Languedoc- Roussillion Flashcards
What is the “méthode ancestrale “ of sparkling winemaking?
Inducing a second fermentation by “waking up” a chilled, partially-fermented wine
What other grape is related to Lledoner Pelut?
Grenache
What appellations are located in the Languedoc’s “Atlantic corridor”?
Cabardès, Malepère and the Limoux AOCs
Crémant de Limoux is based on what grape variety?
Crémant de Limoux must contain at least 40% Chardonnay
Rolle is a synonym for what other grape variety?
Vermentino
What style of wine is produced in the Limoux AOC?
The Limoux AOC is for still reds and whites
What Languedoc AOC is particularly known for Syrah-based wines?
Minervois AOC
What is the “Massif de la Clape”?
A limestone outcrop separating Narbonne from the sea
What is the “Etang de Thau”?
A lake separating the Picpoul de Pinet AOC from the sea
What Languedoc AOC is evenly split between Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties?
Cabardès AOC
Who discovered mutage?
Arnaud de Villeneuve of Montpellier in 1285
What are the five primary grapes permitted for Languedoc AOC white wines?
Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul Blanc
What appellation is nestled within the Corbières AOC?
Fitou AOC
What are the six “cru” appellations of the Languedoc region?
Faugères, La Clape, Corbieres-Boutenac, Saint Chinian Berlou, Saint Chinian Roquebrun and Minervois la Livinière
How was the impact of phylloxera different in Languedoc compared to other French regions?
Languedoc was the first region to be replanted on American rootstocks and the first to recover.
What Languedoc appellation is based on a minimum 50% Merlot?
Malepère
What grape is used in the Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale AOC?
These wines are 100% Mauzac
What is the largest AOC in Languedoc in terms of geographic size?
Corbières (it is also the fourth largest in France.)
What is “mutage”?
The addition of grape spirit to must in order to stop fermentation and obtain a sweet wine
What two Languedoc appellations are known for single-varietal wines?
Clairette du Languedoc AOC and Picpoul de Pinet AOC
What is the oldest sparking wine in the world?
Blanquette de Limoux. The sparking phenomenon was discovered by the monks of Saint-Hilaire in 1531.
What are the four primary red grape varieties of the Languedoc AOC?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Lladoner Pelut
What grape is referred to as the “lip stinger”?
Picpoul Blanc
What grape variety is used in the production of all Languedoc VDNs?
Muscat à Petitis Grains Blanc
What Languedoc appellation grows Chenin Blanc?
Limoux
What is the main grape variety of the Corbières AOC?
Carignan
What style of wine is made in the Maury AOC?
Dry reds and red VDN
What effect does the Tramontane have on winemaking in Roussillon?
The Tramontane reduces humidity and the risk of vine disease.
What are Roussillon’s most important rivers?
Agly, Têt and Tech
What French wine region boasts the highest number of organic and biodynamic wine producers?
Roussillon
Banyuls shares the same deliminated area with what other appellation?
Collioure
The southernmost appellation in France is:
Collioure/Banyuls
Tourbat is also known as:
Malvoisie du Roussillon
What style(s) of wine is/are made in the Collioure AOC?
Dry red, white and rosé
The prevailing north wind in Roussillon is called:
The Tramontane
What are the grape varieties allowed in the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC?
Muscat à Petit Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie
What are the “crus” of the Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde and Tautavel
What is the climate of Roussillon?
Mediterranean, with lots of heat and sunshine.
What AOC is shared jointly between Languedoc and Roussillon?
Languedoc AOC
What is the main grape variety used to produce red VDN?
Grenache
Roussillon is best known for what wine style?
Vins Doux Naturels (VDN)
Is Banyuls Grand Cru VDN made reductively or oxidatively?
Banyuls Grand Cru VDN is always oxidized.
What style of wine does the Banyuls Grand Cru AOC produce?
Red VDN only
What wine style(s) can be made under the Côtes du Roussillon Villages designation?
Red wines only
A “bonbonne” is:
A large glass jar used for maturing VDN
What wines may be labeled Hors d’Age?
Oxidized VDNs aged a minimum of five years
What IGP is shared jointly between Languedoc and Roussillon?
IGP Pays d’Oc
Languedoc was an appellation of firsts…
- Mutage was invented there 400 years prior to port
- St Hillaire invented the first sparkling wine (prior to France)
- It was the first region to rebound from phylloxera by using American rootstocks
Languedoc is the….
Largest producer of IGP wines
What did Arnaud de Vileneuve find in 1285 in Montpelier?
The process of Mutage
In 1289 the University of Montpelier was founded…
It still exists today and is a leader in Oenology and Viticultural research.
In 1531 the Monks of St Hillaire founded what…….?
They founded the process of making sparkling wine. This is 150 years before Dom Perignon’s discovery
In 1681 what canal was constructed?
The Canal du Midi. This connected the Mediterranean port of Sete to the Garonne River in Toulouse. In 1996 this was named a UNESCO world heritage site
What happened to the Languedoc in the 17th Century?
The dutch became a big trader because they wanted sweet wine. However by the 18th century their biggest trader was the Nepolionic armies who wanted dry wine for brandies.
In 1855 something opened up that helped to ship Languedoc wines around the rest of France?
A railway from Paris, Lyon and Marseille
What was the fact that helped to make the Languedoc the number one region for wine by 1900?
It was the first region to replant to American rootstock
Vin de Pays/ IGP
1968: Vins de Pays category was created; finalised in 1979
2009: The vin de pays category was replaced by the IGP category (created a link to origin)
France has over 150 IGPs
Most important is the IGP Pays d’Oc which represents 67% of France’s total IGP production It is France’s largest wine export
1972: Languedoc and Roussillon adminsistatively joned; fruit can hail from Languedoc or Roussillion for Pays d’Oc
How many AOCs are in the Languedoc and Roussillon?
50 in the 80s it was 10
Just because it is IGP, doesn’t mean….
It is crap or inferior
Languedoc
Mediterranean coast
Rhone Valley lies to the northeast
Roussillon lies to the South
Mountain ranges flank its northwest border
The Languedoc covers four departments. They are….
From North to South
- Lozere
- Gard
- Herault
- Aude