Roussillon Flashcards
What are the mountain ranges that surround Roussillon?
Corbières to the north
Pyrenees to the west
Albères to the south
What is the effect of the Tramontane wind?
Desicates berries, increasing sugar concentration and decreasing yields
How does the soil type affect what types of grapes are planted?
Red: higher, stonier sites
White: alluvial plains
When did Roussillon become part of France?
In 1659 after the Franco-Spanish war
King Louis XIV was king
When were the first 3 AOCs of Roussillon established and what were they?
1936
Rivesaltes
Banyuls
Maury
Roussillon was at one stage part of what island kingdom?
Majorca
What treaty ceded Roussillon to France?
Treaty of the Pyrenees
What white grape is the main component of many Roussillon dry whites and white VDNs?
Grenache Blanc
What is the main grape of Roussillon red wines and red VDNs?
Grenache
What is historically the main grape in Roussillon red blends?
Carignan
What percentage of Roussillon vineyards are farmed organically?
20%
Carbonic maceration is used for what grape in Roussillon?
Carignan, to tame its aggressive tannins
What are Rancio wines?
Red, white, or rosé style wines that are matured by Oxidative methods for at least 5 years, turning dark brown or tawny and developing leathery and gamey flavors
What is Roussillon’s largest AOC by volume?
Côtes du Roussillon
What style of wine is produced in Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
Red wine made from GSM, Carignan
+ Lledoner Pelut
*must contain at least 2 grape varieties
What are the 5 DCGs of Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
Caramany
Latour-de-France
Les Apres
Lesquerde
Tautavel
What style of wine is produced in Muscat de Rivesaltes?
Sweet (min 10%) fortified (min alcohol 15%) white wines
Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc
Muscat d’Alexandrie
What is Muscat de Noël?
VDN from Muscat de Rivesaltes marketed for Christmas of the year of harvest
What style of wine is produced in Rivesaltes AOC?
White, rosé, and red fortified wines
VDN: min sweetness 4.5%, min alcohol 15%, most made oxidatively
-Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Tourbat
-Grenache Gris
-Grenache
What style of wine is produced in Maury AOC?
White and red fortified wines
Min sweet: 4.5%
Min alcohol: 15%
-Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Tourbat
-Grenache Gris
-Grenache + Syrah, Carignan
What style of wine is produced in Banyuls?
White, rosé, and red fortified wines, mostly in oxidative styles
Min sweet: 4.5%
Min alcohol: 15%
-Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Tourbat
-Grenache Gris
-Grenache + Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvèdre
What are the production rules for Banyuls Grand Cru AOC?
Red VDN only
Must be 75% Grenache Noir
Must be aged in oak until June 1st of the third year after harvest
Oxidative in style
What are the 5 AOCs of Roussillon that make VDNs?
Muscat de Rivesaltes
Rivesaltes
Maury
Banyuls
Banyuls Grand Cru
What are the two terms for red wines that have aged reductively?
GRENAT - in Rivesaltes and Maury
RIMAGE - in Banyuls
What are the two terms for red wines that have aged oxidatively?
TUILÉ: in Rivesaltes, Maury, and Banyuls Grand Cru
TRADITIONNEL: in Banyuls
What is the term for white VDNs that have been aged reductively?
BLANC: in Maury and Banyuls
What is the term for white VDNs that have been aged oxidatively?
AMBRÉ: in Rivesaltes, Maury, and Banyuls
What 2 AOCs make Rosé VDNs (only reductively made)?
Rivesaltes
Banyuls
Which AOC only makes reductive VDNs?
Muscat de Rivesaltes
Define Hors d’Age
VDN wines that have been aged oxidatively for at least 5 years
What are rancio wines aged in?
Outdoors in glass bonbonnes - or demi-johns
Which IGP is the most used in Roussillon?
Côtes Catalanes
How long must Rancio wines be aged before being sold?
Until August 31 of the fifth year after harvest
How many days of sunshine does Roussillon receive?
300
What are the 3 rivers of Roussillon?
Agly
Têt
Tech
Banyuls shares the same area as what other Roussillon AOC?
Collioure
What is the most planted white grape in Roussillon?
Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc
What is the soil of Banyuls?
Schist
Côte Vermeille IGP covers the same area as what?
Banyuls/ Collioure
