France - South France Flashcards
What is the climate, average rainfall and natural factors that affect growing in the Languedoc?
Mediterranean. High levels of sunshine and low average rainfall (600mm) and very warm summers is generally favourable for grape growing.
Low moisture levels and the cool, dry tramontane north-west wind that blows for about 200 days a year mean fungal disease pressure is low, reducing the need for spraying and subsequent cost.
This has enabled the growth of certified organic production (L&R are responsible for 1/3rd Frances total organic production).
However in dry years low rainfall can reduce production levels where irrigation isn’t installed.
What are the top 6 plantings in the Languedoc?
Carignan 17%
Syrah 17%
Grenache Noir 16%
Merlot 13%
Cabernet Sauvignon 7%
Cinsaut 4%
What is happening to plantings of Carignan in Languedoc?
The amount planted reduced significantly under the EU vine pull scheme, and it is being replaced with other varieties.
What is typical vineyard management in the Languedoc?
Historically grown as bush vines, and some of these remain as this is well suited to the climate (providing shade), however, most work has to be done by hand.
In recent decades, many new vineyards have been trellises, enabling mechanisation (reduced labour availability and improvement of quality of the machines has driven this trend)
IGP wines tend to be machine harvested, but AOC may also be where land permits.
What is typical winemaking for inexpensive wines in the Languedoc?
Concrete or steel tanks.
Cultured yeasts.
Crush the grapes and ferment on the skins for 5-7 days to limit extraction.
Mid-range fermentation temperatures are used to preserve primary flavours.
Wines are stored for a few months in steel or concrete.
Made for early drinking, but with medium tannins, they’ll hold for 2-3 years.
In what situation is Carbonic Maceration likely to be used in the Languedoc? How are these wines made?
To produce wines with medium to deep colour and low tannin, especially with high tannin varieties, eg, Carignan.
Mod-range temperatures are used to preserve fruit.
Stored a few months in stainless steel.
Vast majority of these wines are made for early drinking.
However, a number of high quality and ageable wines are also made this way, especially Carignan and Syrah (eg Chateau La Voulte Gasparets.)
What is typical winemaking for more premium wines of the Languedoc?
More use of sorting tables.
Higher fermentation temperatures.
Ambient yeasts and barriques for maturation.
The additional equipment and use of new barriques/tonneaux adds to cost.
Capable of ageing in the bottle.
There’s also experimentation with concrete tanks, eggs and large format old oak vats.
What is the general climate of the Roussillon? What effect does this have on grape growing?
Warm, windy Mediterranean with moderate rainfall (500-600mm) and high sunshine hours. All very favourable for grape growing, though drought can be an issue in the driest years.
The high winds and low rainfall reduce the risk of fungal disease and naturally decrease yields (increasing concentration but decreasing income).
This enables a high proportion of certified organic growers (15% by hectares planted)
What are the top varieties planted in the Roussillon? How does their history differ to the Languedoc?
GSM and Carignan for reds and rosés, the Muscats for VDNs and Macabeu for white.
The key difference is that the top six wines have been grown in the region for many decades.
The top 6 are:
Grenache Noir 23%
Syrah 16%
Carignan 14%
Muscat Blanc 10%
Muscat of Alexandria 7%
Macabeu 7%
How are vines typically trained in the Roussillon?
As bush vines, which are well adapted to the climate and offer shading to the bunches. This means, though, that work has to be done by hand and adds to cost. As a result in recent years there’s been a change to vines trained on trellises, though the amount of flatter land suitable for trellising is very low.
What is the general climate of Provence?
Warm Mediterranean with adequate rainfall in most years for viticulture.
The cold Mistral wind can provide a cooling influence in summer and decrease the risk of fungal disease, although can disturb fruit set and flowering.
What percentage of organic vineyards does Provence have?
Double the national average.
Where are the best sites in Provence found?
Sheltered from the Mistral and at altitude, with up to 400m found inland to provide a moderating influence.
What are the top six varieties planted in Provence, by percentage?
Grenache Noir 37%
Cinsaut 17%
Syrah 17%
Carignan 8%
Rolle 6%
Cabernet Sauvignon 6%
How are vines typically trained in Provence? Why?
Traditional bush vines are being replaced with trellises to aid mechanisation and reduce cost.
The bush vine offers shade as an advantage, but trellised vines make it easier to control the size of the canopy and achieve ripeness in terms of sugar level, and ripe skins and seeds at the same time. Inter-row access is easier for workers and machines.
