Languedoc-Rousillon Flashcards
What was the birthplace of VDN?
Rivesaltes.
Unfortified red, white, and rosé wines from the producers of Banyuls are released as?
Collioure AOP
What is the difference between Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru?
FYI: Banyuls is France’s richest, most full-bodied and most consistently quality-minded VDN appellation.
GC must contain at least 75% Grenache Noir (vs. 50% for regular bottlings) and must spend at least 30 months in barrel.
If destined to vintage-dated, generally bottle within one year and labeled rimage.
What do the terms ambré, grenat, tuilé,and rosé mean? What does Rivesaltes mean in the Catalan tongue?
Amber, red, tawny and pink. High Rivers.
Rivesaltes: The ambré and tuilé styles are aged in an oxidative environment until at least …..?
March 1 of the 3rd year following harvest.
Grenat wines are aged reductively for one year, and must be bottled before June 30 of the second year. True or False?
True
How are the wines of Rivesaltes generally aged?
Some may age the wines in glass bonbonnes under the relentless Roussillon sun; others may employ a solera.
Rivesaltes AOP wines aged for a minimum five years may be called _________.
“hors d’age”. In practice these wines may be aged for over 20 years.
The fortified wines of Rivesaltes may be varietal wines or blends. What are the potential grapes? What about for grenat?
Grenache (Noir, Gris and Blanc), Maccabéo, Tourbat, Muscat of Alexandria, and Muscat à Petits Grains.
Grenache Noir is the sole component of grenat wines.
What are the grapes of Muscat des Rivesaltes?
Muscat à Petits Grains and muscat of Alexandria
What is the over-arching appellation for the entire Languedoc-Roussillon region?
Vin de Pays d’Oc
Name the small, fortified wine appellations of the Languedoc?
Muscat de Mireval AOP, Muscat de Lunel AOP, Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois AOP, and Muscat de Frontignan AOP. Muscat de Frontignan wines are the most common, and may be either vin doux naturel or vin de liqueur.
What is the difference between vin de liqueur and vin doux naturel?
Vin de Liqueur is a unique type of fortified wine that is fortified just before or just after fermentation begins, creating a strong, sweet liquid.
Vin Doux Naturel is allowed to ferment until the residual sugar reaches around 10% before being fortified.
Rivesaltes was the birthplace of vin doux naturel—here Arnaud de Villeneuve, a 13th century physician, introduced the process of mutage as a means of medicinal elixir-brewing. True or False
True
Maury AOP authorizes vin doux naturel in a similar range of styles, principally produced from Grenache Noir, Blanc, and Gris as well as dry, unfortified reds. True or False
True
What AOP is reserved for the red wines of 32 communes to the north of Les Aspres?
Côtes du Roussillon-Villages AOP
Latour-de-France, Caramany, Lesquerde, and Tautavel may add their names.
What is one of the region’s oldest appellations, dating to 1948?
Fitou AOP. It is divided into two distinct, noncontiguous sectors: Fitou Maritime and Fitou Montagneux. The wines are red blends, usually dominated by Carignan.
What is oldest méthode traditionnelle wine that lays claim to being France’s oldest purposefully made sparkling wine?
Blanquette de Limoux
The eastern half of Languedoc is dominated by the regional appellation Languedoc AOP. Name some of the most prominent sub appellations.
Terrasses du Larzac, La Clape and Pic-St-Loup
From the Spanish border to the city of Nîmes. Includes the entire Languedoc-Roussillon.
Name some of the overarching appellations of the western side of Languedoc?
Corbières- RWÈ Minervois- RWÈ Cabardès- RÈ Malepère- RÈ St-Chinian Faugerès Limoux
What are the two, distinct, non-contiguous sectors of Fitou AOP?
Fitou Maritime and Fitou Montagneux. The wines are red blends, usually dominated by Carignan.
What grape makes up at least 90% of Blanquette de Limoux?
Mauzac
What is the grape make up for Crémant de Limoux?
maximum 20% Mauzac and Pinot Noir in favor of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc
What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?
Banyuls AOP
What is the most important wine of the Roussillon?
VDN. 90% of France’s fortified wines are made in this area.
What does Rivesaltes mean?
High rivers (in Catalan)
Languedoc stretches in a crescent shape between ________ to the east and _________ to the south.
Provence. Rousillon.
What is one of Languedoc’s oldest appellations?
Fitou
Typical blend for Languedoc AOP?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre.
The Fitou AOP is a sub-AOP of what?
Corbieres AOP
In Rousillon, when wine is produced solely from the two Muscat varietals, what is the bottle labeled?
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP
Fitou AOP, 2 subregions, grape varietal?
Fitou Maritime, Fitou Montagneux. Red blends dominated by Carignan.
What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?
Banyuls AOP.
