Roussillon Flashcards
How many VDN appellations in Roussillon?
Which grape varieties are prredominantly used?
- Five appellations
- Four are Grenache based
- One is based entirely on Muscat
True or False
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC inlcude Languedoc’s Fitou.
True
Along with Maury, Banyuls/Colliourse AOCs
What are the main grape varieties of Maury AOC for Red and White VDNs?
- Red: Three varieties of Grenache
- White: Grenache Blanc, Gris, Macabeu and Tourbat
- Reds dominate
What are Six winds that blow through Roussillon?
- From North: Tramontane and Mistral
- From West: Cers
- From South: Sirroco, Autan and Marin
Rivesaltes and Mustcat de Rivesaltes share the same zone of production except ____?
Banyuls/Collioure is not included in the Rivesaltes area.
Name VDN AOC which allows no Oxidative wines:
- White
- Rose (2)
- White - Muiscat de Rivesaltes
- Rose - Banyuls
- Roe - Rivesales
Describe “Rancio” process
Wine is racked into clear glass demi-johns or bonbonne and left out in the summer sun to oxidize and age. This causes many of the colour compounds and tannins in the wines to fall out, leaving a thick, dark coloured deposit in the bonbonne. This deposit is allowed to stay in the bonbonne to influence the colour and flavour of resulting vintages of wine that are aged in the container. Once the wine has finished aging for the summer it is usually blended with wine that has spent time aging in large foudres oak cask or sold separately as Maury Rancio.
Which VDN AOC has it white wines with no Reductive process but only with Oxidative and Very Oxidative?
Rivesaltes AOC - White
No Reductive
Oxidative - Ambre with vintage or Hors d’Age
Very Oxidative - Ambre Rancio
What is the aging requirement for Cotes Catalanes IGP non fortified Rancio styles of wine?
Aged unitl August 31 of the fifth year after harvest
True or False
Maury AOC does NOT allow non VDN wines.
False
Since 2011, dry wines can be made from the same grapes authorized for VDNs i.e mainly Granache
It must be labeled Maury SEC
Does Banyuls Grand Cru AOC has Reductie or Oxidative VDN or both?
Oxidative only.
Banyuls Grand Cru is Red only AOC.
Identify the following for Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC:
- Color:
- Reductive:
- Oixdative:
- Very Oxidative:
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC
- Color: White
- Reductive: Only Reductive
- Oixdative: Not made
- Very Oxidative: Not Made
Which VDN AOC has no Reductive wines but only with Oxidative wines?
Banyuls Grand Cru AOC
Min 75% Grenache Noir
Only with Tuile with vintage or Hors d’Age
List five DGCs of Cotes du Roussillon Villages.
- Caramany
- Latour-de-France
- Les Aspres
- Tautavel
- Lesquerde
Cotes du Roussillon Villages AOC produces:
- Only Red
- Only White
- Both Red and White wines
Only Red
True or False
Cotes du Roussillon Villages produce Red, White and Rose wines.
False
It is Red wine only AOC.
Give two reasons why hand harvesting is required in Roussillon.
- Due to strong winds such as from Tramontane, vines are trained low
- 80% of vineyards are located on slopes
List hardships faced by Roussillon vignerons (4)
- Identity - Catalan and Occitan cutlures, less dominant partner to Languedoc
- Historic producer of Vin Doux Naturels - no longer in vogue
- Rural with wild boars poaching vineyards
- Heat and drought due to global warming
How many DGCs in Cotes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
- Five DCGs
- Caramany
- Latour-de-France
- Les Aspres
- Lesquerde
- Tautavel
What is the percentage of co-operatives producing wines in Roussillon?
75%
How many DGCs are within Cotes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
Five
Which AOC area is NOT included Rivesaltes AOC but a part of Muscat de Rivesaltes?
Banyuls/Collioure
Identify the following for Rivesaltes AOC:
- Color:
- Reductive:
- Oxidative:
- Very Oxidative
Rivesaltes AOC
- Color: Red
- Reductive: Grenat with vintage
- Oxidative: Tuile - with vintaage or Hors d’Age
- Very Oxidative: Tuile Rancio
- Color: Rose with vintage
- Reductive: Only Reductive styles
- Oxidative: Not made
- Very Oxidative: Not made
- Color: White
- Reductive: Not made
- Oxidative: Ambre - with vintage or Hors d’Age
- Very Oxidative: Ambre Rancio
What are three mountain ranges that surround Roussillon?
- Corbieres to the north
- Pyrenees and the lofty Mount Canigou peak to the west
- Alberes Mountains (eastern extension of the Pyrenees)
How many days of sunshine does Roussillon receives in a year?
300 Days
What wine is labeled as “Muscat de Noel”?
Muscat de Riversaltes for wines marketed for the Christmas period of the year of harvest.
In Rousillon, what type of areas red and white grapes are planted?
- Alluvial plains - white grapes
- Stonier sites at higher elevation - red grapes
True or False
While Languedoc AOC covers all of Roussillon, less than 2% of Roussillon’s AOC wine production was bottled under this appellation in 2019.
True
What is “Tramontane”?
Prevailing north winds in Roussillon, similar to the Mistral
What is the southernmost appellation in mainland France?
Collioure AOC
Identify the following for Banyuls AOC:
- Color:
- Reductive:
- Oxidative:
- Very Oxidative:
Banyuls AOC
- Color: Red
- Reductive: Rimage with vintage
- Oxidative: Traditonnel with vintage or Hors d’Age
- Very Oxidative: Traditionel Rancio
- Color: Rose
- Reductive: Rose - with vintage - only Reductive styles
- Oxidative: Not made
- Very Oxidative: Not made
- Color: White
- Reductive: Blanc - with vintage
- Oxidative: Ambre - with vintage or Hors d’Age
- Very Oxidative: Ambre Rancio
What AOC is Roussillon’s largest by volume?
Cotes du Roussillon AOC
State the difference between the wines of Collioure AOC and Banyuls AOC which share the same delimited area.
- Collioure AOC: Dry wines
- Banyuls AOC: VDNs
Which grape varitey Cotes du Roussillon Villages is based?
Grenache
Blend at least of two varieties
What is the primary soil type of Banyuls AOC?
Schist
What is the primary grape variety used in Maury Sec AOC?
Grenache
What is Banyuls VDN Red Reductive called?
What is Banyuls VDN Red Oxidative called?
- Red Reductive: Rimage (rather than Grenat)
- Red Oxidative: Traditionnel (rather than Tuile) also Hors d’Age for 5 year aging