Provence Flashcards
What is “vin cuit”?
A wine produced in Palette AOC by cooking grape must
What is Maquis?
A mix of reinous herbs that grow on schist soils
What Provence AOC produces mainly white wine?
The Cassis AOC. 70% of production is white.
What is Provence’s smallest AOC by size?
Palette AOC
What AOC in Provence is known for organic and biodynamic farming?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What is the climate of Provence?
Mediterranean, with some continental and/or alpine influence in the north
What Provence AOC has strong alpine influences?
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
What grapes are allowed in Côtes de Provence AOC red and rosé?
They must contain at least two of the primary grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsualt and Tibouren
What is garrigue?
A term used to describe limestone soils and the wild herbs that grow upon it
What is the principal red grape of the Bandol AOC?
Mourvèdre
What civilization first planted vines in Provence?
The ancient Phocaens (Greeks from Asia Minor) beat the Romans, making Provence the oldest winemaking region in France.
The term “restanques” refers to:
Terraced stone walls in vineyards, especially in Bandol
What Provence AOC is known for indigenous grapes like Braquet and Folle Noire?
Bellet AOC
What AOC is responsible for 75% of all wine produced in Provence?
Côtes de Provence AOC
What Provence AOC produces more red wine than rosé?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What Provence AOC surrounds the city of Nice?
Bellet AOC
What are the two main soil types found in Provence?
Calcerous limestone and quartz-rich schist
What is the Hercynian Trend?
A deformation in the earth’s crust responsible for creating the mountains and massifs of Provence and Languedoc
What Provence AOC is known for wines from Mourvèdre?
Bandol
Rolle is a synonym for what grape?
Vermentino
What are the four geographic designations of the Côtes de Provence AOC?
Sainte-Victoire, Fréjus, La Londe and Pierrefeu
What is Provence’s Cru Classé?
A ranking of 18 estates within the Cotes de Provence AOC
What is the only AOC in Provence that permits Chardonnay?
Bellet AOC
Provence is…..
The oldest winemaking region in mainland France. Introduced in the 6th Century BC.
What was the first Roman province outside of italy?
Provence. They named it “our provence”
What is the only region in the world to focus on Rose?
Provence
Which method does Provence use to make rose?
Direct press. This provides less than tannin than Saignee
When was Aix En Provence founded?
122 BC. Romans established trade links from there. They shipped Roses.
When did Provence become a part of France?
1400s
What happened to Provence in the late 19th Century?
Phylloxera hit meaning that vineyards had to be replanted.
When did the AOCs and VDQS achieve their status in Provence?
AOC
- Cassis 1936
- Bandol and Bellet: 1941
- Palette: 1948
VDQS
- Cotes De Provence: 1951
- Coteaux d’Aix- en- Provence: 1956
- Coteaux Varois en Provence: 1984
What year was Cotes De Provence upgraded to AOC?
1977
What year was Coteaux d’Aix- en- Provence upgraded to AOC status?
1985
What year was Coteaux Varois en Provence upgraded to AOC status?
1993
Where is Provence located in France?
In the Southeast quadrant of France and is framed by the sea at the edge.
What is on the eastern border of Provence?
The Cote d’Azur, the east 46 miles/ 74 kms of coastline before the italian border
What is on the northern border of Provence?
The durance river….however Provence’s most northerly wine region is the Coteaux de Pierrevert
Typography of Provence
- Eastern portion of Provence is not the most mountainous
- The Southwest (near Arles and Marseille) is flatter
- To the West, the Rhone Delta forms a vast salt marsh known as the Camargue
Mont Ventoux (in relation to Provence)….
- 38 miles/ 61 kms northeast of Avignon
- Culturally it belongs to Provence, but the Ventoux AOC belongs to the Rhone Valley
Sainte- Victoire- Provence
- Located within the Cote De Provence AOC
- Blocks the Mistral; creates a sun trap
Sainte Baume- Provence?
Mtn range that stretches from Toulon to Marseille
Massif des Calanques- Provence?
Runs along the coast between Marseille and Cassis
Massif des Maures- Provence?
Coastal Mountains which runs between Hyeres and Frejus
Maritime Alpes- Provence?
Run along the Italian Border
What is the Hercyian Trend?
- It is an ancient line of crustal formation that runs along the Pyrenees, along the coast of the Languedoc, to the Estural Massif in Provence.
- Created the Languedoc landscapes of Corberes, La Clape, Frontignan and the islands of Corsica
- Created the Provencal Massifs of Maures and Esterel, the Provencal ranges and the Maritime Alps
What are the two primary soil types of Provence?
- Crystalline (quartz) schist
2. Limestone and Clay
What are the soils types in each region of Provence?
- Nthern and Wstrn Provence: Limestone and clay
- Eastern Provence: crystalline schist
- Interior Valley running from Les Arcs to Toulon forms the dividing line where these two soil types meet and mingle
Note: A small pocket of volcanic porphyry lies between Saint Tropez and Cannes in the growing area of Frejus