France - South/Southwest

Question 1

What is referred to as ‘Bordeaux copies’?

Answer 1

The wine regions of Bergerac, Pécharmant, Côtes de Duras, Côtes du Marmandais, and Buzet.

Question 2

Name the smaller ACs within Bergerac.

Answer 2

Monbazillac (botrytised sweet wines)
Saussignac (botrytised sweet wines)
Haut-Montravel (botrytised sweet wines)
Montravel (Dry White)
Rosette (Dry White wines)
Pécharmant (Red wines)

Question 3

What style of wine is predominantly made in the Côtes de Duras and the Côtes de Marmandais?

Answer 3

Lighter-style Bordeaux wines. Some local varietals may also be seen.

Question 4

What styles of wine can be made in Buzet?

Answer 4

Dry Red, Rosé, and White wines.

Question 5

What is the synonym for Malbec in Cahors?

Answer 5

Auxerrois

Question 6

Which varietals are allowed in Cahors?

Answer 6

Malbec (must be 70% of the blend), Merlot, Tannat

Question 7

Historically, what were the wines of Cahors described as?

Answer 7

Black Wines

Question 8

What are common descriptors of the dry red wines of Cahors?

Answer 8

Aged in oak, deeply colored, high in tannin, with intense, dark berry fruits. Maturation slowly reveals notes of cedar and earth.

Question 9

Where is the Côtes de Gascogne?

Answer 9

South East of Bordeaux (area overlaps Armagnac production)

Question 10

What style of wines generally are made in the Côtes de Gascogne?

Answer 10

aromatic, crisp white wines from Armagnac Varietals (based on Ugni Blanc, also include Colombard and Folle Blanche) which give primary notes of Green Apples.

Question 11

Which varietal are the wines of Madiran based on?

Answer 11

Tannat

Question 12

What style(s) of wine are made in Jurançon?

Answer 12

Dry and Sweet white wines

Question 13

Which varietal is the base for the sweet wines of Jurançon?

Answer 13

Petit Manseng

Question 14

What process is used to create the sweet wines of Jurançon?

Answer 14

Passerillage.

Question 15

What are the primary notes for the sweet wines of Jurançon?

Answer 15

Apricot and Grapefruit (sometimes accompanied with New Oak)

Question 16

What are the two winds that are potential helps/hazards in the South of France?

Answer 16

Mistral from the Rhône

Tramontane between the Massif Centrale and the Pyranees

Question 17

What is the mountain range that separates Spain and France?

Answer 17

The Pyranees

Question 18

Which varietals are the most planted in Southern France?

Answer 18

Grenache, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc

Question 19

List the main varietals in the south of France.

Answer 19

Grenache, Syrah, Carignan (widely planted in all AC regions), Mourvèdre, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache blanc

Question 20

Which varietal is used most in VdN production?

Answer 20

Muscat (à petite grains)

Question 21

What is the biggest viticultural challenge in the south of France?

Answer 21

Drought

Question 22

What does the use of carbonic maceration do in the production of Carignan?

Answer 22

helps soften the tannins

Question 23

What are the 4 départements of the Languedoc-Roussillon?

Answer 23

Aude
Hérault
Gard
Pyranées-Orientales

Question 24

List the ACs of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Answer 24

Languedoc AC
Minervois AC
Corbières AC
Fitou AC
Côtes du Roussillon AC
Côtes du Roussillon Villages AC
(Pays d'Oc IGP)

Question 25

What is the terrain, climate, and basic characteristics of the Côtes du Roussillon & CdR Villages ACs.

Answer 25

Rugged Mountain terrain, high amounts of sun, low precipitation, concentrated wines with the best being from the northern part of the AC in the CdR Villages AC.

Question 26

What is the terrain, climate, and basic characteristics of the Fitou AC.

Answer 26

North of CdR Villages, coastal strip has full-bodied wines, while the inland areas are cooler and produce lighter-bodied wine.

Question 27

What is the terrain, climate, and basic characteristics of the Corbières AC.

Answer 27

11 sub-regions; best is Boutenac AC. Warm Coastal area as well as cooler vineyards planted up to 600m above sea level.

Question 28

What is the terrain, climate, and basic characteristics of the Minervois AC.

Answer 28

On the slopes of the Massif Centrale, with vineyards at varying altitudes; best is La Livinière.

Question 29

What is the terrain, climate, and basic characteristics of the Languedoc AC.

Answer 29

Separated into subregions/terroirs. Most notably: La Clape - hill on the plains near coast Pic Saint-Loup - high in mountain foothills, red wines are concentrated and elegant.

Question 30

Which AC do 60% of all French IGP wines from from?

Answer 30

Pays d'Oc AC

Question 31

Which varietals make the best whites in the Provence AC?

Answer 31

Rolle and Clairette

Question 32

Which style dominates production in Provence AC?

Answer 32

Rosé

Question 33

What is the base for wines of Bandol AC?

Answer 33

Mourvèdre

Question 34

What are the characteristics of red wines from Bandol AC?

Answer 34

Dark, full-bodied, High Tannins, Bottle age, bramble fruits, meat, licorice.