Roussillon Flashcards
Roussillon appellations (9) Located?
Rivesaltes AOP (Covers most of Roussillon's wine growing region) Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP (same as Rivesaltes, along with two enclaves of Fitou in the Aude)
—Côtes du Roussillon AOP
—Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOP (northern 1/3 of Roussillon; 32 communes north of Les Aspres)
—Maury AOP (NW corner or Roussillon within CDR Village)
—Grand Roussillon AOP- catch all appellation for Roussillon VDN’s. Since Cotes de Roussillon is for dry wines, this is for the sweets. Very little wine is made under this appellation (As little as 330 cases per year)
—Collioure AOP
—Banyuls AOP
—Banyuls Grand Cru AOP
**both far SE corner of Roussillon
What region produces over 90% of France’s fortified wines?
Roussillon (much of which is Rivesaltes AOP)
Rivesaltes AOP
Styles (6)?
Elevage?
Notable Producer?
What river cuts through the appellation?
Ambre, Tuile, Grenat, Rosé. (amber, red, tawny, and pink)
—VDN Grenat (red): 100% Grenache Noir; aged in a reductive environment until at least May 1 following harvest, at least 3 months in bottle. Bottled no later than June 30 of the second year after harvest.
**All other styles: Grenache (Blanc, Gris, Noir), Tourbat (Malvosie de Roussilon), Macabeu
Accessory Varieties: Max 20% combined Muscat a Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie
—VDN Ambré (amber) and VDN Tuilé (tawny, Grenache Noir must be present for Tuilé.): Wines must be aged in an oxidative environment until at least March 1 of the third year following the harvest.
—VDN Rosé (pink): Wines must be bottled no later than December 31 of the year following the harvest.
—VDN Hors d’Age (Tuilé or Ambré): Wines are aged until at least September 1 of the fifth year after harvest.
*in practice may be up to 20 years of aging till release.
—VDN Rancio (Tuilé or Ambre)
- **Domaine Fontanel
- **River Têt
What is a bonbonnes?
How much does it hold?
a large glass jar or carboy, also known as a demijohn, typically holding 25 l/6.6 gal, used as a neutral container to store wine, vin doux naturel, or brandy, often after a period of wood aging.
What does Rivesaltes translate to?
“high rivers” in the Catalan tongue
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOP
Styles?
Elevage?
How much of France’s Muscat production?
Styles:
- -Vin Doux Naturel Blanc: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie
- -Vin Doux Naturel Blanc “Muscat de Nöel”: Christmas wines that must be bottled no later than December 1 of the year of harvest
- -the sweeter Muscat de Rivesaltes is typically released earlier, for youthful consumption, as the wine quickly loses its aromatic freshness.
- -represents about 70% of France’s total Muscat production
- -produced throughout most of Roussillon, even some sections of the Aude département to the north (including much of the Fitou)
Who introduced the process of Mutage and where?
Arnaud de Villeneuve, a 13th century physician, introduced the process of mutage as a means of medicinal elixir-brewing.
What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?
Banyuls AOP.
Non-continental is Vin de Corse, or Ajaccio if you are looking for a communal appellation.
What are the styles and requirements for Banyuls Grand Cru AOP?
VDN Rouge
VDN Rouge “Hors d’Age”
VDN Rouge “Rancio”
–at least 75% Grenache; 30 months in barrel, no release til June 1 of the third year following the harvest.
–“Hors d’Age” no release til Sept 1 of the fifth year following harvest.
*Banyuls Grand Cru “Brut/Dry/Sec”: max. 54 g/l
**must be aged in oak
**manual harvest in successive tries (Same with Banyuls)
Banyuls AOP
Styles?
Elevage?
—VDN Blanc
—VDN Ambré
—VDN Rosé
**above varieties: Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon)
–VDN Rimage (Vintage-dated, Rouge) bottled within 1 year; Primary Grenache
–VDN Traditionnel (Rouge) min 50% Grenache
–VDN “Hors d’Age”
Elevage:
–“Blanc” and “Rimage”: Wines may not be released until May 1 of the year following the harvest
–“Ambré” and “Traditionnel”: Wines may not be released until March 1 of the third year following the harvest
–“Hors d’Age”: Wines may not be released until September 1 of the fifth year following the harvest
**Banyuls is France’s richest, most full-bodied and most consistently quality-minded VDN appellation
If a wine from Banyuls is unfortified red, white, or rose wine, under what appellation is it released under?
Collioure AOP
Maury AOP
Styles?
Elevage?
—Rouge: 60-80% Grenache
—VDN Blanc and Ambré- Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon)
Accessory Varieties: Max. 20% combined Muscat à Petits Grains and Muscat d’Alexandrie
**bottled no later than June 30 of the second year following the harvest, not released until at least May 1 of the year following the harvest
—VDN Grenat and Tuilé- Min. 75% Grenache
Complementary Varieties: Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris
Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% combined Carignan and Syrah; max. 10% Macabeu
**aged in glass or other sealed containers, not released until March 1 of the third year following the harvest
—VDN “Hors d’Age”-
**Wines are aged in glass or other sealed containers, and may not be released until September 1 of the fifth year following the harvest
—VDN “Rancio”
**Tuilé and Ambré wines do not have to be vintage-dated, all others do.
What is Lledoner Pelut “LEND-oh-nair PO-lew”?
Downy-leaved, less rot-prone form of Grenache grown in Languedoc-Roussillon and, as Garnacha Peluad, in north-east Spain.
What style is Côtes du Roussillon AOP?
a regional appellation for red, white, and a high percentage of rosé wines
all styles must have two varieties
What is Côtes du Roussillon-Villages AOP and what style
Côtes du Roussillon-Villages AOP is reserved for only the red wines of 32 communes to the north of Les Aspres.
