Languedoc Flashcards
What is the climate of Languedoc?
Mediterranean
What is Épisode Cévenol?
A weather phenomenon generally happening in autumn
What is the Via Domitia?
A Roman-built road linking Gaul to Italy and Spain
Who is Arnaud de Villeneuve?
A physician and alchemist credited with creating the technique of mutage in 1283
What is mutage?
The process of stopping a partially complete alcoholic fermentation through the addition of spirits in order to keep some residual sugar in the finished (fortified) wine. This process is used for VDN winemaking
What is VDN?
Vins Doux Naturels: a fortified dessert wine
When did the monks of the Abbey Saint-Hilaire start creating their sparkling wine: Blanquette de Limoux?
1531
150 years before Dom Pérignon began making Champagne
Who is Pierre-Paul Riquet?
The engineer and builder of the Canal du Midi
Which canal links the Mediterranean port of Sète to the Garonne River in Toulouse?
Canal du Midi
What is the main grape variety in La Clape AOC?
Bourboulenc
What is the sole grape variety used in Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale?
Mauzac Blanc
Which red grape is enjoying a surge in popularity in Languedoc?
Carignan
Which Languedoc grape undergoes carbonic maceration to tame its aggressive tannins?
Carignan
What percentage of France’s organic vineyards are planted in Languedoc Roussillon?
38%
What is the traditional training system used in Languedoc?
Gobelet
All Languedoc AOC DCGs make only red wine except for which one?
Cabrières: produces both red and rosé
Name the 11 Languedoc AOCs DCGs
Cabrières
Grés de Montpellier
La Méjanelle
Montpeyroux
Pézenas
Quatourze
Saint-Christol
Saint-Drézéry
Saint-Georges-d’Orques
Saint-Saturnin
Sommières
What style of wine is produced in Fitou AOC?
Red, typically Carignan and Grenache blends
What style of wine is produced in Limoux AOC?
Dry white, red, sparkling white
Whites: Mausac Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
Red: Merlot (plus Côt, Cab Franc, Can Sauv, Grenache, Syrah)
What are the primary grapes used in Crémant de Limoux?
Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac Blanc, Pinot Noir
Which is the largest non-regional AOC in Languedoc and 4th largest in France?
Corbières
Describe Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale
Made from 100% Mauzac
6-7% alcohol
Minimum 2 months aging
Blanquette de Limoux is primarily made with Mauzac, but which 2 other grapes are permitted?
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
What style of wine is produced in La Clape?
Dry whites: Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc
Red: GSM
All wines from Faugéres must be a blend of at least 2 varieties, and whites must contain which grape?
Roussane
Which AOC produces more white wine than any other AOC in Languedoc?
Picpoul de Pinet
Which AOC boast 50% of its vineyards as organic?
Terrasses du Larzac
What grape is used to make Languedoc’s Fortified wines?
Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc
Which AOC is the largest and the oldest of the Muscat VDNs in Languedoc?
Muscat de Frontignan
What is the 5th AOC that makes sweet fortified whites?
Clairette du Languedoc
- its sweet VDNs are made from Clairette
- also produced dry and semi-sweet (not fortified)
Which Languedoc VDN AOC requires a higher minimum sweetness level than the others?
Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervous
What is France’s largest IGP and most exported IGP?
Pays d’Oc IGP
What are the most important red grapes in the Pays d’Oc IGP?
Merlot
Cab Sauv
Syrah
What are the most important white grapes in the Pays d’Oc IGP?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
What are the most used grapes for the Pays d’OC?
Grenache
Cinsault
Syrah
What percentage of France’s varietal wines is produced as Pays d’Oc?
92%
Which AOC is made up of two separate zones within the southern part of Corbières?
Fitou
What are the AOCs of the Atlantic Corridor?
Cabardès
Limoux
Malepère
What are the AOCs of the Coastal Plains?
Picpoul de Pinet
La Clape
What are the AOCs of the Mountains and Hillsides?
Pic Saint-Loup
Minervois
Saint-Chinian
Faugères
Corbières
Fitou
What is the primary grape variety of Limoux?
Chenin Blanc
What is the most westerly Languedoc AOC?
Malepère
Which AOCs can only made red and rosé wines?
Cabardès
Malepère
Pic Saint-Loup
Which 4 AOCs can only make red wines?
Terrasses du Larzac
Minervois-La-Livinière
Corbières Boutenac
Fitou
What 5 Languedoc AOCs can all make dry white, rosé, and red?
Languedoc
Faugères
Minervois
Saint-Chinian
Corbières
The limestone outcrop known as the Falaise de l’Hortus (cliff of Hortus) is found in which Languedoc AOC?
Pic Saint-Loup
Which Languedoc AOC is in the foothills of the Cévennes mountains?
Faugères
As of 2020 how many DCGs are there in Languedoc?
11
Which Languedoc AOC claims to have first produced sparkling wine?
Limoux
In what year was France’s first wine cooperative founded?
1905 in Maraussan, near Béziers
In what year were Languedoc and Roussillon joined?
1972
What are the two DCGs of the Saint-Chinian AOC?
Berlou
Roquebrun
Which Languedoc AOC has planted an equal split of Atlantic and Mediterranean grapes?
Cabardès
