, just north of Corbieres
Climate: varies depending on altitude and proximity to Med
Wines: Mostly red + white and rose
Sub-zone: La Livinière AOC –> limestone terrace up to 400m, generally cooler
Describe the situation, wines, sub-zones of Saint-Chinian AOC
Situation: between Minervois and Faugeres
Wines: mainly red and rose
Northern zone: arid, well-drained schist (yields, concentration), home to Saint-Chinian Roquebrun, Saint-Chinian Berlou
Southern zone: clay and limestone - more water retention - yields and concentration
Describe the situation, sub-zones, wine and business of Fitou AOC
Situation: two areas separated by Corbieres, next to Roussillon
Coastal zone: flat, low altitude, clay and limestone
Inland zone: mountainous, infertile and draining schist soils
Wine: Carignan must be 10-40% of blend, at least 20% Grenache
Business: Mont Tauch co-op = 50% production
Nota bene:
- Languedoc’s first AOC in 1948
Describe the situation, growing environment and business of Faugeres AOC
Situation: east of St-Chinian
Growing environment: 250-400m altitude, schist soils –> average yield is 33 vs max of 50
Business: sold almost entirely in France, 90%
Nota bene
- wines require one year of ageing
- 40% organic
Describe the situation, growing environment and wine of Pic Saint-Loup AOC
Situation: east of Terrasses du Larzac
Growing environment: more continental, more rainfall 1,000mm, climate similar to N. Rhone
Wine: Syrah 50% of the final blend, red and rose only
Describe the situation, growing environment and wine of Terrasses du Larzac AOC
Situation: between Faugeres and Pic Saint-Loup
Growing environment: range of altitudes 100-400m, large diurnals
Wines: red wines only with at least three varieties
Nota bene:
- Reputation for quality
Describe the situation, growing environment and wine of La Clape AOC
Situation: coastal near Narbonne
Growing environment: warm, sunny, dry, windy –> good for Mourvedre
Wines: 80% red with good rep for white from Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc
Nota bene:
- Established in 2015
Describe the situation, growing environment, wine and business of Picpoul de Pinet AOC
Situation: coastal
Growing environment: low-lying, warm, dry, sunny
Wine: 100% white from Piquepoul Blanc - med intensity lemon and floral, dry, med(+)-high acid, med body, acceptable-good, inexpensive-mid
Business: 65% exported with tourists drinking lots, top export is to UK, co-ops like Ormarine account for 90% of production
Name the two Atlantic influenced Languedoc appellations. What are the notable difference in grapes used?
Malpere - protected from Med by mountains, min 40% Merlot
Cabardes - both Atlantic and Med, min 40% BDX varieties and 40% Grenache, Syrah
Outline trends in production and exports in the Languedoc (5)
Rose - production up 35% 2010-7
Exports - up 15% 2011-16
Large focus on mid-priced wines made with blends of traditional varieties under named appellation - growers leaving co-ops
Investment from elsewhere in France - old vines, cheap land, variety of growing environments
Premium - super-premium producers e.g. Domaine de la Grange des Pères, Mas de Daumas Gassac
How has the Languedoc used regional bodies to promote the region?
Sud de France - promotes wine, food and tourism
ViniSud wine fair - export market
How large is the Roussillon? What kind of wines does it produce?
21,000ha (<1/10th Languedoc) - used to be 3x as large
70% vineyard area is AOC but production of AOC:IGP is 1:1
Mostly red, 25% VDN, rose and some wihite
Co-ops produce 75% of vol
Describe the growing environment of the Roussillon. What are its advantages and disadvantages?
Climate: warm, windy, Med, moderate rainfall (~550mm), sunny –> drought can be an issue
Topography: dominate by Pyrenees foothills; no flat coastal areas
Advantages: low disease pressure (wind and low rain), lower yields = more concentration
Disadvantages: lack of fertile plains for bulk production, wind and low rain reduce yields
Which varieties are most widely planted in Roussillon?
Why are bush vines important in Roussillon?
Well adapted to climate - shade
While trellising allows for mechanisation, less flat land means manual labour is needed in many vineyards anyway cf. Languedoc
Describe the situation, growing environment and rules of the Cotes du Roussillon AOC
Situation: across most of the region (5,000ha)
Growing environment: lower slopes (100-250m)
Rules: max 48 hL/ha, min two varieties, main variety can be no more than 80%, max 50% Carignan, principals (Carignan, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, Syrah) - all in all similar to Languedoc
Describe the situation, growing environment and rules of the Cotes du Roussillon Villages AOC
Situation: < 1/2 size of CdR AOC
Growing environment: higher slopes 100-400m –> more work by hand
Rules: red only, same blending rules, max yield a bit lower (but in practice is lower still)
Named villages: five named villages e.g. CdRV Tautavel with lower max yields, some require carbonic for Carignan
Describe the situation, growing environment and rules of the Collioure AOC
Situation: same area as Banyuls on coast near Spain
Growing environment: steep terraces, poor soil
Wines: full body red and white from GSM or Grenache Gris
Rules: lower max yield but actual much lower (20-25hL/ha) due to climate and poor soil
Describe the region covered by IGP Côtes Catalanes
Entire Pyrénées-Orientales département
Includes super-premium whites e.g. Gauby
How does the winemaking in Roussillon compare to Languedoc?
Extremely similar - reds can be made with crushed fruit or carbonic
Although a large % of HQ wine made so crushed fruit more likely - ripe tannin
Explain what makes Roussillon attractive to winemakers producing premium and super-premium wine? (4)
- Hot, arid, windy climate encourages low yields –> concentration
- Prevalence of old vines and bush vines
- Land relatively cheap
- No risk of mass production devaluing name - little flat land
Name some notable producers from Roussillon
Thunevin-Calvet
Domaine de Bila-Haut
Gauby
Clos des Fees
Le Soula
Where is Roussillon wine sold?
80 domestic
20 export - China, Belgium, Germany
