Alsace and Southern France Flashcards
Grand cru Alsace requirements
Hand harvesting and Mono-cépage
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurstraminer (classically)
11% minimum alcohol for Riesling/muscat
12.5% for gewurstraminer and Pinot Gris
Edelzwicker
“Noble mixture”
Dont need to indicate vintage or contain more than one grape
Gentil designation means 50% of Noble grapes
Exceptions to Alsace Grand Crus
Altenberg de Bergheim + Kaefferkopf allow blending
Zotzenberg allows Sylvanner
Hengst, Kirchberg de Barr and Voebourg allow Pinot Noir
Bandol AOC
Can be rose or red
Must be at least 50% Mourvèdre
Bold and structured
Provence grape varietals
For rose: Cinsault, Grenache, Counoise, Mourvèdre, Syrah
Whites: bourboulenc, clairette, Grenache blanc, Rolle (vermentino), ugni blanc
Cassis AOC
Whites from clairette and marsanne
Only vineyards within a national park
Les Baux-de-Provence AOC
Red produced with Cabernet Sauvignon (up to 30%)
Also blends cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
Limestone soils
Required organic
St. Chinian (- Berlou) (- Roquebrun)
Berlou: Carignan dominant reds
Roquebrun: more influenced by Rhône varietals, especially Syrah
Limoux AOC
Blanquette de limoux: Mauzac-based
Crémant: chardonnay, Chenin, pinot noir based. More delicate
Still whites have mandatory oak aging
Muscat de …,
Vins Doux Naturels in Languedoc
De Frontignan
De St-Jean-de-Minervois
De Lunel
De Mireval
De Rivesaltes
Made primarily from Petits Grains variety
Fitou AOC
Split by corbières (half coastal, half mountainous)
Carignan and Grenache must make up 60%, with 20% minimum of each
Minimum 10% Syrah/Mourvèdre
Banyuls AOC
Sweet red Grenache-based dessert wine
Rancio (oxidized style - sometimes made)
Great pairing for chocolate
Rivesaltes VDN
Made from Grenache (Gris, Blanc, and Noir)
Made by mutage
Can be rose, Grenat, Ambré or Tuilé
Cahors AOC
Must be minimum 70% Malbec
Rest can be Tannat and/or Merlot
No Cabernet franc/Sauv allowed
Big and bold wine making styles
Madiran AOC
SW France
Tannat dominant (60-80%)
Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc can be the rest
Juraçon AOP
Sec + off dry whites
Gros Manseng chief in sec
Petit Manseng mostly for sweet usually Vendanges Tardives
Bergerac AOP
Produce red, rose and white
Reds: Bordeaux style with Côt
1/4 of white is sweet (Monbazillac, Saussignac, Montravel)
Monbazillac AOC
Botrytis dessert wines based on: Sauvignon Blanc, Gris, Sémillon, Muscadelle
No mechanical harvesting
Minimum 2 Tries
Vin Jaune
Similar to sherry but not “topped up” (ouillé) or fortified
Clavelins (620 ml) bottles used
Savagnin + Chardonnay based
Mostly Arbois and Chateau-Chalon
Savoie Varietals
Whites: Jacquere, Altesse, Roussanne (also called Chignin-Bergeron)
Reds: Mondeuse + Gamay
