Roussillon Flashcards
How many hectares are under vine in Roussillon?
21,000ha
Many vineyards in Roussillon are in the foothills of which mountains?
The Pyrenees
What percentage of Roussillon wines are made by co-ops?
75%
Describe the climate in Roussillon, including rainfall.
How does this affect growing conditions here?
Warm, windy Mediterranean climate with high sunshine hours. Moderate rainfall: 500-600mm
Wind and low rainfall reduce disease pressure and decrease yields
What type of weather can threaten viticulture in Roussillon?
Drought can be an issue in dry years
Has area under vine in Roussillon increased or decreased since 1990?
It has decreased; land under vine is now one third of what it was previously
What four grapes are commonly used for red wine production in Roussillon?
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
Carignan
Describe what vine training methods you would expect to see in Roussillon and why these might be chosen
Many bush vines; well adapted to the climate, providing shading, but require manual labour adding to cost.
New vineyards planted on trellises to aid mechanisation.
The amount of flat land suitable for trellising is in Roussillon is far less than in the Languedoc.
What percentage of vineyard area in Roussillon is classified as AOC?
70%
What percentage of Roussillon wine is sold domestically?
80%
What 3 country’s are the top three export markets for Roussillon wines?
China
Belgium
Germany
What area is covered by the Côte de Roussillon AOC?
Large appellation (5,000ha) including the entire department of Pyrenées Orientale
Describe the topography of Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC.
Vines grown on slopes at 100m to 400m with the cooling influence of altitude contributing to higher acidity in the wine.
Less than half the size of Côtes du Roussillon AOC.
Why might Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC wines be more expensive than Côtes du Roussillon AOC?
- Vines Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC vineyards are tended by hand as they are planted on slopes
- Permitted yields are lower for Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC
What are the permitted yields for Côtes du Roussillon AOC?
What are the permitted yields for Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?
Côtes du Roussillon AOC:
48hl/ha
Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC:
45hl/ha
What are the principal varieties in Côtes du Roussillon AOC and Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC ?
What stipulations are there on the final blend?
Carignan
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
2 varieties minimum
No single variety can exceed 80%
How many villages may append their name to Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC if 100% grapes are from there?
How does this affect the permitted yield?
5
Maximum yield goes down to 42hl/ha
Some Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC villages require Carignan to be vinified in a particular way - what is this?
They require Carignan to be made with Carbonic maceration to promote the primary fruit and limit tannin extraction
Collioure AOC has the same boundaries as which VDN producing appellation?
Banyuls
The area extends along the coast to the Spanish border.
What is the maximum yield in Collioure AOC?
40hl/ha
Rarely achieved; yields are low, around 20 to 25hl/ha
What are the principal varieties in Collioure AOC reds?
Whites?
Red wines:
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
White:
Grenache Gris
IGP ____ _____ overs the Pyrénées-Orientales département and is used by producers for both red and white wine
IGP Côtes Catalanes
Name a significant producer in IGP Côtes Catalanes.
Domaine Gauby
