Roussillon Flashcards

1
Q

In Muscat de Rivesaltes is the VdN usually made reductively or oxidatively?

A

It is almost always made reductively

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2
Q

What are the grape varieties allowed in the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC?

A

Muscat à Petit Grains

Muscat d’Alexandrie

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3
Q

What style of wine does the Banyuls Grand Cru AOC produce?

A

Red VdN only

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4
Q

What style of wine is made in the Maury AOC?

A

Dry reds and red VdN

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5
Q

What AOC is shared jointly between Languedoc and Roussillon?

A

The Languedoc AOC

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6
Q

What is the 2nd largest AOC in Roussillon and what rivers are located here?

A
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
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7
Q

What is the largest AOC in Roussillon?

A

Côtes du Roussillon
Regional AOC - red, rosé and white
complicated blending formula
1 Cru: Les Aspres

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8
Q

What are the 2 most important IGP’s in Roussillon?

A
  1. IGP Pays d’Oc far an away most important
  2. Cotes Catalanes IGP
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9
Q

What are the 2 regional AOCs of Roussillon?

A
  1. AOC Languedoc

2. AOC Côtes du Roussillon

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10
Q

What is the 1 sub-regional AOC in Roussillon?

A

AOC Côtes du Roussillon villages

It produces red wine only

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11
Q

What are the 8 communal AOC’s in Roussillon?

A
  1. AOC AOC Côtes du Roussillon
  2. AOC Collioure
    The VDNs are:
  3. AOC Rivesaltes
  4. AOC Muscat de Rivesaltes
  5. AOC Maury
  6. AOC Maury SEC
  7. AOC Banyuls
  8. AOC Banyuls Grand Cru
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12
Q

What is the quality pyramid in Roussillon?

A
Top to bottom
Communal + VdN AOCs
Sub-Regional AOCs
Regional AOCs
IGP
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13
Q

What is the synonym for Malvoisie du Roussillon?

A

Tourbat

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14
Q

What are the 2 grapes grown in Roussillon that are not grown in Languedoc?

A

Muscat d’Alexandrie

Tourbat - high extract, alcohol + acidity, prone to oxidation
Also, called Malvoisie du Roussillon

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15
Q

What are the general plantings for red and white grapes in Roussillon?

A

White grapes on the Alluvial plains

Red grapes on stonier sites at higher elevation

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16
Q

What 3 rivers have a cooling effect on the Roussillon vineyards because they start in the Pyrénées?

A

Agly
Têt
Tech

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17
Q

What mountains surround Roussillon?

A

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

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18
Q

What is the climate like in Roussillon?

A

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

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19
Q

How does wine production in Roussillon compare to Languedoc?

A

About 1/2 the vineyard area

About 1/3 the wine production

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20
Q

How many AOC’s are in Roussillon?

A

13 that produce red, white, rosé still wines, plus VdNs

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21
Q

What are the Spanish grapes used in Roussillon and the different synonyms?

A

Carignan - Cariñena
Mourvèdre - Mataró
Macabeu - Macabeo

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22
Q

Who introduced viticulture to Roussillon?

A

The Phocaeans, although it was slow to develop due to the mountainous topography

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23
Q

What is the primary grape in Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC?

A

Muscat - Primarily Muscat à Petits Grains and Muscat d ‘Alexandrie

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24
Q

What are the stats on the Banyuls AOC?

A

Min 75% Grenache
Aging minimum 30 months in oak
Cannot be made reductively

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25
Q

What are the reductive and oxidative labeling words in Roussillon?

A

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)
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26
Q

What are the 5 VdN AOCs in Roussillon?

A
Rivesaltes (red and white)
Muscat de Rivesaltes (white only)
Maury (red and white)
Banyuls (red, rosé  and white)
Banyuls Grand Cru (red only)
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27
Q

What are the 2 ways that VdNs can be aged in Roussillon?

A

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
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28
Q

What are the primary white grapes in VdN’s not labeled “Muscat”?

A

Grenache Blanc
Tourbat
Maccabeu

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29
Q

What grape is primary for red VdNs?

A

Grenache

30
Q

How is VdN made?

A
  1. Grapes are picked with > 25.2% sugar
  2. Pure alcohol is added during fermentation (in the amount of 5 -10% of juice volume)
  3. The alcohol kills the yeast, stopping the fermentation and leaving the unfermented sugars
    This point sets the RS level
31
Q

What are the stats on Roussillon VdNs

A

Represent 80% of all French VdNs
Minimum 15% ABV
Minimum 4.5% RS

32
Q

What are the stats on the Maury Sec AOC?

A

Dry red only
Blend of at least 2 grapes with Grenache in the lead 60 - 80%
Minimum 6 months aging
The word “sec” must appear on the label to indicate dry and not from the Maury VdN AOC

33
Q

What are the stats on the Côtes du Roussillon AOC?

A

Roussillons largest AOC

Mostly red, some rosé and a little white

34
Q

What are the stats on the Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?

A

Red only
Extends thru the Têt and Agly river valleys
Grapes are Grenache dominant but must be a blend of 2 varieties
Cinsault is not allowed

35
Q

What are the stats on the Côtes du Roussillon Villages - named village AOCs?

A
4 Villages that can append their name
- Caramany
- Latour de France
- Lesquerde
- Tautavel
They all encircle the town of Maury
Red wine only
Must be a blend of at least 2 grapes with Grenache in the lead
36
Q

What are the stats on the Collioure AOC?

A

Red, white and rosé
Southernmost AOC in France
Collioure and Banyuls share the same zone of production. Collioure is for dry wine Banyuls is for VdN
Reds mainly Grenache
Whites mainly Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris

37
Q

What is the primary grape for the Banyuls and Maury AOCs?

A

Grenache

38
Q

What mountains create a rain shadow effect on Roussillon?

A

The Pyrénées

39
Q

What is “Rancio” in Roussillon?

A

Extremely oxidized red and white wine

40
Q

What is “Hors d’age” in Roussillon?

A

Minimum 5 years aging oxidatively either red or white wine

41
Q

What is “Tuile” in Roussillon?

A

Oxidative red wine

42
Q

What is “Grenat” in Roussillon?

A

A reductive red wine, the term is used in Maury and Rivesaltes AOCs

43
Q

What is “Rimage” in Roussillon?

A

A reductive red wine used in Banyuls AOC

44
Q

What is “Ambre” in Roussillon?

A

An oxidative white wine

45
Q

What 2 ways are VdNs made in Roussillon?

A

Reductive (without oxygen) - Retains fresh fruit and floral aromatics

Oxidatively (with oxygen) - more savory, nuts and toffee notes

46
Q

What grapes can be used in Roussillon VdNs?

A

White VdN

  • Muscat à Petit Grains
  • Muscat d’Alexandrie
  • Grenache Blanc
  • Grenache Gris
  • Malvoisie du Roussillon
  • Maccabeu

Red VdN
- Grenache Noir

47
Q

What AOC VdNs are produced in Roussillon?

A
Rivesaltes AOC
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC
Maury AOC
Banyuls AOC
Banyuls Grand Cru AOC
48
Q

What percentage of all French VdN is produced in Roussillon?

A

80%

49
Q

What style of wine is Roussillons claim to fame?

A

Vin Doux Naturels (VdN)

50
Q

What is the most common soil type in Roussillon?

A

Iron rich, sandy red clay

Red clay giving the name to Roussillon (Red = Rousse)

51
Q

What is the prevailing wind in Roussillon?

A

The Tramontane
Comes from the north
Reduces humidity and chases the clouds away giving 325 days of sun/year

52
Q

Where is Roussillon located?

A
Southernmost part of France
To the west is the Pyrénées
To the north is Languedoc
To the south is Spain
and in the east is the Mediterranean
53
Q

How long was Roussillon part of the Aragon Empire?

A

500 years

From the 13th to 18th century

54
Q

Banyuls shares the same delimited zone of production of what other AOC?

A

Collioure

55
Q

What French wine region boasts the highest number of organic/biodynamic wine producers?

A

Roussillon

56
Q

Is Banyuls Grand Cru VdN made reductively or oxidatively?

A

Always oxydized

57
Q

Tourbat is also known as?

A

Malvoisie du Roussillon

58
Q

T or F? Languedoc/Roussillon has the largest number of certified organic wine producers in France

A

True

59
Q

What wine style can be made under the Côtes du Roussillon Villages designation?

A

Red wine only

60
Q

What is the climate of Roussillon?

A

Mediterranean, with lots of heat and sunshine

61
Q

What are the “Crus” of the Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?

A

Caramany
Latour de France
Lesquerde
Tautavel

62
Q

The prevailing north wind in Roussillon is called?

A

The Tramontane

63
Q

What are Roussillons most important rivers?

A

Agly
Têt
Tech

64
Q

What wines may be labeled Hors d’age?

A

Oxidized VdNs aged a minimum of 5 years

65
Q

What IGP is shared jointly between Languedoc and Roussillon?

A

IGP Pays d’Oc

66
Q

The southernmost AOC in France is?

A

Collioure/Banyuls

67
Q

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

A

Grenache

68
Q

A “BonBonne” is?

A

A large glass jar used for maturing VdNs

69
Q

Roussillon is best known for what style of wine?

A

Vins Doux Naturels (VdN)

70
Q

What styles of wine are made in the Collioure AOC?

A

Dry red, white and rosé

71
Q

What effect does the Tramontane have on Roussillon?

A

The Tramontane reduces humidity and the risk of vine disease