Provence Flashcards
Who introduced vines into Provence?
Phocaeans
How did the Provencale wine industry evolve after the 14th C?
Nobility and military leaders began buying up vineyards
What did Provence’s wine become known as in the 14th C?
The wine of aristocrats
When did Provence become part of France?
Late 15th C
What types of vines were planted post Phylloxera?
High yielding vines to produce volumes for tourists
What is the climate of Provence?
Mediterranean
True or false. The Mistral affects Provence
True - but it is generally in a South-Easterly direction
Which is the most mountainous part of Provence - East or West?
Eastern
What is the primary soil type of l’Esterel in Provence?
Sandstone
What is the primary soil type of Le Massif des Maures in Provence?
Granite
Which massif lies between Frejus and Cannes?
Massif de L’Esterel
Which massif lies between Hyeres and Frejus?
Massif des Maures
Which mountain range lies between Toulon and Marseille?
Sainte-Baume
Which massive lies between Marseille and Cassis
Massif des Calanques
What mountain lies to the east of Aix-en-Provence?
Montagne Sainte-Victoire
Which mountains lie to the south of Avignon?
Les Alpilles
What are the two primary soil types of Provence?
Limestone/ clay (west)
Quartz rich schist (east)
On what type of soil is garrigue found in Provence?
On limestone soils
What is maquis?
A similar scrub to garrigue
On what soils can maquis be found?
On the acidic quartz rich schist found in eastern Provence
Who introduced Cabernet Sauvignon to Provence?
Georges Brunet, owner of Chateau La Lagune
What soil is found in the Massif de L’Esterel?
Volcanic (Sandstone)
What soil is found in the Massif Sainte-Beaume?
Limestone
What soil is found in the Massif des Calanques?
Limestone
What soil is found in the Montagne Sainte-Victroie?
Limestone
What soil is found in the Les Alpilles?
Limestone
What was the primary grape variety planted in Provence in the 1960s?
Carignan
What is the current most widely planted grape in Côtes de Provence today?
Grenache
Which AOC in Provence uses Braquet Noir?
Bellet AOC
What is the traditional vine training method used in Provence?
Gobelet
Why is Guyot training become more popular in Provence?
Because it allows mechanical harvesting to gather the grapes quickly at night
How much earlier are grapes destined for Rosé harvested compared to red wines
10 to 14 days
How many harvests might rosé producers make to produce balanced wines?
3
What characteristics would the first rosé harvest provide?
Acidity
What characteristics would the second rosé harvest provide?
Ripe fruit
What characteristics would the third rosé harvest provide?
higher sugar for alcohol/ body
How are Provencale producers retaining moisture in the soils?
Planting rye grass cover crops and using it as mulch
How are Provencale producers providing shade within the vineyards?
planting single rows of trees
True or false: No sparkling or sweet wines are permitted to be made in Provence under the current AOC rules?
True
What style of wine dominates Provence’s production?
Rose - 90%
What factors influence a rosé wine’s colour?
Grape variety
ripeness
temperature of the grapes at harvest
wine making method
length of maceration
oxygen exposure
soil type
What colour of rosé wine would Syrah make?
pink
What colour of rosé wine would Mourvèdre make?
Pink
What colour of rosé wine would Tibouren make?
Salmon
What acidity levels would lead to a rosé wine more salmon in colour?
Lower acidity
What affect would higher acidity have on the colour of a rosé wine?
it would be more pink
Which soils would make a rosé wine more orange in colour?
Volcanic
Which Provencale ACs mandate oak ageing for their red wines?
Côtes de Provence - Frejus
Bandol AC
Palette AC
What is a flûte a Corset?
A traditional Provencale bottle shape with a pinch in the middle
What is the French name for a skittle bottle shape?
Quille
What is the largest Provencale AC?
Côtes de Provence
How many DGCs does Côtes de Provence have?
5
What is a vin de soif?
Crisp, refreshing wine designed to be drunk as an aperitif
What is a vin de Gastronomique?
Wines designed to enjoy with food
What is a vin de garde?
Wines designed for ageing
What Côtes de Provence DGC can made white wines under the DGC designation?
La Londe
What Côtes de Provence DGC can made red wines using carbonic maceration?
Sainte-Victoire
What AC must white wines be bottled using if from most of the Côtes de Provence DGCs?
Côtes de Provence (no DGC)
What is the minimum number of red grapes that must be used in Côtes de Provence AC reds and rosés?
2
True or False. Cótes de Provence rosé can contain up to 20% white grapes
True
When was the Côtes de Provence Cru Classé classification established?
1955
How many estates are currently designated as Côtes de Provence Cru Classé?
18
True or False - the Côtes de Provence Cru Classé designation applies to the estate not the wine
True
True or False - a Côtes de Provence Cru Classé cannot expand its vineyard area and keep the classification
True
Which Côtes de Provence DGCs require their red wines to be aged for the longest?
Frejus
Pierrefeu
Which is the second largest AOC in Provence?
Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
What is the dominant white grape found in Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
Vermentino (Rolle)
What are the dominant red grapes found in Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
Grenache
Syrah
Moutvedre
What soils are found in Coteaux Varois en Provence?
Chalky clay
What is the primary white grape of Coteaux Varois en Provence
Blend must be 30% Vermentino
Which Provencale AC produces more white than red or rosé
Cassis
What is the primary white grape of Cassis AC?
Marsanne
What is the typical blending grape of white Cassis AC?
Clairette
What are restanques?
low man made walls supporting vineyard terraces in Bandol AC
What is the primary grape of Red Bandol AC?
Mourvèdre
What is the primary white grape of Bandol AC?
Clairette
Which Provencale AC is 100% organic?
Les Baux-de-Provence AC
What is the primary soil type found in Les Baux-de-Provence?
Limestone
What are the primary wine styles of Les Baux-de-Provence AC
Red and rosé
What is the smallest AC in Provence?
Palette AC
Which estate is responsible for over 50% of Palette AC’s production?
Château Simone
What is vin cuit?
Cooked grape must (10 hours over an open fire)
The fermented in barrel over 1 year
Drunk on Christmas Eve
Which is the most easterly of the Provence AOCs?
Bellet
Which is the only Provence AOC that allows the use of Chardonnay?
Bellet
Which is the most northerly of the Provence AOCs?
Pierrevert
What is the climate of Pierrevert AOC?
Mediterranean with Alpine influences
Which is the major IGP found in Provence?
Mediterranée IGP
Which areas share Mediterranée IGP with Provence?
Rhône Valley
Corsica
What are the primary red grapes of Bellet AC
Braquet Noir
Fuella Nera