France Part 2

Question 0

SOuthern Rhone, facts and regions of rhone valley?

Answer 0

• warmer and flatter best sites have stony soils
• 95% of Rhone wine production
• many varieties, mainly red variable quality
• grenache
• syrah
• mourvedre
• cinsault

Question 1

Rhone valley, facts, subregions of northern rhone?

Answer 1

• produces only 5% of the total production of Rhone wines
• highest reputation and prices
• narrow steep slopes with southern exposure
• protected from cold north winds
• continental climate
  reds
  -syrah(only grape variety permitted in N R)
• powerful, dark and tannic, black fruit, pepper and floral

region: cote-Rotie AC
- syrah
- allowed upto 20% viognier in the blend

region: condrieu AC
- White wines made from
cult staus

region: hermitage AC
- reds from Syrah and whites from marsanne and roussanne
- high prices

Question 2

what are facts and features of Alscace?

Answer 2

• between Vosges mountatins and Rhine river
• cool continental climate
• traditionally labeled by variety
• whites(90%): Pinot gris, Riesling, muscat, Gewurtztraminer, pinot blanc, sylvaner
• reds(10%) pinot noir
• most wines made by a single variety

Question 3

facts about Loire Valley>

Answer 3

• about 2/3 of the size of bordeaux
• cool climate - continetal in the more central vineyards and maritime towards anjou and nantes
• river raises temperature a few degrrees

Varieties: 
White
 - Chenin blanc - greatest white wines, dry , sweet , still  or sparkling
- sav blanc
- melon blanc
red
- cabernet Franc

Question 4

What is unique about Champagne?

Answer 4

One appellation covers all of the wines champagne
usuallyblends of :
- varieties (chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot Meunier)
- vintages
- vineyards

Question 5

Wine production in southern france?

Answer 5

• Very large area and large production volumes
• provence, Landuedoc and Roussillon
  Characteristics:
• warm and dry mediterranean climate, lots of sun
• most is not AOC
• Grenache most planted variety followed by syrah and carignan
• wine is often sold in bulk at the winery

Question 6

What are the features of Cognac and Aragnac?

Answer 6

• Primarily brandy producers rather than table wine producers
• brandy is the spirit distilled from wine
• most prestigious brandies are C an A

Cognac:

• eight different varietis most important are Ugni blanc and Colombard
• large producers
• double distillation
• only permitted still
• aged in french oaks for at least 2 years
• 40% abv

Aragnac: 10 varieties, Ugni blanc and baco 22a

• smaller producers
• continuous column stills
• predominatly single distillation
• aged in barrels at least 1 year but thought to need longer barrel aging than cognac