Provence Flashcards
Influence of railroad on Provence beginning 19th century
Brought tourists that consumed local wines
Climate Provence
Mediterranean
in some interior regions alpine and continental influences
Mistral in Provence
Cooling effect, mostly in winter & spring, although Mistral usually blows N - S, here its channeld South-westwards
Traditional training system and modern system in Provence
Traditional: Gobelet
Now: Guyot
Largest AOC in Provence
& wines produced
Côtes de Provence AOC
75% of production
90% rosé, 7% red, 3% white
Grapes used in Côtes de Provence AOC
Rosé / red: min 2 of: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Tibouren (Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan as additional blending allowed), rosé can contain small % of white grapes
White: Clairette, Rolle (Vermentino) Sémillon, Ugni Blanc
4 geographic designations (no independent AOCs) in Côte de Provence AOC, production standards
Sainte-Victoire
Fréjus
La Londe
Pierrefeu
Higher alcohols, lower yields, Fréjus red min 6 months in oak
Name of white grape Rolle in Italy (land of origen)
Vermentino
Ugni Blanc (white grape) name in italy and synonym in Provence
Italy: Trebbiano
Provence: Roussan
Côtes de Provence Cru Classés
Ranking from 1955, ranks estates but only applies for original ranked vineyard sites
Originally ranked 23 / 5 don’t exist anymore, today: 18 estates
Only AOC in Provence that produces majority white & grapes for whites
Cassis AOC
Marsanne & Clairette blend
Cassis AOC, wine styles and grapes
white (67%), rosé (30%), red (3%)
white: Marsanne & Clairette blend
rosé, red: Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre
Only AOC in Provence that allows Chardonnay
Bellet AOC
Whites usually Rolle/Chardonnay/Clairette blends
Typical bottle Provence
Flûte à Corset / skittle
corset for mid section, skittle for game
Vins de Soif
Vins de Gastronomie
Vins de Soif - light bodied, crisp, no oak, as apperitif
Vins de Gastronomie - deeper, fuller bodied, more structure, red also vin de garde
Newest Provence AOC & its climate
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
mediterranean with strong alpine influence
2 Provence AOC’s that produce more red wine
Les Baux de Provence AOC
Palette AOC
Smallest AOC in Provence
Palette AOC
Provence AOCs that mandate oak ageing
Bandol AOC, Palette AOC, Côte de Provence Fréjus
Main red grape in Bandol AOC and ageing requirement for Bandol reds
Mourvèdre, 18 months in oak
Main red and main white grape in Bandol AOC
Red: Mourvèdre (min 50% in reds, min 20% in rosé)
White: Clairette (min 50%)
Most northern AOC in Provence
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC, only AOC that lies north of Durance river, strong alpine influence
2 principal soil types in Provence
Crystalline schist (eastern part) Limestone / Clay (north & west)
2 white grapes of Provence with italian origin and italian names
Rolle - Vermentino
Ugni Blanc - Trebbiano
2 red grapes grown in Provence with spanish origin and spanish names
Carignan - Cariñena / Mazuelo
Mourvèdre - Mataro / Monastrell
2 principal methods of rosé production and resulting wine style
Direct Press - pale rosé with fruity aromas and minimal tannins
Saignée - more concentrated color and tannin; less complex aromatics
What wine styles can be labeled with Côtes de Provence AOC geographic designations - Sainte Victoire, Fréjus, La Londe, Pierrefeu
Reds & Rosé only
lower yields, higher alcohol
Reds from Fréjus six months in oak (barrels or foudre)
How many estates are classified Côtes de Provence Cru Classé
18 (originally 23 - 5 do no longer produce)
Palette AOC - ageing requirements
Reds: 18 months in Oak
Rosés & whites: 8 months before release
Only Provence AOC which produces Marsanne as primary grape
Cassis AOC
67% white, Marsanne-Clairette blend
Which Provence AOC only covers hillside vineyards
Bandol AOC
Which AOC has the highest diurnal swing of Provence
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC, alpine influences
AOC surrounding Nice
Bellet AOC
Half of which Provence AOC is produced by Chateau Simone
Palette AOC
smallest AOC, 40 ha
44% red, 37% white
Which Provence AOC vineyards face south in an amphitheater fashion
Bandol AOC
Which Provence AOC’s vineyards are protected from the Mistral by the ‘Massif de Calanques’
Cassis AOC
Which is the oldest wine region of France?
Provence
What are the two primary soil types in Provence?
Crystalline schist (east) Clay-limestone (north & west)
Which AOC produces the highest volume of wine in Provence?
Côtes de Provence AOC
Which AOC has the only classification system in Provence?
Côtes de Provence AOC
1955, cru classé, estates classified, but only for the classified vineyards
23 originally classified, 5 stopped operations, today: 18 estates
What are the 4 sub-regions of Côtes de Provence AOC?
Sainte-Victoire
Frejus
La Londe
Pierrefeu
How do regulations of 4 sub-regions differ from main Cotes de Provence AOC?
Higher min. alcohol, lower yields, reds and rosé only
Which is the 2nd largest AOC in Provence (after Côtes de Provence AOC)?
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
Smallest AOC in Provence?
Palette
What AOC was previously part of Coteaux d’Aix -en-Provenve?
Les Baux de Provence
Which AOC in Provence has the widest harvest differential N-S?
Coteaux Varois en Provence
Which area is known for Vin Cuit (although not produced commercially)?
Palette
Which AOC produces more white than rosé or red?
Cassis
Which white grapes dominate in Cassis?
Marsanne & Clairette
Which 4 AOC’s have mandatory aging requirements?
Bandol - reds
Les Baux de Provence - reds
Palette - reds, rosés, whites
Côtes de Provence Fréjus
2 AOC’s that do not allow Bordeaux varieties?
Bellet
Coteaux de Pierrevert
What are ‘restanques’
Stone retaining walls (Bandol)
What are the 4 primary grapes used for rosé production in Provence?
Grenache Cinsault Syrah Mourvèdre (GSM & Cinsault)
What is the primary method of making Provence rosé?
direct press
fruit forward, light, elegant, light color, little tanins
Who introduced formal viticulture to Provence
Phocaens
What is the only AOC in Provence that allows Chardonnay?
Bellet
Which AOC is a major producer of white wine from Marsanne?
Cassis
What is the principal grape of red Bandol?
Mourvèdre
Which Provencal AOC is a bastion for organic and biodynamic viticulture?
Les Baux de Provence
What is ‘Maquis’?
Scrub vegetation growing on crystalline schist
Where in Provence was Cabernet Sauvignon first planted?
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
What Provence AOC produces more red wine then rosé?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What AOC in Provence is known for organic and biodynamic farming?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What is garrigue?
A term used to describe limestone soils and the herbs that grow upon it
Maquis
A mix of herbs grown on schist soils
Red and rosé Côtes de Provence AOC have two use at least 2 of which grapes?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Tibouren
What Provence AOC has strong alpine influences?
Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC
What is the principal red grape of Bandol AOC?
Mourvèdre
What are the 4 geographic designations of the Côtes de Provence AOC?
Sainte-Victoire
Fréjus
La Londe
Pierrefeu
What Provence AOC surrounds the city of Nice?
Bellet AOC
Rolle is a synonym for what italian grape?
Vermentino
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 produces mainly white wine?
Cassis AOC (70% white)
Term ‘restanques’?
Terraced stone walls in vineyards, especially in Bandol
2 main soil types found in Provence?
Calcerous limestone
Quartz-rich schist
What Provence AOC is known for indigenous grapes like Braquet and Folle Noire?
Bellet AOC
Climate Provence
Mediterranean with some continental and alpine influence in the north
What are the two main soil types in Provence?
Calcerous limestone
Quartz rich schist