Roussillon Flashcards
In Muscat de Rivesaltes is the VdN usually made reductively or oxidatively?
It is almost always made reductively
What are the grape varieties allowed in the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC?
Muscat à Petit Grains
Muscat d’Alexandrie
What style of wine does the Banyuls Grand Cru AOC produce?
Red VdN only
What style of wine is made in the Maury AOC?
Dry reds and red VdN
What AOC is shared jointly between Languedoc and Roussillon?
The Languedoc AOC
What is the 2nd largest AOC in Roussillon and what rivers are located here?
Côtes du Roussillon Villages The Agly and Têt rivers are located here Red only Grenache Based 4 Crus: Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquer and Tautavel
What is the largest AOC in Roussillon?
Côtes du Roussillon
Regional AOC - red, rosé and white
complicated blending formula
1 Cru: Les Aspres
What are the 2 most important IGP’s in Roussillon?
- IGP Pays d’Oc far an away most important
2. IGP Pyrénées-Orientales
What are the 2 regional AOCs of Roussillon?
- AOC Languedoc
2. AOC Côtes du Roussillon
What is the 1 sub-regional AOC in Roussillon?
AOC Côtes du Roussillon villages
It produces red wine only
What are the 8 communal AOC’s in Roussillon?
- AOC AOC Côtes du Roussillon
- AOC Collioure
The VDNs are: - AOC Rivesaltes
- AOC Muscat de Rivesaltes
- AOC Maury
- AOC Maury SEC
- AOC Banyuls
- AOC Banyuls Grand Cru
What is the quality pyramid in Roussillon?
Top to bottom Communal + VdN AOCs Sub-Regional AOCs Regional AOCs IGP
What is the synonym for Malvoisie du Roussillon?
Tourbat
What are the 2 grapes grown in Roussillon that are not grown in Languedoc?
Muscat d’Alexandrie
Tourbat - high extract, alcohol + acidity, prone to oxidation
Also, called Malvoisie du Roussillon
What are the general plantings for red and white grapes in Roussillon?
White grapes on the Alluvial plains
Red grapes on stonier sites at higher elevation
What 3 rivers have a cooling effect on the Roussillon vineyards because they start in the Pyrénées?
Agly
Têt
Tech
What mountains surround Roussillon?
The Corbieres to the north
To the west is Canigou one of the highest peaks in the Pyrénées
To the south are many peaks including the “ Roc de France”
Vineyards are planted on thin strips of land between the peaks or line some slopes
What is the climate like in Roussillon?
Mediterranean Climate
In the rain shadow of the Pyrénées
It is one of France’s sunniest regions with 325 days/year of sun
Mean temperature is the highest in France
North wind is the Tramontane
How does wine production in Roussillon compare to Languedoc?
About 1/2 the vineyard area
About 1/3 the wine production
How many AOC’s are in Roussillon?
13 that produce red, white, rosé still wines, plus VdNs
What are the Spanish grapes used in Roussillon and the different synonyms?
Carignan - Cariñena
Mourvèdre - Mataró
Macabeu - Macabeo
Who introduced viticulture to Roussillon?
The Phocaeans, although it was slow to develop due to the mountainous topography
What is the primary grape in Rivesaltes AOC?
Muscat
What are the stats on the Banyuls AOC?
Min 75% Grenache
Aging minimum 30 months in oak
Cannot be made reductively
What are the reductive and oxidative labeling words in Roussillon?
Redcutive
- Grenat (red)
- Rimage (red)
Oxidative
- Ambre (white oxidized)
- Tuilé (red oxidized)
- Rancio (maderized) (red & white)
- Hors d’age (minimum 5 years aging) (red & white)
What are the 5 VdN AOCs in Roussillon?
Rivesaltes (red and white) Muscat de Rivesaltes (white only) Maury (red and white) Banyuls (red, rosé and white) Banyuls Grand Cru (red only)
What are the 2 ways that VdNs can be aged in Roussillon?
Reductively (without oxygen)
- topping barrels to their fullest
- this delivers fresh fruit forward and dominant VdNs
Oxidatively (with oxygen)
- not topping up barrels, leaving some headspace for air
- use sun exposure to speed up the process
- delivers nutty, toffee wines with some hints of maderization
What are the primary white grapes in VdN’s not labeled “Muscat”?
Grenache Blanc
Tourbat
Maccabeu