Languedoc-Roussillon

Question 1

What are the characteristics of Languedoc-Roussillon

Answer 1

• Large Spanish influence
• warm, sunny, hot, dry winds
• Large production area
• Bulk wines produced, large production
• focus on varietal wines, many varietals grown
• Mediterranean climate and influence
• Regions are combined
• produces mostly Vin De Pays wines

Question 2

What are the main varietals of Languedoc-Roussillon

Answer 2

• Whites: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Mauzac
• Reds: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Languedoc AOC

Answer 3

• Largest AOC of France
• AOC covers both Languedoc and Roussillon
• focus on varietal wines (even in blending varietals are important)
• Fruit forward, ripe wines with high alcohol and low acidity

Question 4

What are the important villages of the Languedoc region

Answer 4

-Corbieres
-Minervois
-Fitou
-Faugeres
(better quality blends made in these villages)

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Vin Du Naturale (VDN) AOC

Answer 5

• Sweet dessert wine
• is a fortified wine (made in a port style)
• 100% Muscat Petit Gran

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Limoux AOC

Answer 6

• Located in the Languedoc region
• most affordable and enjoyable sparkling wine of the Languedoc-Roussillon region
• Blanquette de Limoux: sparkling made in the traditional method blend of Mauzac (90% min), Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc
• Blanquette Methode Ancestrale : sparkling wine with no disgorgement of yeast or dosage, made 100% Mauzac
• Cremant Limoux: sparkling wine, traditional method, with disgorgement, must age on lees 1 year, 40-70% Chardonnay, 20-40% Chenin blanc, 10-20% Mauzac and 0-10% Pinot noir

Question 7

What are the characteristics of Roussillon

Answer 7

• falls under the Languedoc AOC (there is no Roussillon AOC)
• Produces less wine but better quality wines than Languedoc
• More Spanish influence
• Warmer, drier, sunnier than Languedoc
• Shielded from rain by the Pyrenees Mountains
• Big, jammy, ripe wines with more structure
• has red soils

Question 8

what are the characteristics of Cote du Roussillon and Cote de Roussillon Villages AOC’s

Answer 8

• Cote du Roussillon: red wines must be made with at least three varieties of grapes
• total of the two main variety grapes should not make more than 90% of the blend
• must not be more than 60% of Carignan