France - South of France Flashcards

1
Q

What are the department of Languedoc?

A

Aude, Herault, Gard

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2
Q

What is the department of Roussillon?

A

Pyrenees-Orientales

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3
Q

What is the climate of Languedoc?

A

Mediterranean, low rainfall, and a warm and windy

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4
Q

What percentages co-op produce wines in Languedoc?

A

90% of the total production

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5
Q

What are the top 5 varieties in Languedoc?

A
  • Carignan
  • Syrah
  • Grenache Noir
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cinsaut
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6
Q

Does Carignan bud and ripen early or later?

A

It buds early and ripens later

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7
Q

What pests and diseases is Carignan prone to?

A

Powdery mildew and to grape moths

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8
Q

What are the tasting note of Carignan?

A
  • typically unoaked
  • medium ruby in color
  • simple blackberry fruit
  • high acidity
  • high tannins
  • inexpensive in price
  • Carbonic maceration is common
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9
Q

What would be the traditional trellising system in Languedoc?

A

Bush vines

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10
Q

What are the process of inexpensive wines?

A
  • large concrete or stainless-steel tanks
  • using cultured yeast
  • made by crushing the grapes and fermenting them on skins for 5-7 days to limit the extraction
  • Mid-range fermentation temperatures
  • stored for a few months in stainless steel or concrete tanks
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11
Q

What are the 3 forms of IGP?

A
  • Regional
  • Departmental
  • A smaller unit named after a historical or geographical feature
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12
Q

What are the top 7 varieties of IGP Pays d’Oc?

A
  • Merlot
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Chardonnay
  • Syrah
  • Grenache Noir
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Cinsaut
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13
Q

Where are IGP Pay d’Oc wines sold?

A
  • France (about half); mostly supermarkets, then hospitality
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Belgium
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14
Q

What are the variety requirements for red wines in Languedoc?

A
  • The pricipal varieties are Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mouvedre
    -a min of 2 varieties including one or more of the principal varieties, including at least one of the principal varieties. No variety many be more than 80 % of blend
  • The total combination of the principal varieties must make up a minimum of 40% of the blend
  • The other varieties may not make up more than 30% of the blend
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15
Q

What are the sub-appellation of Corbieres?

A

Corbieres-Boutenac, red only

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16
Q

What is the sub-appellation of Minervois?

A

Minervois La Liviniere, red only

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17
Q

What is the soil and the elevation of Minervois La Liviniere?

A
  • limestone
  • up to 400 m = exposure to the sun and the cooler temperature
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18
Q

What are the the soils of Saint-Chinian AOC?

A
  • The northern zone: fast-draining schist soils
  • The southern area: clay and limestone with greater water-holding capacity
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19
Q

What are the 2 sub-zones of Saint-Chinian AOC?

A

Roquebrun and Berlou

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20
Q

What are the soils of 2 areas of Fitou AOC?

A
  • The coastal area: flat, low-lying plains with clay and limestone soils
  • The inland area: more mountainous, and less fertile, fast-draining schistous soils
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21
Q

What are the traditional varieties of Fitou AOC?

A

Carignan (must be 10-40% of the blend) and Grenache Noir (min 20%)

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22
Q

Who is the largest producer in Fitou AOC?

A

the Mont Tauch, co-op

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23
Q

What is the elevation and soils of Faugeres?

A

250-400m on well-drained and low fertility schistous soils

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24
Q

What styles of wines does Pic Saint-Loup AOC make?

A

Red and Rose

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25
Q

What is the climate of Pic Saint-Loup?

A

A continental climate with cold winters and warm summers and considerable rainfall (1,000 mm per year)

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26
Q

What styles of wines does Terrasses du Larzac make?

A

Red only

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27
Q

What is the elevation of Terrasses du Larzac?

A

120-200m up to 400m

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28
Q

Who is the super-premium examples of Terrasses du Larzac?

A

La Peira

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29
Q

What is the style of wines and the variety of Picpoul de Pinet?

A

White only. 100% Piquepoul

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30
Q

What is Piquepoul usually used for?

A

Local vermouth production

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31
Q

What are the tasting notes of Piequepoul?

A
  • Dry
  • Medium bodied
  • medium (+) to high acidity
  • medium intensity lemon fruit and light floral notes
  • acceptable to good in quality
  • inexpensive to mid-priced
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32
Q

Who is accounting for 90% of the production of Picpoul de Pinet?

A

Ormarine

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33
Q

What are the 2 AOP with Bordeaux varieties in Bordeaux?

A
  • Malepere
  • Cabardes
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34
Q

Who are the examples of the highest quality wine?

A
  • Mas de Daumas Gassac
  • Domaine de Gerard Bertrand’s Clos d’Ora
  • Chateau Puech-Haut
35
Q

Briefly explain why are yields in the South of France AOCs generally low?

A

High evapotranspiration rate from the vine due to high temperatures, windy conditions and low rainfall. The result is a vine that does not have the optimum growing environment to produce a large yield.

36
Q

What is the name of the canal that was built in the late 17th century to connect the Mediterranean to the Bordeaux (Atlantic)?

A

Canal du midi

37
Q

What is the name of the dry, north-west wind that blows across the Languedoc region?

A

Tramontane

38
Q

briefly describe why Carignan is ideally suited to being grown in Languedoc.

A
  • The Languedoc has a Mediterranean climate with long warm summers ideal for Carignan which ripens late and needs a long growing season to ripen fully.
  • Young Carignan vines are naturally high yielding which in the past made it very suitable for this dry, warm region. As the vines have matured the yields have naturally reduced and the result are grapes that make concentrated wines.
  • The grapes are naturally high in acidity which is ideal in a warmer climate.
39
Q

How many different grape varieties are permitted in the Languedoc IGP region?

A

58

40
Q

Which type of wines have been core to the Languedoc IGP’s success?

A

Varietally labelled inexpensive wines

41
Q

Which grape varieties are planted in this appellation and why in Languedoc?

A

Carignan thrive in the Lauguedoc region. it needs a warm climate with alonriping seasons. The Languedoc has high levels of sunshine, rainfall below 600 mm per year and very warm summers, those conditions are very favorable for grape growing.

42
Q

How the climate has an impact on the wines made in Languedoc?

A

Low moisture levels and the cool, dry Tramontane north-west wind that blows for about 200 days per year mean that there is low disease pressure from fungal diseases thus reducing the need for spraying and cosequent cist, This has also enabled the growth of certified organic wine production. However, in dry years, the draught would be an issue.

43
Q

Why certain winemaking techniques might be suitable for the wines in each appellation in Languedoc?

A

Each region has a different variety requirements and the blend of wines are different, we need to adjust the winemaking techniques, because of the climate and styles of wine each region makes.

44
Q

The percentage increase in exports in the 5 years preceding 2016 in Languedoc

A

15%

45
Q

The percentage increase in rosé production between 2010 and 2017 in Languedoc

A

35%

46
Q

The percentage of Languedoc wine that’s IGP.

A

70%

47
Q

What is the name of the promotional body that the Languedoc is part of? This body is responsible for wine, food and tourism in the market as well as ViniSud wine fair.

A

Sud de France

48
Q

The percentage of production that’s Vin Doux Naturels in Roussillon

A

25%

49
Q

The percentage reduction in vineyard area in Roussillon since 1980

A

66.6%

50
Q

The amount of vineyard area that’s classified as AOC in Roussillon

A

70%

51
Q

The percentage of production that’s made by cooperatives in Roussillon

A

75%

52
Q

Which countries are the three largest export markets for Roussillon wines?

A
  • China
  • Belgium
  • Germany
53
Q

What is the mountain ranges affect Roussillon?

A

the Pyrenees

54
Q

What is the weather of Roussillon?

A

a warm, windy, Mediterranean climate with moderate rainfall (500-600mm annually) and high sunshine hours

55
Q

What are the top varieties in Roussillon?

A
  • Grenache Noir
  • Syrah
  • Carignan
  • Muscat Blanc
  • Muscat of Alexandria
  • Macabeu
56
Q

What are the principal red grapes of Cotes du Roussillon?

A

Carignan, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, and Syrah

57
Q

What is the variety requirement for red wines of Cotes du Roussillon?

A

The wines must be made from a minimum of 2 varieties with a requirement that the variety with the highest percentage is limited to 80 percent in the final blend.

58
Q

What is the style of wine of Cotes du Roussillon Village?

A

Red only

59
Q

What are the styles of wines of Collioure?

A

Full-bodied, dry, red and white wines

60
Q

What are the principal varieties of Collioure?

A

Red; Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mouvdre
White: Grenache Gris

61
Q

What is the department IGP in Rousillon area?

A

IGP Cotes Catalanes

62
Q

Who are the high quality producers in Roussillon?

A
  • Thunevin-Salvet
  • Domaine de Bila-Haut, owned by Chapoutier
    Super-premium wines
  • Domaine Gauby
  • Clos de Fee
  • Le Soula
63
Q

What are the principal varieties of Provence?

A

Red: Grenache Noir and Cinsaut
- Syrah, Mouvedre, Carignan
White: Vermentino (Rolle), and Clairette

64
Q

What percentage is Rose wines accounted for in Provence and France?

A

90% / 40%

65
Q

What is the climate of Provence?

A

A warm Mediterranean climate with adequate rainfall in most of years of grape growing. The cold Mistral wind can provide a cooling influence

66
Q

What is the traditional trellising system in Provence?

A

The bush vines, replaced with trellised bines to aide mechanization and reduce cost

67
Q

How much white variety allow to blend in rose production?

A

up to 20%

68
Q

What would be the effect of using white wines in rose wine production?

A

to reduce the alcohol level

69
Q

What are the most common methods of Rose winemaking?

A
  • Direct press
  • short maceration (a few hours) on the skins
70
Q

What accounts for the pale pink colour of most rosé wines made in Provence AOC?

A
  • Most of the black grapes grown in the region have a relatively low level of colour e.g. Grenache Noir, Cinsaut and Tibouren. Therefore, they give low levels of colour when macerated or pressed.
  • The region also allows up to 20% of the blend to be made from white grapes.
  • The fruit is handled protectively by excluding oxygen and refrigeration to preserve the colour and flavours/aromas.
  • Wines may be fined to reduce colour levels post-fermentation.
71
Q

Which appellation in Provence produces mainly red wines from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre?

A

Les Baux de Provence AOC

72
Q

Bandol is unusual for Provence as it used to produce mainly red wine. Which grape variety is most widely used in Bandol?

A

Mourvèdre

73
Q

What are the advantages of hand harvesting and pressing whole bunches?

A

• Less stress on the grapes during harvesting especially if picked at the
coolest time (4am on)
• Fruit can be sorted in the vineyard
• Whole bunch pressing is gentler, extracting fewer solids and phenolic
• More juice is produced at lower pressure due to presence of stems
which create channels for the juice

74
Q

What are the disadvantages of hand harvesting and pressing while bunches?

A

• Hand harvesting requires a large, well-trained, picking teams to harvest and
select correctly
• In many countries, it is increasingly difficult to find and retain such labour
• Labour may not be available in the early morning
• Hand harvesting is more expensive and slower
• Whole bunch pressing is more time consuming as fewer bunches can be
loaded into the press

75
Q

What are the advantages of machine harvesting and short maceration of hold in press?

A

• Fast
• Significantly cheaper than hand harvesting
• Does not require large picking teams
• Grapes can be picked at night for cooler temperatures
• Shortest possible delay between picking and refrigeration and/or pressing

76
Q

What are the disadvantages of machine harvesting and short maceration of hold in press?

A

• Machine harvesting requires an up-to-date, well-maintained machine and a
skillful driver
• Grapes are destemmed by the shaking mechanism of the machine and
therefore whole bunch pressing is not possible
• Destemmed grapes require a higher pressure to extract the same amount of
juice as whole bunch pressing

77
Q

What are the typical fermentation process of Provence rose pruduction?

A
  • Fermentation in stainless steel tanks
  • cultured yeast
  • fermentation temperature between 14-18C
  • fermented to dry
  • Malolactic conversation is blocked
  • The wines are typically stored for a short period (2-3 months) in stainless steel container
78
Q

What are the AOC within Cotes de Provence?

A
  • Coteaux Varois en Provence
  • Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
  • La Baux de Provence
79
Q

What are the soils of Bandol?

A

Limestone and clay

80
Q

What are the variety requirements of Bandol red wines and rose wines?

A

Red; 50-95 % Mourvedre
Rose: 20-95 % Mourvedre

81
Q

What is the aging requirement of Bandol red wines?

A

aged in oak for 18 months

82
Q

Who are the significant producers of Bandol?

A
  • Domaine Tempier
  • Co-op: Les Vignerons de la Cadierenne
83
Q

When was the cru classe status granted and how many estates are granded?

A

1955, originally 23 and now 18, including Clos Mireille and Domaine Rimaurescq