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WSET 3 - Geoff > C21 - Southern France (reviewed) > Flashcards

C21 - Southern France (reviewed) Flashcards

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1
Q

Describe Southern France climate

A
  • Warm mediterranean climate
  • Summer temperatures often in excess of 30C
  • Mild winters
  • Low rainfall
  • Climatic problem - Strong winds blow from the north
    • The mistral blows down the Rhone
    • The tramontane blows through the gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central
  • Drought may be an issue rather than fungal diseases, occasaional summer floods
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2
Q

Describe the terrain

A
  • The foothills of the surrounding mountains
  • Noticeably cooler, less fertile, better drained
  • The coastal plains
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3
Q

What the back grape varieties in Southern France?

A
  • Grenache and Syrah - two most important local
  • Carignan
  • Cinsault
  • Mourvedre
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
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4
Q

Describe Syrah and Grenache in Southern France?

A

Grenache and Syrah - two most important local

  • Syrah: The cooler sites
  • Grenache: The warmer, drier sites
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5
Q

Discuss Carignan in South of France

A
  • High tannins, acidity and colour
  • Can lack fruit or finesse
  • Can produce enormous yields
  • Old vine on por soil can produce quality wines
  • Decreasing in popularity
  • Permitted by all AC regulations in Southern France
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6
Q

Discuss Cinsault in Southern France

A

Used in Rose production or to add red fruit flavours to red blends

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7
Q

Discuss Mourvèdre in South of France

A

Adds richness, colour and complexity to blends in Southern France

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8
Q

Discuss Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in Southern France

A

Play a big role in the production of IGP wines

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9
Q

Discuss winemaking in Southern France

A

Most wineries now benefit from

  • Modern equipment
  • Improved cellar hygiene
  • Temperature control
  • Oxygen management
  • Judicious use of new and old oak

Additionallly semi-carbonic maceration is used by some produced and epseically it can play an important role to soften the tannins in Carignan

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10
Q

What are the white varieties in Southern France?

A
  • Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc - most planted
  • Viognier
  • Local varietes
    • Muscat
    • Grenache Blanc
    • Picpoul de Pinet
    • Mauzac
    • Maccabeu
    • Rolle
    • Clairette
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11
Q

What is the third most significant white grape in Southern France?

A

Viognier

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12
Q

What are the most widely planted local varieties in Southern France?

A

Muscat and Grenache Blanc

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13
Q

What is Muscat used for in Southern France?

A
  • Production of sweet fortified wines
  • Dry wines with aromatic, grapey aromas
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14
Q

Describe the profile of Grenache Blanc in Southern France

A

Dry wines

Soft, peachy fruitiness

Full body

Low acidity

Tend to oxidise easily

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15
Q

Name five additional local varieties in Southern France and the locales in which they are most prized

A

Picpoul; Pinet

Mauzac; Limoux

Maccabeu; Rousillon

Rolle; Provence

Clairette; Languedoc and Provence

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16
Q

What is the best known of the local varieties in Southern France? Describe the wine

A
  • Picpoul
  • Refreshing, high acidity
  • Green and citrus fruit flavours
17
Q

Discuss Languedoc

A
  • Made of Aude, Herault and Gard departments
  • Largest producer of wine in Southern France
  • Covers all vineyards from the Spanish border to Nimes
  • Terrain:
    • There is a large coastal plain area between Beziers and Montpellier
    • Vineyards more hilly and rugged further inland and towards the Spanish border
  • Wines
    • Dry wine: Red, white and rosé in most appellations
    • Mostly red (Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and some Mourvedre)
  • Generic appelation - Vins du Pays d’Oc IGP
  • Appelation: The best subregions may add their names to the labels e.g., Pic-St-Loup
  • Some regions do not apply Languedoc on the label: Minervois Cotes-du-Rousillon
  • Some of the more geographically specific appellations have their own individual regulations
  • The Appellation system continues to evolve in Languedoc, as the sub-regions continue to apply for full AC status
    *
18
Q

What are the major appelations of Languedoc?

A

From East to West

  • Picpoul de Pinet
  • Minervois
  • Corbieres
  • Limoux
  • Fitou
  • Cotes du Roussillon Village
  • Cotes du Roussillon
19
Q

Which department constitue Rousillon?

A

Department: Pyrenees-Orientales

20
Q

Describe the wines of Languedoc

A

Very difficult to describe due to the variations in blend possibilities and because of the large areas covered by appellations

Cooler areas

  • produce wines with more finesse and lighter tannins
  • Syrah is at its best here

Warmer areas

  • Produce more gamey, meaty flavours and greater body
  • Mourvedre is at its best here In larger appellations, wines can be blends of these styles

Best wines are full-bodied Spicy, concentrated red fruit, often with oak flavours

21
Q

Describe rosés of Southern France

A

Soft and fruity

22
Q

Discuss Cotes du Rousillon

A
  • Located nex to the Spanish border
  • Most rugged and mountainous appellation of the Languedoc
  • Bright sunlight, low rainfall and strong winds
  • Concentrated wines
  • Best vineyards can qualify for Cotes du Rousillon Villages (north of Cotes du Rousillon)
23
Q

Discuss Fitou

A

It’s split into two separate areas;

  • a warm coastal strip producing fuller bodied wines
  • a cooler inland area at altitude, which produces lighter wines
24
Q

Discuss Corbieres

A
  • Warm sites near the coast
  • Cooler vineyards at altitude, cooled by the tramontane
  • Divided in 11 subregion, of which Boutenac has its own AC
25
Q

Discus Minervois

A
  • Located North of Corbieres
  • On the slopes of the Massif Central
  • Varies in quality due to altitude, soil quality and exposure to cooling influences of the Atlantic
  • Sub-divided in sub-region, best of which is La Liviniere (which has its own AC)
26
Q

Discuss Picpoul de Pinet

A
  • Locaed near the coast
  • Cooling sea breezes help to retain the grape’s natural high acidity
27
Q

Discuss Limoux

A
  • It’s a source of premium, oaked Chardonnays
  • Benefit from the cooling effect of altitude
28
Q

Describe IGP wines in Southern France

A
  • More IGP wines are made in Languedoc than any other region of France
  • Vital for the survival of grape growing in Southern France
  • Pays d’Oc is the main IGP
  • The IGP regulations permit a wider range of grape varieties and varietal labelling
  • The warm sunny climate means that large volumes of ripe, fruity wines can be produced easily here compared with other regions of France, resulting in excellent value for money
29
Q

Discuss Provence

A
  • Lanscape is very varied and broken up by many prominent ranges of hills
  • The hills protect vineyards from the mistral and provide a variety of soils and climates
  • Rosés:
    • Represents the vast majority of wines production
    • Pale Light-bodied Dry Delicate flavours of grapefruit and red fruits
  • Red - Range from fresh and fruity, to more full-bodied, barrel matured styles
  • White: Rolle and Clairette are main varieties, their aromatic qualities used in best whites
  • Largest appleation is Cotes de Provence, mostly Rosé
30
Q

Describe how Cotes de Provence is organised

A

There are three isolated pockets of vineyards along the coast, each with its own AC

Bandol - The most important AC, located just to the east of Marseille

  • Premium reds based on Mourvedre (ripens reliably on the southern facing terraced slopes)
  • Dark Full-bodied
  • Powerful tannins
  • Bramble, meat and liquorice-spice flavours
  • Require bottle age

WSET 3 - Geoff (45 decks)

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