Languedoc Flashcards
What is “Mutage”?
The process of arresting fermenting must with the addition of grape spirits.
Arnaud de Villeneuve from Montpellier in 13th century
How are the Languedoc VdNs crafted?
Fortified with neutral grape spirits to 15% ABV
Minimum RS is 11% except Saint Jean de Minervois which has a minimum RS of 12.5%
How many VdN AOCs are in the Languedoc?
Four
All made with Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What is the variety, min. ABV and min. aging on the Méthode Ancestrale in the Atlantic Corridor Limoux AOC?
100% Mauzac
Min 6-7% ABV
Minimum 2 months aging
When did the Monks of Sainte-Hilaire discover sparkling wine?
1531
150 years before Dom Perignon
What is the Canal du Midi?
A canal that linked Sète in Languedoc to the Garonne River in Toulouse. The Garonne then flowed to Bordeaux and the Gironde Estuary, and from there to the Altantic.
Allowed the bypassing of Spain/Borderlais blocked.
Who were the primary consumers of Languedoc wine in the 17th and 18th centuries?
17th: the Dutch who wanted sweet wine
18th: dry white wine destined to become brandy for the Napoleonic army
What year were the protectionist policies of Bordeaux rescinded?
1776
Which of the 3 topographical zones is flat, fertile with alluvial plains?
The Coastal Plain
What is the average sunshine and rainfall of Languedoc?
Sunshine: 2,530 hrs (316/365 days)
Rainfall: averages 27” bookending the summer season
It often arrives in the form of violent storms: Épisode Cévenol
South winds from the Mediterranean are countered by?
The Tramontane winds and other strong winds from the north and west.
What is the climate like in Languedoc?
Mediterranean climate with two seasons:
1. mild winters
1. hot, dry summers
What is the varietal blend of the Atlantic Corridor Crémant de Limoux AOC?
Typical blend is
* 60% Chardonnay
* 30% Chenin Blanc
* 10% Mauzac
Pinot Noir has recently been approved. Rosé style acheived 15% Pinot N.
What is the Atlantic Corridor like in Languedoc?
- The western reaches of Languedoc.
- The Atlantic and Mediterranean climate meet here.
- Bordeaux varieties planted alongside Mediterranean ones.
What are the hillsides and mountains zones like in Languedoc?
- Mediterranean warmth mitigated by elevations up to 1320’
- Soils are well drained
What is the Coastal Plains area like in Languedoc?
- From Narbonne and Béziers to beyond Montpellier.
- Flat, low lying and fertile area
- Decidedly Mediterranean
- Highest yielding grapes destined for entry-level IGP
What are the 3 topographical zones in Languedoc?
Coastal Plains
Hillsides & Mountains
Atlantic Corridor
What characteristics do the soils of the Languedoc produce in wines?
Alluvial Soils: Produce fruity wines often utilized for whites and rosés
Granite/gneiss/marl/clay & schist: Produce powerful, spicy red wines good for aging
Garrigue: Produces red & white wines of high acidity and red wines with polished tannins
Describe the Atlantic Corridor Limoux AOC?
- Sheltered on three sides by two plateaus and the Pyrenees.
- Whites: Chardonnay, Chenin Blan & Mauzac; hand-harvested
- Reds: Primarily Merlot (3 varieties in blend); hand or machine harvested
What are the soil types of the Languedoc?
- Garrigue: nutrient-poor limestone
- The vast lowland plains are mostly comprised of younger sedimentary and/or alluvial soils
- Some hillside slopes are limestone and soils derived from that limestone
- Some hill sites: pockets of granite, gneiss, and schist
What are some geological events that formed the landscape of Languedoc?
- mountain-building episodes which created Alps & Pyrenees
- repeated sea invasions and retreats
- intense weathering processes during inter-glacial periods
How many French departments does Languedoc cover?
Four
Lozère
Gard (partial)
Hérault
Aude
What is the production figures (by AOC, IGP, Vin de France) of Languedoc?
AOC = 10%
IGP = 74%
Vin de France = 16%
T or F? Languedoc is the largest IGP wine producer in France.
True
Also the most exported IGP
Which VdN is not located on the coastal plain in the Languedoc?
Muscat Saint Jean-de-Minervois
Located in NE corner of Minervois
What are the 4 VdNs of Languedoc?
- Muscat de Lunel
- Muscat de Mireval
- Muscat de Frontignan (largest & oldest)
- Muscat de Saint Jean-de-Minervois
What are the characteristics of the Atlantic corridor Malepère AOC?
- most westerly AOC in Languedoc
- flatter and more open than other Atlantic corridor appellations of Cabardès & Limoux
- Atlantic varieties make up the majority of the red blend with Merlot as the backbone
- also makes rosé
What are the characteristics of the Atlantic Corridor Cabardès AOC?
- This is where the cooler Atlantic breezes meet the more temperate Mediterranean winds
- Only Languedoc AOC with an equal split of Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties
- Soils: limestone, granite & gneiss
What are the AOCs of the Atlantic Corridor of Languedoc?
- Cabardès AOC
- Malepère AOC
- Limoux AOC
- Crémant de Limoux AOC
What are the characteristics of the Fitou AOC?
- Two non-contiguous zones of production within southern part of Corbières.
- Fitou Maritime: close to the coast; clay/limestone
- Haut Fitou: midst the mountains; limestone/sandstone
- Red only: Carignan and Grenache blends
What are the characteristics of the Corbières AOC?
- Biggest non-regional AOC in Languedoc
- 4th largest AOC in France
- Soil: predominantly limestone, but also schist, red clay, galets, and marl
- Overwhelming majority is Carignan-based red wine
What are the characteristics of the Clairette du Languedoc AOC?
- White only, 100% Clairette
- Limestone soils
- semi-sweet and fortified exist, but are rare
- Along with Picpoul de Pinet are the only 2 AOCs dedicated to a single white grape variety in the Languedoc
What are the characteristics of the Minervois AOC?
- North of the Canal du Midi
- Soils: predominantly clay and limestone with pockets of sandstone
- Reds are Syrah based with high proportions of Grenache & Mourvèdre
- Vast majority of production is red
What are the characteristics of the Saint Chinian AOC?
- Mostly red, some rosé and a little white
- Elevation mitigates Mediterranean heat
- Schist and clay/limstone soils
- Reds: GSM + Lledoner Pelut
- 2 DGCs: Berlou (GSM) and Roquebrun (G+S)
What are the white grapes of Languedoc?
- Bourboulenc
- Clairette
- Mauzac Blanc
- Piquepoul (Blanc)
- Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc
Grenache Blanc, Marsa, Rousa, Viognier, Verm, Macabeu, Chard, Chenin
What are the characteristics of the Faugères AOC?
- foothills of the Cévennes Mts.
- gray-white schist soil
- overall production predominantly red
- all wines must be blend of at least two varieties; Rousanne must be one in white
What are the 2 AOCs in Languedoc that produce white wines from a single grape?
- Clairette du Languedoc (Clairette grape)
- Picpoul de Pinet (Picpoul grape)
What are the characteristics of the Terasses du Larzac AOC?
- Possesses a more continental climate with a higher than average rainfall
- Soils are mix of clays and limestone
- With a 45 degree difference it has some of the highest diurnal temperature swings in the Languedoc
- Red Only: wines must be a blend of three varieties; typically GSM
What are the characteristics of the La Clape AOC?
- One of the hottest, driest, and sunniest parts of France
- Constant winds
- Soil is nothing but stones
- Gained reputation for some of best wines in the region
- Whites: Bourboulenc & Grenache Blanc
- Reds: GSM
Why can the regional AOC and IGP in Languedoc incorporate fruit from both Languedoc and Roussillon?
They were administratively joined in 1972.
Who discovered Mutage?
Arnaud de Villeneuve of Montpellier in 1285
Stopping fermentation by adding spirits.
What is the “Etang de Thau”?
A lake separating Picpoul de Pinet AOC from the sea.
Rolle is a synonym for what other grape variety?
Vermentino
What grape is referred to as the “Lip Stinger”
Picpoul Blanc
How was the impact of Phylloxera different in Languedoc as compared to other regions?
Languedoc was the first region to be replanted to American rootstock and the first to recover eventually becoming France’s largest wine exporter in the early 20th century.
What is the largest non-regional AOC in Languedoc in terms of size?
Corbières (it is also the 4th largest in France)
Crémant de Limoux is based on what grape variety?
Chardonnay
Typical blend is 60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin and 10% Mauzac
What is the “Massif de La Clape”
A limestone outcrop separating Narbonne from the sea.
What style of wine is produced in the Limoux AOC?
Dry white, red, sparkling
Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale
What is mutage?
The addition of grape spirit to must in order to stop fermentation and obtain a sweet wine.
What Languedoc AOC is evenly split between Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties?
Cabardès AOC
What 2 Languedoc AOCs are known for single variety wines?
Clairette du Languedoc AOC & Picpoul de Pinet AOC
What is the main grape of the Corbières AOC?
Carignan
What AOCs are nestled within the Corbières AOC?
Corbières Bountenac AOC & Haut Fitou AOC
What is the Méthode Ancestrale of sparkling wine?
Sparkling winemaking comprising of one single alcoholic fermentation that is bottle mid-fermet in order to trap gas in solution.
What are the 3 primary red grape varieties of the Languedoc AOC?
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvèdre
What is the oldest sparkling wine in the world?
Blanquette de Limoux
It was discovered by the Monks of Saint Hilaire in 1531
What grape is used in the Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale AOC?
100% Mauzac
What AOCs are located in the Atlantic Corridor?
Cabardès AOC
Malepère AOC
Limoux AOC
Cremant de Limoux AOC
T or F? The regional Languedoc AOC may incoporate fruit from Languedoc and Roussillon?
True
What is the principal red grape in Minervois AOC and the principal red grape in Corbières AOC?
Minervois: Syrah
Corbières: Carignan
What is the oldest sparking wine in the world?
Blanquette de Limoux
Blanquette de Limoux is made from what grape(s)?
Primarily Mauzac (with possible small amounts of Chardonnay and/or Chenin Blanc)
Crémant de Limoux is made from?
high proportion of Chardonnay, typically 60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin, 10% Mauzac
Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale is made from ?
100% Mauzac
All 4 Languedoc VdNs are made from what grape variety?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What grape forms the historic backbone to the red blends of Languedoc?
Carignan
High tannins, acid and pigment
Which zone are these AOCs located in?
Picpoul de Pinet
Malepère
Minervois
Limoux
Corbières
La Clape
- Picpoul de Pinet - Coastal Plains
- Malepère - Atlantic Corridor
- Minervois - Hillsides and Mountains
- Limoux - Atlantic Corridor
- Corbières - Hillsides and Mountains
- La Clape - Coastal Plains
What does the Atlantic Corridor climate consist of?
Influenced by the Atlantic and Mediterranean climates
Have both Mediterranean grapes and Bordeaux grapes
What is the Hillsides and Mountains zone like?
- The Mountains go up 400 Meters
- Act like a suntrap heating during the day but allowing cool air to come down at night
- This allows the grapes to retain their acidity
- They block the incoming northern winds and rain so the vineyards are dryer and sunnier
What does the Coastal Plains of Languedoc consist of?
- Low elevation
- On alluvial flats (very fertile)
- High yielding grapes destined mostly for IGP
What are the 3 different topographical areas of Languedoc?
The Atlantic Corridor
The Hillsides and Mountains
The Coastal Plains
How many co-ops are in Languedoc?
About 150 co-ops responsible for close to 70% of Languedoc’s total production.
Where was the first co-operative in France?
Marasussan in 1905
Near Béziers
Who was Arnaud de Villeneuve and what was his legacy to the wine industry?
He discovered the art of mutage in Montpellier in 1285.
This triggered the trade in Vins doux Naturels VdNs.
What did Phylloxera do to Languedoc?
- In 1863 Languedoc was the first region to be hit by Phylloxera
- They were also the first region to graft and recover
- By 1900 Languedoc was the #1 producer of French wines
What did the railway do for Languedoc?
In 1855 the railway allowed easy access to northern France.
What are the characteristics of Picpoul de Pinet AOC?
- 100% white and 100% Picpoul
- Limestone soils
- Étang de Thau is a saltwater lake that separates the AOC from the sea
- Co-ops are over 80% of the production
- Machine harvesting at night
What are the blending and labeling rules for IGP wines?
- Non-varietally labeled wine must be more than 50% primary grapes and less than 50% secondary grapes
- Wine can be labeled with several grape varieties if they are principal and if each is at least 15% of the total
- White grapes may be in red and rosé wine if red and white grapes are fermented together (and white are no more than 20% of final blend)
Atlantic and Mediterranean influences meet in which zone?
The Atlantic Corridor
Which AOC has an equal split between Mediterranean and Atlantic varieties and climates?
Cabardès AOC
How many DGCs can append their name to the regional Languedoc AOC?
11 DGC may append their name
As of 2020
What grapes dominate the wines of Fitou?
Typically Carignan & Grenache Blends
Fitou is red-only appellation
What is the history of Languedoc?
- Phocaeans came in 600 BC
- Romans came in 125 BC
- (Catholic Church: vineayards)
- Aragon empire 1204-1349
What is the Via Domitia?
A road the Romans built connecting Italy and Spain and passing through Languedoc.
Where is Languedoc located?
- Located in the SW Mediterranean France
- Rhône Valley is to the northeast
- Rousillon to the south
- Mountains and hills on 3/4 of the sides
- The Mediterranean on the other side
What Languedoc AOC is known for Syrah based wines?
Minervois AOC
What grape variety is used in the production of Languedoc VdNs?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What is the dominating geographic feature of Faugères?
Cévennes Mountains
Located in the foothills
What is the dominating geographic feature of Picpoul de Pinet?
Étang de Thau
What is the dominating geographic feature of Terrasses du Larzac?
Larzac Plateau
Vineayrds at the foot of
What is the dominating geographic feature of La Clape?
Massif de la Clape
What is the most westerly AOC in the Languedoc?
Malepère AOC
What Muscat VdN AOC is the oldest and largest?
Muscat de Frontignan
