Provence Flashcards
True or False
Palette AOC rules require grapes to be hand harvested and sorted.
True
What variety is the dominant grape used in the reds and roses of Bandol?
Mourvedre
What AOC in Provence is known for organic and biodynamic viticutlure?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
Which is the smallest AOC in Provence and its most famous Chateau Simone is responsible for the half of its total production?
Palette AOC
What are real issues associated with climate change in Provence?
Heat waves that are accompanied by warm or hot nights.
The wines produced in this Provence AOC are more similar in style to the wines of the Rhone Valley and permitted grape varieties generally mirror those found there.
Name the AOC
Pierrevert AOC
What is the most significant IGP in Provence and also the multi regional IGP shared with the Rhone Valley and Corsica?
The Mediterranean IGP
Which DGC of Cotes de Provence - the only one of the five that produces not only Reds and Roses but also White Wines?
Cote de Provence La Londe
Where in Provence was France’s largest cork-producing areas in the past?
Massif des Maures
They are planting a single row of trees midst the vineyards to create shade as well.
True or False
Palette Reds and Roses must include Mourvedre in the blends.
True
Which was the first AOC recognized in Provence?
Cassis AOC in 1936
What is the percentage of Rose wine production in Provence?
90%
For Rose, does Direct Press craft pale or saturated color wines?
Direct Prss = Pale wines
Saignee = More Satirated
What is the aging requirment for Cotes de Provence Frejus?
6 months in oak barresl
Only be released after October 15 of the year following the harvest
Which grape variety is blended with Clairette in the white wine of Cassis?
Marssane
Which grape variety is unique to Bellet AOC where it is used in reds and roses?
Braquet Noir
Other than La Londe, in the other four DGCs of Cotes de Provence, which AOC any white wines produced must be labeled to meet the the rules?
Cotes de Provence AOC
(without the DGC listed)
What is the primary white grape of Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence?
Vermentino (Rolle)
True or False
Any of authorized white grapes can be used with no restrictions for Cotes de Provence White wines.
True
As of 2019 what is the percentage of production of all Provence wine by Cotes du Provence AOC?
What is the percentage of Rose production in Cotes de Provence?
- 72%
- 91%
What is the most significant IGP in Provence?
Which wine regions does the multi region IGP is shared with?
- Mediterranee IGP
- Rhone Valley
- Corsica
Which three AOCs claim 96% of all wine production in provence with the 90% of this being Rose?
- Cotes de Provence AOC
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
- Coteaux Varois en Province AOC
Which variety is unique to Bellet AOC where it is used in Reds and Roses?
Braquet Noir
Which two AOC were the second and third to be awarded the designation in 1941?
What was the fourth AOC in Provence awarded in 1948?
Bandol AOC / Bellet AOC
Pallette AOC
Are higher acidity Roses more or less Pink?
Are lower acidity Roses more Salmon or Less?
- More Pink = Higher Acidity
- More Salmon color = Lower Acidity
What variety is the dominant red grape in Provence’s Rose Blends?
Grenache
Its thin skin and light color make it perfect for Rose.
Which appellation is known as a strong hold of organic and biodynamic viticulture in provence?
Les Baux-en-Provence
Which AOCs/DGCs (3) mandate oak aging for their red wines?
- Cotes de Provence AOC Frejus
- Bandol AOC
- Palette AOC
Does lower acidity tend to be more pink or salmon in color for Rose?
Lower acidity = More Salmon color
Higher acidity = More Pink
What area of Provence was once one of the France’s largest cork forests?
Massif des Maures
Which DGC of Côtes de Provence is allowed to make white wine under its designation?
La Londe
What are 9 AOCs in Provence?
- Cotes de Provence AOC
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
- Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
- Cassis AOC
- Bandol AOC
- Les Baux de Provence AOC
- Palette AOC
- Bellet AOC
- Perrevert AOC
Define Vins de Gastronomie
Gastronomic Wine, deeper in color, fuller bodied and more structured. Meant to be drunk with food.
Might be made from more select grapes and/or free-run juice alone. May alos be aged in oak and Vin de Garde - wines for aging for reds wine.
Which grape variety brings delicate color, red fruit and floral notes to Provence’s reds and roses?
Cinsaut (Cinsault)
What is the the focus of harvesting in Provence?
Retention of acidity.
What is pivotal to producing quality rose wine?
Picking ripe fruit (without green notes) that still possesses vibrant acidity.
Who introduced Cabernet Sauvginon to Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence after World War II?
Georges Brunet (owner of Bordeaux’s Chateau La Lagune)
Does shorter or longer maceration time extract more color?
Longer maceration time extracts more color
What are the top three grape varieties planted in Provence today (2017)?
- Grenache (38%)
- Cinsaut (19%)
- Syrah (16%)
Which AOC in Provence is at higher eleveation on chalky clay soil producing higher acid fresh and delicate wines due to its continental influences?
Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
List factors that the Rose wine depends on (7)
- The Grapes used
- Ripeness of the vintage
- Temperature of the grapes at harvest
- Winemaking method
- Lenth of maceration
- Oxygen exposure
- Soil Type
Which is the second largest AOC Provence wine appellation?
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
Which training system older vines are planted?
Which system newer vineyards are trained?
- Gobelet
- Guyot
Do warm grapes bleed more or less color into the juice during vinification?
More color
Which AOC has its northern portion to experience continental influences in addition to its otherwise Mediterranean climate?
Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
True or False
White and Red wines of Provence are blends of different grape varieties, vinified separately and blend them together to make the finished wine.
True
What are three most planted grape varieties in Cotes du Provence AOC (as of 2017)?
- Grenache
- Cionsaut
- Syrah
True or False
Most AOCs specify a blend in their rules and allow a prescribed percentage of white grapes to be co-fermented with the red grapes.
True
Cassis AOC White wine requires 30–80% of this grape and at least of the total must be of the two grapes including this grape.
Name two grape varieties
- Marsanne: 30-80%
- Marsanne and Clairette: at least 60% of the total
Name primary soil types in Eastern and Western Provence and related vegetation.
- Western mountain ranges - limestone and clay
- Eastern area - Quartz rich schist
- Two types of vegetaion:
- Garrigue - Aromatic, resinous herbs that grow upon alkaline soils - found growing on limestone soils
- Maquis - Similar aromatic resinous scrub to garrigue but his mix of herbs and shrubs grows on acidic quartz rich schist
Which AOC has its vineyards sheltered from the Mistral by Massif des Calanques?
Cassis AOC
What organic initiative is mitigating hydric stress in Provence?
Planting rye grass as cover crops and once they start to compete with the vines for water, they are cut and left as mulch to prevent soil moisture from evaporating.
Also known as Rolle, this grape variety is a primary whtie grape in the majority of Provencal whites.
It can also be used as a blending partner in Provence’s Roses.
Vermentino
What are two very Distinct styles the wines are produced in Provence?
- Vins de Soif
- Vins de Gastronomie
Which AOC has a famous producer Chateau Simone which is responsible for about half of the AOC’s total production?
Palette AOC
What white grape variety is either primary or secondary grape variety in every Provence AOC including Cassis?
Clairette
Does Direct Press create delicate, pale colored Roses or powerful deep colored Roses?
Delicate Pale Colored Roses
What is the northernmost AOC in Provence?
Pierrevert AOC
Give two factors that provide a Rose more of an Orange color
- Oxygen exposure
- Volcanic soils such as found around the Massif de L’Eserel between Frejus and Cannes
Which AOC in Provence has nearly 75% of production being Red and Rose with all grapes hand harvested?
Its vineyars faing south toward the sea for the red, supported by low man made stone walls called Restanques.
The AOC only covers hillside vineyards.
Bandol AOC
Does Saignee give deeper or lighter colored Roses?
Deeper colored Rose
Which is the only AOC in Provence that permits the use of Chardonnay?
Bellet AOC
The AOC does not allow Bordeaux grapes however
Which small AOC is located on both sides of the Arc River, just east of Aix-en-Provence?
Palette AOC
As well as Cotes de Province and its five DGCs, how many AOCs does Provence contain?
8
How many DGCs in Cotes du Provence?
List the DGCs.
Five
- Sainte-Victoire
- Frejus
- La Londe
- Notre-Dame des Anges
- Pierrefeu
What are the primary red varieties used in Bellet/Vin de Bellet AOC red wines?
- Branqutte Noir
- Fuella Nera
Which DGC is the only one DGC in Cotes de Provence to be allowed to use carbonic maceration?
Sainte-Victoire
What is the smallest AOC by size in Provence?
Palette
True or False
Volcanic soils will produce Rose with more orange tones.
True
White Cassis must include 30-80% of this variety and at least 60% of the total must be ths variety and/or Clairettte. Name the variety.
Marsanne
What is the maximum percentage Mourvedre can contain in Bandol Reds and Roses?
95% in the blend
Grenache and Cinsaut usually complete the mix
Who was Fredeic Mistral?
He was a champion of the Occitan/Provencal language.
Which two DGCs in Cotes de Provence required to age their Red wines till October 15 of the year following the harvest whereas the others are aged until August 15?
- Frejus
- Pierrefeu
Which grape variety Bellet AOC’s Rose wines are mostly made?
Braquet Noir
Due to its relative high elevation the Rose wines from this AOC boasts fresh if not piquant acicity with more reserved fruit character than other Provence AOCs.
Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
True or False
No Sparkling or Sweet Wine is made under the current AOC rules in Provence.
True
Define Marquis
A mix of resinous herbs that grows on schist soils
What year the Provence classificaiton system was implemetned and how many classes are?
In 1955
Originally 23 estates were given Cru Classe but currently 18 as the five are no longer producing wines.
It has not been modified nor revised since.
What is the maximum percentage of white grapes that Cotes de Provence Rose can contain up to ?
20%
Which three AOCs specifies a requirement for oak aging in their AOC rules for red wines?
- Cotes de Provence AOC Frejus
- Bandol AOC
- Palette AOC
What is the minimum aging requirement for Bandol Reds?
18 months in oak
This appellation has strong alpine influences and the diurnal temperature swings here are the greatest of all of Provence.
Name the appellation.
Pierrevert AOC
Which AOC is the only one in Provence that produces more white wine (71%) than red or rose?
What are two primary white grapes used in the AOC?
Cassis AOC
Clairette
Marsanne
Some winemakers to add flavors and complexity by carefully timed harvests.
List three charactes to bring in by having separate harvests.
- Acidity
- Ripe fruity aroma
- Higher Sugar and Structure
What is the maximum percentage of white grapes in Cassis Rose wines?
Up to 20%
What is “Baou”?
Rocky outcrop in Provencial term
How was the classificaiton in Provence classified and how many classes are there?
Classified based on estates and there is only one class - Cru Classe.
However the classification is based on the vienyards origianlly awarded so the estates cannot add new areas.
What are two main soil types found in Provence?
- Calcareous limestone
- Quartz-rich schist
What color of Rose will Syrah and Mouvedre craft?
What color of Rose will Tibourren produce?
- Pink
- Salmon
Where can Vignerons of Provence pull water from if required?
The Canal de Provence
What is Restanques?
Low man made stone walls supporting terraces of Bandol AOC
How many communes are in Cotes de Provence AOC?
84 Communes
True or False
No Sparkling or Sweet Wines are made under current AOC rules.
True
This AOC is unique in that it is the only appellation in Provence to produce more white wines (71%) than Red or Rose.
Cassis AOC
What is Vin Cuit?
Sweet wine never commercially produded.
Made by cooking grape must for 10 hours over an open file to concentrate suge.
Matured in barrel for an year to be drunk on Christmas Eve with friends.
What top Three Provence AOCs in terms of production?
- Cotes du Provence AOC
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
- Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
This AOC is one of Provence’s oldest vine growing regions and was thriving until phylloxera arrived.
When the vineyards were replanted, Mourvedre emerged as the cornerstone of the region’s newfound success.
What is the AOC?
Bandol AOC
True or False
The harvest parameters for rose are more in line with those for white wine production.
True
Which AOC in Provence is farmed 100% organically biodynamically or using Lutte Raisonnee?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What is Aging requirement for Bandol Red?
What is the percentage of primary grape for its red wine?
- 18 months in oak
- No more than 95% Mourvedre with Grenache and Cinsault usually complet the mix
Which AOC is heavily influenced by the Mistral?
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
True or False
Provence Rose may be direct press or saignee method but wines must be fermented dry.
True
Define Vins de Soif
Thirst quneching wine - light-bodied crisp and refreshin g. Intended to be drunk as an apertif.
May be made from vineyards with higher yields, the reds might be made with shorter maceration times and all colors will generally be made without oak.
What color of Rose do Syrah and Mourvedre produce?
What color of Rose does Tibouren produce?
- Pink wines
- Salmon
Red Vins de Gastromie may be also called for this name.
Vin de Garde - Wine for Aging
Which AOC includes its area adjacent to Val d’Enifer (Hell Valley)?
Les Baux-de-Province
The limstone hills are rich in Bauxite and. very hot.
What two AOCs in Provence mandate hand harvesting?
- Bandol AOC
- Palette AOC
How many AOCs in Provence?
9 AOCs
What is a flute a corset (or skittle)?
It is an iconic bottle symbol of Provencal Rose.
It was designed and copyrighted by Syndicat de Defense des Cotes de Provence in 1960s.
It is so called Skittle as it is similar in shape to a bowling pin in England.
What is “Baou”?
In Provence, it is a rocky outcrop,
The name of town, Les Baux-de-Provence derives from it.
Vermentino is the dominant grape in this AOC’s white wines.
Name the AOC
Bellett AOC
What are two primary white grapes used in Cassis AOC?
- Marsanne
- Clairette
This AOC in Provence has stong Alpine influence with averation elevation at 1500 ft/450 m.
Its wine styles resembles more of Rhone Valley.
Pierrevert AOC
What are special about the following:
- Barbaroux
- Clairette Rose
- Terret Gris
All three are authozied for use in Provence.
Mostly in the small AOC of Palette.
This AOC has its vineyards surround Nice on the banks of the Var River on elelvation between 660-990 ft/200-300 m.
Vermention is by far most dominant white variety.
Red grapes are Branquet Noir, Fuella Nera.
Bellet AOc
The vines of this AOC are wedged between the sea and the Massif des Calanques which are high deeply creviced limestone cliffs that shelter the vineyards from the Mistral.
Cassis AOC
Three AOCs account for 96% of Provence’s production.
Name the three AOCs
- Cotes de Provence AOC (69%)
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC (16%)
- Coteaux Varois en Province AOC (11%)
Which wine style is most predominant in Coteaux d’Axis-en-Provence?
85% Rose (in 2019)
Which Provence AOC is known for Vin Cuit?
Palette AOC
Which three DGCs of Cotes de Provence must be aged till August 15 of the year following the harvest for the reds?
Which two DGCs of Cotes de Provence must be aged till October 15 of. the year following the harvest for the reds?
- Aged till August 15 - Sainte-Victoire / La Londe / Notre-Dame des Anges
- Aged till October 15 - Frejus / Pierrefeu
Grenache, current primary grape, constitued only 4% of the plantings in 1961.
Which three grape varieties made up 81% of plantings then?
- Carignan
- Ugni Blanc
- Clairette