Provence Flashcards
What are the designations of the IGP’s in Provence?
- IGP Méditerranée The largest and most general designation.
- Shared with the Rhône Valley and Corsica - There are 6 Departmental Designations
- The most specific are the 8 zonal IGP designations
What are the stats on the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC?
Located in Northwest Provence
Production is mostly rosé with some red and a little white
NOTE: It is the second largest AOC in Provence, heavily impacted by the Mistral
Reds and rosé: GSM blends with Cinsault, Counoise, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon
Whites: 50% Rolle (Vermentino) with Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Ugni Blanc as principle blending partners
What are the Stats on the Les Baux de Provence AOC?
Located south/southeast of Avignon
Production majority red, close behind is rosé very little white
NOTE: This is a stronghold of organic and biodynamic producers
Reds: Primarily GSM requiring 1 year of aging
Rosé: Primarily Grenache, Syrah Cinsault blends
Whites Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Rolle blends
Where is the 1 pocket of volcanic porphyry located in Provence?
Between St Tropez and Cannes around Fréjus
Volcanic mountain - Massif l’Esterel
What are the vegetation types that grow on the 2 primary soils of Provence?
Garrigue - A composite of resinous herbs like lavender and rosemary that grow on the calcareous limestone
Maquis - A woody coastal scrub vegetation that grows on crystalline schist
What is the climate of Provence?
Mediterranean
With 2 Seasons
A mild wet winter and a hot and dry summer
What are the coastal/inland influences on the climate?
The sea moderates the temperatures along the coast
Inland temperatures are less balmy with cool nights especially at elevation
Some interior areas have alpine influences
How do the mountains affect the climate of Provence?
They cause colder winters and cooler summer nights
For the vine in summer these diurnal temperature swings preserve the grapes natural acidity
How much sunshine does Provence receive per year?
Almost 3,000
What is the effect of the Mistral in Provence?
It chases humidity
Can blow up to 60 mph for up to 150 days per year
Although a northerly wind the mountains in Provence channel it in a southeasterly direction
What is the Via Domitia?
A roman road connecting Italy to Spain through Provence
Where is the volcanic porphyry found in Provence?
In Fréjus
Where is the crystalline schist found?
Eastern Provence
What are the stats on the Bandol AOC?
Located west of Toulon and east of Cassis
Majority rosé, some red and a little white
All grapes must be hand harvested
NOTE: Only hillside vineyards, most of which are terraced and face south in amphitheater fashion
Rosés: minimum 20% Mourvèdre plus Grenache & Cinsault
Reds: 50 - 95% Mourvèdre with Grenache & Cinsault - minimum aging 18 months in oak
Whites: Clairette plus Bourboulenc & Ugni Blanc
Where is the clay/limestone soil found in Provence?
Northern and western Provence
T or F? Provence’s coastal vineyards experience huge diurnal temperature swings?
False
When does most of the rain fall in Provence?
Winter
Which mountain vineyards lie within cultural Provence but make wine under the Rhône AOC?
Mont Ventoux
What mountain blocks the Mistral and forms a suntrap for its vineyards?
Montagne Saint Victoire
Where is the Massif l’Esterel located?
It is a volcanic mountain range running between Frejus and Cannes
What are the stats on the Cassis AOC?
Located 12 miles east of Marseille
Produces mostly white
NOTE: Terraced vineyards sheltered from the Mistral by the Calanques
Whites: Primarily Marsanne with Clairette as a blending partner
Reds & rosés: Cinsault, Grenache & Mourvèdre dominant
Rosés may incorporate up to 20% whites
What mountain range was formerly volcanic?
Massif de l’Esterel
Where is the Massif des Maures located?
Coastal range that runs along the mediterranean between Hyères and Fréjus
What mountain range runs between Hyères and Fréjus?
Massif des Maures
Where are the Massif de Calanques located?
They run along the coast between Marseille and Cassis
What mountain range runs between Marseille and Cassis?
Massif de Calangues
In the Saignée method what happens after the maceration stage?
Fermentation Stage
Juice is allowed to settle
Yeast is added; alcoholic fermentation begins
Malolactic fermentation is avoided
What are the key points of production of the Saignée method?
Rosé de Saignée: A by product of the red winemaking process
Freerun and press juice are not blended together
They are vinified as 2 distinct wine products from 1 batch of grapes
What are the characteristics of the 4 primary red/rose grapes of Provence?
Cinsault: moderate to low pigment, low tannin, moderate acidity - from SW France
Syrah: High pigment and tannin, moderate acidity and alcohol - from SW France
Mourvèdre: High pigment, tannin, acidity and alcohol - from Spain
Grenache: High alcohol, low acid - from Spain or Sardinia
What are the stats on the Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC?
Located between the 2 largest parts of the Côtes de Provence AOC
The area is sheltered by limestone hills and mountains
Production vast majority rosé some red and very little white
NOTE: Vines grow at an average elevation of 1,200’ with continental influences
This results in rosés of structure, freshness and balance
Rosés & reds: GSM & Cinsault blends
Whites: 30% Rolle (Vermentino) with Clairette and Grenache Blanc
What is the pruning method in Provence?
Older vineyards Gobelet style
Newer vineyards Guyot with trellising to support the vines from the Mistral
What time of day is the fruit harvested?
At night or early morning to bring cool fruit into the winery?
What are the 2 rosé production methods?
Direct press: This makes a pale rosé with explosive aromatics and minimal tannins
Saignée: More concentrated color and tannin with less complex aromatics
What is the maceration like in the Saignée method?
Grapes are crushed
Juice is in contact with skins for 8 - 24 hrs to extract tannin and pigment
After this period of maceration, the liquid is pulled of the solids without pressing - this is called freerun
Solids are then pressed for more juice
Often the press fraction is blended with the freerun
What are the 4 primary grapes used for rosé production in Provence?
Grenache
Cinsault
Syrah
Mourvèdre
The term “Restanques” refers to?
The terraced stone walls in the vineyards, especially Bandol
“Rolle” is a synonym for what grape?
Vermentino
What is Provence’s smallest AOC by size?
Palette AOC
What is the only AOC in Provence that permits Chardonnay?
Bellet AOC
What are the stats on the Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC?
Northernmost AOC in Provence
Majority rosé, with red and small amount of white
NOTE: Vines are at an average elevation of 1,500’ with alpine influences; diurnal temperature swings are the highest in Provence
Rosés: Primarily Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah with up to 20% white
Reds: Grenache/Syrah dominant blends with Cinsault, Carignan and Mourvèdre with up to 10 white
Whites: Grenache Blanc and Rolle
What AOC in Provence is known for organic and biodynamic farming?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What Provence AOC is known for wine from Mourvèdre?
Bandol
What is Maquis?
A mix of resinous herbs that grow on crystalline schist soils
What Provence AOC is known for indigenous grapes like Braquel and Folle Noir?
Bellet AOC
What Provence AOC has strong alpine influences?
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
What is the principal red grape of the Bandol AOC?
Mourvèdre
What civilization first planted vines in Provence?
The ancient Phoceans (Greeks from Asia Minor) beat the romans, making Provence the oldest winemaking region in France
What is Provence’s Cru Classé?
A ranking of 18 estates within the Côtes de Provence AOC
What Provence AOC produces mainly white wine?
The Cassis AOC - 70% of production is white
What are the stats on the Palette AOC?
2 non-contiguous growing areas on both sides of the Arc river, just east of Aix-en-Provence
NOTE: smallest AOC in Provence with 1/2 production bottled by Chateau Simone
All grapes are hand harvested
Makes Vin Cuit
Uses Obscure grapes
Red aging: 18 months in oak
White aging: 8 months
Rosé aging: 8 months
What is Garrigue?
A term used to describe limestone soils and the wild herbs that grow on them
What Provence AOC surrounds the city of Nice?
Bellet AOC
What Provence AOC produces more red wine than rosé ?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What are the 4 Geographic Designations of the Côtes de Provence AOC?
- Sainte-Victoire
- Fréjus
- LaLonde
- Pierrefeu
What is the climate of Provence?
Mediterranean with some continental and alpine influences
What are the 2 main soils types found in Provence?
Calcareous Limestone
Quartz Rich Schist
What is “Vin Cuit”?
A wine produced in the Palette AOC by cooking the grape must
What AOC is responsible for 75% of all wine production in Provence?
Côtes de Provence AOC
What grapes are allowed in the Côtes de Provence AOC red and rosé ?
They must contain at least 2 of the following primary grapes:
Grenache Syrah Mourvèdre Cinsault Tibouren
What are the stats on the Bellet AOC?
Surrounds the city of Nice
Equal proportions of red, white and rosé
NOTE: On terraced vineyards above the Var River at 660-990’
Chardonnay is permitted but Bordeaux Varieties are not
Whites: Primarily Rolle (Vermentino) with Chardonnay and Clairette
Reds and rosés: Primary Braquet and Folle Noir with Grenache
What is the Hercynian Trend?
A deformation in the earth’s crust.
It is responsible for forming the mountains and massifs of Provence and Languedoc
T or F? Provence is the oldest winemaking region on mainland France…
True, the Phoceans in 600 BC
T or F? Provence was the first Roman province outside of Italy…
True
It takes its name from the Roman “Nostra Provencia” meaning our Provence in english
T or F? Provence is the only wine making region in the world to focus on rosés?
True
What is the principal red grape of the Bandol AOC?
Mourvèdre
What rosé production method does Provence focus on?
Direct press
This produces pale pigmented highly aromatic rosé
Where did the Phoceans first settle in Provence in 600 BC?
Massalia which became Marseille
When did Provence become part of the Roman Empire?
In the 2nd century BC Provence aligned itself with Rome to protect itself from the Etruscans, Carthaginians and Celts
What is the principal white grape of Provence?
Marsanne
Where are the Maritime Alps located?
They run along the Italian border
What is the Hercynian Trend?
It is an ancient line of crustal deformation
It runs under the Mediterranean from the Pyrénées along Languedoc to the Esterel Massif in Provence
What is the soil type of Northern and Western Provence?
Limestone and clay
What are the 2 principle soil types in Provence?
- Crystalline (quartz) Schist
2. Limestone and clay
What is the soil type of eastern Provence?
Crystalline Schist
What is the soil type in the interior valley from Les Arcs to Toulon?
This is the dividing line where the 2 soil types (crystalline schist and clay/limestone) meet and mix
When did the Romans found Aix-en-Provence?
122 BC
After Rome fell who invaded Provence?
Barcelona, The Kingdom of Burgundy and the Holy Roman Empire
Each influenced wine with new grapes or production methods
Finally, the Monostatic Orders brought stability to the region
When did Provence become part of France?
Late 1400’s
When did Phylloxera hit Provence?
Late 19th century
What was the first Provence area to receive AOC status?
Cassis in 1936
What one wine area in Provence lies above its northern border the Durance River?
Coteaux de Pierrevert
What is the relationship of the mountain Sainte-Victoire to Provence?
Located within the Côtes de Provence AOC
It blocks the Mistral and creates a suntrap for the vineyards within its flanks
Where is Provence located?
In the SE quadrant of France along the Mediterranean Sea
The Rhône River and Languedoc to the west
The Durance River to the North
What is the topography of Provence?
The eastern portion is the most mountainous
Southwest near Arles & Marseille is flatter
In the west is the Rhône Delta a vast salt march known as the Camargue
What is the relationship of Mont Ventoux in the Rhône Valley to Provence?
Mont Ventoux is 38 miles NE of Avignon and part of the Rhône Valley
Culturally part of Provence
What is the relationship of the Les Alpilles to Provence?
It is a chain of low mountains south of Avignon
The Les Baux de Provence AOC is located on its northern and southern slopes
Where is the mountain range Sainte Baume?
They stretch from Toulon to Marseille
What is the direct press “Rosé de Press” process?
Grapes are harvested when cool (or cooled at the winery) and placed in the press whole
4 hour gentle pressing cycle and juice is extracted and pulled from the skins with minimal contact
Juice is settled to remove fine particles
Yeast is added to start fermentation
Malolactic fermentation is avoided
Creates a less pigmented and structured rosé, aromatics are heightened
What are the 2 rosé types made in Provence?
Vins de Soif (thirst-quenching) Vins Gastronomiques (made to be consumed with food)
What are the 2 bottle shapes found in Provence?
The Skittle (squeezed in at the bottom) The Saint-Tropez (tapered but not squeezed in near the bottom)
Both bottles are clear
What are the stats on the Côtes de Provence AOC?
75% of Provence's total production Production numbers vast majority rosé with a little red and very small amount of white 5 Non-contiguous vineyard areas All soil types Varied climates
What grapes are in the Côtes de Provence AOC, red, white and rosé wines?
White: Clairette, Rolle (Vermentino), Semillon and Ugni Blanc
Red & rosé: At least 2 of the following - GSM, Cinsault, Tiburon with Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignon as blending partners
Rosé can contain a small % of Rolle, Ugni Blanc, Clairette and Semillon
What 4 geographic Non-AOC Designations can add their names to the Côtes de Provence AOC?
Sainte-Victoire
Fréjus
La Londe
Pierrefeu
Subject to lower yields, higher minimum ABV
Only pertains to red and rosé
What is the Côtes de Provence AOC Cru Classé?
A classification system from 1955
Only 1 level: Cru Classé
Originally applied to 23 estates but 5 are no longer making wine
Ranks the original estate not the vineyard
It can only be made from the originally classified vineyard area
It has never been revised or modified
What are the 4 primary grapes used for rosé production in Provence?
Grenache
Cinsault
Syrah
Mourvèdre
What are Restanques?
The terraced vineyards in Bandol AOC
Which is the northernmost AOC in Provence?
Coteaux de Pierrevert
Name the AOC’s that do not permit Bordeaux varieties?
Bellet AOC
Coteaux de Pierrrevert
What are the AOC’s with mandatory aging requirements?
Bandol AOC - R
Les Baux de Provence AOC - R
Palette AOC - R, Ro, W
Côtes de Provence AOC Fréjus
What white grape dominates the Provence AOC of Cassis?
Marsanne & Clairette
Which Provence AOC produces more white than rosé or red?
Cassis
What Provence AOC is known for Vin Cuit (heated wine)?
Palette AOC
Which Provence AOC has a wide harvest differential north to south?
Coteaux Varois en Provence
What Provence AOC was previously part of Languedoc?
Les Baux de Provence
What river runs through the Provence AOC of Pallet?
The Arc River
What is the smallest AOC in Provence?
Pallet AOC
What is the 2nd largest AOC in Provence?
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
How do the regulations of the 4 Côtes de Provence subregions differ from the main Côtes de Provence AOC?
Higher minimum ABV
Lower yields
For reds and rosés only
What are the 4 subregions of the Côtes de Provence AOC?
Sainte-Victoire
Fréjus
La Londe
Pierrefeu
What 1 Provence AOC has a classification system?
Côtes de Provence AOC
Which Provence AOC produces the highest volume of wine?
Côtes de Provence AOC
Where is the volcanic Massif l’Esterel located?
From Cannes to Fréjus
Where is the Massif des Maures located?
From Fréjus to Hyeres
Where are the Mountains Sainte-Baume located?
From Toulon to Marseille
Where are the Calanques located?
From Cassis to Marseille
Where is the Mountain Sainte-Victoire located?
Northeast of Marseille
Where are the Mountains Les Alpilles located?
Northwest of Marseille
What are the 2 primary soils types in Provence and where are they located?
Crystalline Schist found in the east
Clay/Limestone found in the north and west
What is the name given to the resinous shrubs that grow on schist/quartz?
Maquis
Where is the 1 pocket of volcanic soil found in Provence?
In Fréjus , on the coast between Saint Tropez and Cannes
What mineral is found in the soils of Les Baux de Provence?
Bauxite
What is the northern border of Provence?
The Durance River
1 AOC is north of the river Pierrevert AOC
