Languedoc-Rousillon

Question 0

What was the birthplace of VDN?

Answer 0

Rivesaltes.

Question 1

Unfortified red, white, and rosé wines from the producers of Banyuls are released as?

Answer 1

Collioure AOP

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

What do the terms ambré, grenat, tuilé,and rosé mean? What does Rivesaltes mean in the Catalan tongue?

Answer 3

Amber, red, tawny and pink. High Rivers.

Question 4

Rivesaltes: The ambré and tuilé styles are aged in an oxidative environment until at least …..?

Answer 4

March 1 of the 3rd year following harvest.

Question 5

Grenat wines are aged reductively for one year, and must be bottled before June 30 of the second year. True or False?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

How are the wines of Rivesaltes generally aged?

Answer 6

Some may age the wines in glass bonbonnes under the relentless Roussillon sun; others may employ a solera.

Question 7

Rivesaltes AOP wines aged for a minimum five years may be called _________.

Answer 7

“hors d’age”. In practice these wines may be aged for over 20 years.

Question 8

The fortified wines of Rivesaltes may be varietal wines or blends. What are the potential grapes? What about for grenat?

Answer 8

Grenache (Noir, Gris and Blanc), Maccabéo, Tourbat, Muscat of Alexandria, and Muscat à Petits Grains.
Grenache Noir is the sole component of grenat wines.

Question 9

What are the grapes of Muscat des Rivesaltes?

Answer 9

Muscat à Petits Grains and muscat of Alexandria

Question 10

What is the over-arching appellation for the entire Languedoc-Roussillon region?

Answer 10

Vin de Pays d’Oc

Question 11

Name the small, fortified wine appellations of the Languedoc?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

What is the difference between vin de liqueur and vin doux naturel?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

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

Answer 13

True

Question 14

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

Answer 14

True

Question 15

What AOP is reserved for the red wines of 32 communes to the north of Les Aspres?

Answer 15

Côtes du Roussillon-Villages AOP

Latour-de-France, Caramany, Lesquerde, and Tautavel may add their names.

Question 16

What is one of the region’s oldest appellations, dating to 1948?

Answer 16

Fitou AOP. It is divided into two distinct, noncontiguous sectors: Fitou Maritime and Fitou Montagneux. The wines are red blends, usually dominated by Carignan.

Question 17

What is oldest méthode traditionnelle wine that lays claim to being France’s oldest purposefully made sparkling wine?

Answer 17

Blanquette de Limoux

Question 18

The eastern half of Languedoc is dominated by the regional appellation Languedoc AOP. Name some of the most prominent sub appellations.

Answer 18

Terrasses du Larzac, La Clape and Pic-St-Loup

From the Spanish border to the city of Nîmes. Includes the entire Languedoc-Roussillon.

Question 19

Name some of the overarching appellations of the western side of Languedoc?

Answer 19

Corbières- RWÈ 
Minervois- RWÈ
Cabardès- RÈ
Malepère- RÈ
St-Chinian
Faugerès
Limoux

Question 20

What are the two, distinct, non-contiguous sectors of Fitou AOP?

Answer 20

Fitou Maritime and Fitou Montagneux. The wines are red blends, usually dominated by Carignan.

Question 21

What grape makes up at least 90% of Blanquette de Limoux?

Answer 21

Mauzac

Question 22

What is the grape make up for Crémant de Limoux?

Answer 22

maximum 20% Mauzac and Pinot Noir in favor of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc

Question 23

What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?

Answer 23

Banyuls AOP

Question 24

What is the most important wine of the Roussillon?

Answer 24

VDN. 90% of France’s fortified wines are made in this area.

Question 25

What does Rivesaltes mean?

Answer 25

High rivers (in Catalan)

Question 26

Languedoc stretches in a crescent shape between ________ to the east and _________ to the south.

Answer 26

Provence. Rousillon.

Question 27

What is one of Languedoc’s oldest appellations?

Answer 27

Fitou

Question 28

Typical blend for Languedoc AOP?

Answer 28

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre.

Question 29

The Fitou AOP is a sub-AOP of what?

Answer 29

Corbieres AOP

Question 30

In Rousillon, when wine is produced solely from the two Muscat varietals, what is the bottle labeled?

Answer 30

Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP

Question 31

Fitou AOP, 2 subregions, grape varietal?

Answer 31

Fitou Maritime, Fitou Montagneux. Red blends dominated by Carignan.

Question 32

What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?

Answer 32

Banyuls AOP.