France - Languedoc Flashcards
What is the total area under vine in Languedoc and Roussillon?
- Languedoc: 220,000 ha
- Roussillon: 21,000 ha
What is the avg. yield in the AOCs of Languedoc, Roussillon, and Provence compared to other French regions?
Lowest yields of all French regions, roughly half that of Champagne or Alsace
What is the climate?
Mediterranean
Where are vineyards located? (normal and high-quality wines)
- Mostly low-lying alluvial plain
- Hillside slopes for some high quality wines
What is the history of this region and what enabled the region?
- Reaches back to Greek and Roman colonies
- Canal du Midi (connection to Bordeaux) and railways -> export
What role do co-ops play?
- Very important one
- Accounted for 90% of production in 1950s
- Today still 70% of production
What is the Languedoc known for?
Largest source of everyday wine in France
What is the trend regarding area under vine?
- Overproduction led to removal of vineyards
- Only half today compared to 50 years ago
What is the trend regarding quality?
- Inexpensive wine still large volume
- Increasing attention to small production, high-quality wines
Describe the climate (incl. rain) and influence on grape growing
- High levels of sunshine
- Rainfall below 600 mm
- Very warm summers
- Very favourable for grape growing
What moderating influences exist and what is their effect?
- Low moisture levels
- Cool, dry Tramontane north-west wind that blows for about 200 days per year
- Low disease pressure
- Enables organic wine production
What are the most grown varieties from (highest to lowest)?
- Carignan
- Syrah
- Grenache Noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cinsault
Carignan
What is the budding/ripening time?
- Late-budding
- Late-ripening
Carignan
What is the yield and how is it done in practice?
- Very high yielding (200 hL/ha and more)
- To produce high concentration wine, yield has to be reduced -> naturally as vines get older
Carignan
What is it susceptible to?
- Powdery mildew
- Grape moths
Carignan
What is the variety’s trend in the Languedoc?
Increasinlgy replaced with other varieties
Carignan
Describe the typical style (color, aromas, acidity, tannin, quality, price)
- Medium ruby
- Simple blackberry fruit
- High acidity
- High tannins
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive
Carignan
Is the variety able to produce higher quality examples?
- YES
- Good to outstanding
- Premium to super-premium prices
What is the typical training system and how has it changed over time?
- Historically: bush vines -> well adapted to the climate but costly (a lot by hand)
- New vineyards: trellises, enabling mechanisation
What is the typical harvesting method?
By machine where the topography allows for it
What are roughly the three methods to produce different red wines?
- Short skin maceration -> inexpensive wines
- Carbonic maceration -> low tannin inexpensive wines
- Warmer temps + barriques -> high-quality, small volume
Describe the typical winemaking process of inexpensive red wines
- Grapes are crushed and fermented on skins for 5–7 days
- Large concrete or stainless-steel tanks
- Cultured yeasts
- Mid-range fermentation temp
- Stored for a few months in stainless steel or concrete tanks
- Made for early drinking
What is the process of making low tannin red wines?
- Carbonic maceration
- Mid-range fermentation temps
- Stored for a few months in stainless steel or concrete tanks
- Vast majority for early drinking
What is the process for making high-quality, small volume red wines?
- Use of sorting tables
- Fermentation at warm temps
- Use of ambient yeast
- Use of barriques for the maturation
- Intended for bottle ageing
IGP Wines
What are the requirements regarding yields and varieties?
- Red, white: 90 hL/ha
- Rosé: 100 hL/ha
- 58 varieties allowed
IGP Pays d’Oc
What types of wines are produced (incl. %)
- Red: 50%
- White: 25%
- Rosé: 25%
IGP Pays d’Oc
What are the top four grape varieties (mostly used as single varietal wines)
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chardonnay
- Syrah
IGP Pays d’Oc
For how much of France’s production does it account?
10-15%
IGP Pays d’Oc
How much of the wine is exported and what are the top export markets?
- 50%
- Germany, Netherlands, Belgium
Languedoc appellations
What types of wines are produced and what are the rules?
- Red (90%), except white wine appellations
- ALL blends: Min two varieties, incl. at least one principal variety
Languedoc appellations
What are the principal grape varieties?
- Almost all require Grenache Noir
- Most require Syrah and Mourvèdre
Languedoc AOC
What are the max yields? (red, white)
- Red: 50 hL/ha
- White: 60 hL/ha
Languedoc AOC
What are the requirements regarding grape varieties? (max, min, principal, …)
- Principal: Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre (min 40%)
- At least 2, at least 1 principal
- No variety > 80%
- Other varieties (< 30%)
What are the three appellation categories in terms of quality levels? (from low to high)
- Regional appellation (Languedoc AOC)
- Named appellations (e.g. Corbières AOC)
- Sub-appellations (e.g. Corbières-Boutenac AOC)
Describe the typical wine of a regional appellation (Languedoc AOC) wine (intensity, aromas, tannins, acidity, alcohol, body, quality, price)
- Medium intensity
- Simple, blackberry and red plum fruit
- Medium tannins
- Medium acidity
- Medium alcohol
- Medium body
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
Describe the typical wine of a named appellations (e.g. Corbières AOC) wine (intensity, aromas, tannins, acidity, alcohol, body, quality, price)
- Medium to medium(+) intensity
- Blackberry and red plum fruit with herb notes (lavender, rosemary), maybe some oak
- Medium tannins
- Medium to medium(+) acidity
- Medium to high alcohol
- Medium(+) to full body
- Good to very good in quality (some outstanding)
- Inexpensive to premium priced
Describe the typical wine of a sub-appellations (e.g. Corbières-Boutenac AOC) wine (intensity, tannins, quality, price)
- Medium(+) to pronounced intensity
- Medium(+) tannins
- Very good quality (some outstanding)
- Mid-priced (some premium)
Corbières
What is the size / area under vine?
- Large
- 10,000 ha
Corbières
Where are the vineyards located? (topography, altitude, influence)
- Hilly appellation
- Slopes up to 450 metres
- Cooling influence of altitude and cold northern winds
Corbières
What is the max yield?
50 hL/ha (red, white, rosé)
Corbières
What types of wines are made and what are the requirements?
- Red (90%)
- Min 40% of principal varieties (Carignan, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Syrah)
- Max 20% other varieties
Corbières-Boutenac
What are the requirements regarding grape varieties?
Min 70% of Carignan, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre
Corbières
How much is exported and what are top export markets?
- 30%
- China, Germany, Belgium
Corbières
Besides red wines, what other types are produced and from what?
- Rosé
- White (e.g., from Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne or Rolle)
Minervois
There is a range of climatic zones. By what is the climate influenced?
- Altitude
- Proximity to Mediterranean Sea
Minervois
What types of wines are produced?
- Red (majority)
- Rosé
- White
Minervois
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red and rosé wines?
- Mostly Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre blends
- Some Carignan and Cinsaut
- Min 50% of those 5 varieties
- No one variety > 80%
Minervois La Livinière
What types of wines are produced?
Red only
Minervois La Livinière
Where are the vineyards located and what is the effect on grape growing?
- Limestone terrace of gentle slopes
- Up to 400m -> cooling influence
- Very good drainage
- Exposure to sun
- Higher acidity levels than lower parts in Minervois
Minervois La Livinière
What are the requirements regarding grape varieties?
- Min 40% of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache Noir
- plus Carignan and Cinsaut > 80%
Saint-Chinian
What types of wines are produced and what are the requirements regarding varieties?
- Red and Rosé
- Min 50% of Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre
Saint-Chinian
Describe the northern area (incl. sub appellations)
- Saint-Chinian Roquebrun and Saint-Chinian Berlou
- Arid, fast-draining schist soils
- Low yields
- High concentration wines
Saint-Chinian
Describe the southern area
- Clay and limestone soil
- Greater water-holding capacity
- Higher yields
- Less concentrated wines
Fitou
Where is the region located?
Two areas with a part of the Corbières between them
Fitou
Describe the conditions in the coastal area
- Relatively flat, low-lying plains
- Clay and limestone soils with good water retention
- Less concentrated wines
Fitou
Describe the conditions in area inland
- More mountainous
- Less fertile and fast-draining schistous soils
- Higher concentration wines
Fitou
What are the requirements regarding varieties?
- 10-40% Carignan
- Min 20% Grenache Noir
Fitou
What is the largest producer and what is its production?
- Co-op: Mont Tauch
- 50% of the appellation’s production
Faugères
Describe the conditions (altitude, soil, effect on wines)
- 250–400m
- Well-drained and low fertility schistous soils
- Very good concentration
Faugères
What is the max and avg. yield?
- Max: 50 hL/ha
- Avg: 33 hL/ha
Faugères
How much of the wine is exported?
10%
Faugères
Is organic winemaking practiced?
Yes, 40% of vineyard land organic
Pic Saint-Loup
What differentiates this appellation from the others?
- More continental climate
- Considerable rainfall (1,000 mm)
Pic Saint-Loup
What types of wines are produced and what are the requirements?
- Red and Rosé
- Min 50% of Syrah
Terrasses du Larzac
What are the conditions and what does it lead to in the wine?
- Range of altitudes: 120–200m but also up to 400m
- High diurnal range
- Ripe fruit flavours
- Fresh acidity
Terrasses du Larzac
What types of wines are produced and what are the requirements?
- Red only
- Min 3 diff. varieties
Terrasses du Larzac
What does it have a reputation for?
- High quality wines
- Premium to super-premium prices
- E.g., La Peira
La Clape
Where is it situated and what are the conditions?
- Coastal area
- Warm, sunny, arid and windy
- Full ripeness, suitable for, e.g., Mourvèdre
La Clape
What types of wines are produced?
- Red (80%)
- White
La Clape
What it is known for?
- White wines
- Min 60% Grenache Blanc and/or Bourboulenc
Picpoul de Pinet
Where is it located?
Low-lying land close to the coast
Picpoul de Pinet
What types of wines are produced and what are characteristics?
- White wine from Piquepoul Blanc ONLY
- Retains acidity even in warm climate
Picpoul de Pinet
What is the max yield?
55 hL/ha
Picpoul de Pinet
Describe the typical style of wine (intensity, aromas, sweetness, body, acidity, quality, price)
- Medium intensity
- Lemon, floral
- Dry
- Medium body
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Acceptable to good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced
Picpoul de Pinet
How much is exported and what are the top export markets?
- 65%
- UK, USA, Netherlands
Picpoul de Pinet
What role do co-ops play?
- Important (90% of production)
What appellation has more influence from the Atlantic ocean and why?
- Malepère
- Protected from Mediterranean influences by mountains
Malepère
What are the grape variety requirements?
- Min 40% Merlot
- At least two different varieties
What appellation is subject to both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences?
Cabardès
Cabardès
What are the grape variety requirements?
Min 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Min 40% Grenache, Syrah
Wine Business
What type of wine is strongly increasing?
Rosé (+35% in 7 years)
Wine Business
What is the trend regarding exports?
- Growing (+15% in 5 years)
- Esp. USA and China
Wine Business
What is the general trend regarding businesses involved and quality of wine?
- Historically: inexpensive wines produced by co-ops
- Trend: Ambitious wineries that aim to produce highest quality
Wine Business
Name three wineries that aim to produce high quality wine
- Mas de Daumas Gassac
- Domaine de Gérard Bertrand’s Clos d’Ora
- Château Puech-Haut
Wine Business
What is the trend in the mid-price sector?
- Seek to reflect their origin
- Blends typical to the region
- From specific appellations
