Roussillon

Question 1

What is the climate of Roussillon?

Answer 1

Mediterranean

Question 2

Roussillon is best known for what style of wine?

Answer 2

Vin Doux Naturel (VDN)

Question 3

Define “Tramontane”

Answer 3

A cold, north wind that blows through Roussillon

Question 4

What grape is the most commonly used in the production of the dry white wines of Roussillon?

Answer 4

Grenache Blanc

Question 5

What are the names of three main rivers that weave through Roussillon?

Answer 5

Agly, Têt and Tech

Question 6

T or F: Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC extends into Languedoc.

Answer 6

TRUE. It compasses the Fitou AOC

Question 7

What IGP covers most of the Pyrénées-Orientales département?

Answer 7

Côtes Catalanes IGP

Question 8

Which VDN AOCs produce white, rosé and red fortified wines?

Answer 8

Rivesaltes and Banyuls

Question 9

What is the minimum number of grapes that must be in the Côtes du Roussillon-Villages blend?

Answer 9

Two

Question 10

Define “Mutage”

Answer 10

The addition of neutral spirit to fermenting must

Question 11

T or F: Many of Roussillon’s key red grapes come from Spain.

Answer 11

TRUE. Examples are Cariñena (Carignan), Mataro/Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Garnacha (Grenache)

Question 12

What is the traditional form of vine training in Roussillon?

Answer 12

Gobelet

Question 13

T or F: Maury AOC only produces VDN wines.

Answer 13

FALSE. Within the borders of the Maury AOC, dry red wines are also produced.

Question 14

What important IGP is shared between Languedoc and Roussillon?

Answer 14

IGP Pays d’Oc

Question 15

T or F: Banyuls Grand Cru must be made from at least 75% Grenache Noir

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 16

Define “Muscat de Noël”

Answer 16

Wines from Muscat de Rivesaltes marketed for the Christmas period of the year of harvest

Question 17

What are the names of the three mountain ranges that surround Roussillon?

Answer 17

Corbières to the north, Pyrenees to the west and Albères to the south

Question 18

What is the main grape variety used to produce red VDN?

Answer 18

Grenache

Question 19

What is the southernmost appellation in mainland France?

Answer 19

Collioure/Banyuls

Question 20

T or F: The Languedoc AOC covers Roussillon vineyard areas

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

What are two labeling terms on VDNs that refer to red wines that have aged reductively?

Answer 21

Grenat, used in Rivesaltes and Maury, and Rimage, used in Banyuls

Question 22

Define “tuilé”

Answer 22

Label nomenclature for VDNs; refers to slightly oxidized red wines that take on a tuile (clay-tile) color.

Question 23

Define “ambré”

Answer 23

Label nomenclature for white VDNs; refers to the color of amber, an indication of controlled oxidation.

Question 24

Define “hors d’age”

Answer 24

Oxidized VDNs aged for a minimum of five years

Question 25

What type of soil covers much of Roussillon?

Answer 25

An iron-rich, sandy, red, water-retaining clay