Appellations and Legislation - South West

Question 1

Describe the placement of Bergerac and it soils.

Answer 1

Bergerac AOP covers an area to the east of Bordeaux straddling both sides of the Dordogne River.

Soils consist of alluvial silt with clay and limestone on higher ground.

Question 2

What are the two specific AOP’s within the generic Bergerac AOP? What is their RdB?

Answer 2

• Cotes de Bergerac AOP
• Cotes de Bergerac Blanc AOP
• 50 hl/ha

Question 3

Describe the placement of Monbazillac and and the name for its soil type.

Answer 3

Monbazillac is situated in the centre of Bergerac, which envelopes it. It is on the left (southern) bank of the Dordogne on north facing slopes.

Argilo-Calcaire (clay-limestone).

Question 4

What is the RdB and minimum natural alcohol for Monbazillac?

Answer 4

• 40hl/ha

- 14.5%

Question 5

What two major historical events severely reduced Cahors’ standing in the French wine industry? What has helped Cahors to revive itself?

Answer 5

• Phylloxera, Malbec is hard to graft onto American rootstock making vineyard area hard to re-establish.
• The severe frost of 1956 decimated vineyards to just 1% of their previous area.
• The use of more compatible rootstocks and the introduction of Merlot and Tannat.

Question 6

What is the minimum amount of Malbec required in wines from Cahors? What are the planting percentages of its other two grapes?

Answer 6

• 70% Malbec

- Merlot 20% Tannat 2%

Question 7

Madiran lies in Gascony on which river?

Answer 7

The left bank of the River Ardour.

Question 8

What percentage of Madiran wines must be Tannat and what are the other two permitted varieties?

Answer 8

• 40-60%

- Fer and Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 9

What winemaking action is compulsory in Madiran?

Answer 9

De-stemming

Question 10

What river flows through Gaillac, and how does the river relate to the three distinct zones of Gaillac?

Answer 10

The River Tarn, the three areas are:

• The area south of the river Tarn
• The Permieres Cotes on the northern banks of the Tarn above the town of Gaillac
• The plateau above the Premieres Cotes in the north of the region

Question 11

What are the permitted white varieties of Gaillac (6) and what must white Gaillac be a minimum of?

Answer 11

• Len de L’el
• Muazac
• Ondenc
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Semillon
• Muscadelle

White Gaillac must be a minimum of 15% Len de L’el or Sauvignon Blanc

Question 12

What are the permitted red varieties of Gaillac (7)?

Answer 12

• Braucol (Fer)
• Duras
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cabernet Franc
• Syrah
• Merlot
• Gamay

Question 13

What two different soil types do we see in Gaillac and where are they located?

Answer 13

• Gravel and clay south of the River Tarn.

- Limestone on the cotes and plateau

Question 14

Where is Jurancon, what are its two AOP’s for and what wine do they produce?

Answer 14

• In the extreme southwest in the Pyrenean foothills.
• Both AOP’s are for white wines
• Jurancon AOP for sweet wine
• Jurancon Sec AOP is for dry white wine

Question 15

What are the major climatic influencers of Jurancon?

Answer 15

• The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Midi d’Ossau mountain
• Significant spring frost risk (vines are trained high to lift buds out of frost zones)

Question 16

IGP wine production is significant in the south west of France, what is it annually?

Answer 16

1.35 million hl annually

Question 17

What are the two major IGP’s of the south west and what wines do they produce?

Answer 17

IGP Gascony and IGP Gers

Crisp and aromatic whites made from Armagnac varieties Colombard and Ugni Blanc.