Roussillon Pt 2 - Climate, Location, Geography, Geology and Soils Flashcards
In which department is Roussillon?
Pyrenees-Orientale in the Occitania region.
Which mountains border Roussillon?
Pyrenees to the west;
Alberes Mountains to the south;
Corbieres to the north.
Which regions border Roussillon?
Languedoc to the North;
Spain to the south;
Mediterranean to the east.
How do the mountains impact Roussillon climate?
They create an amphitheatre effect. this blocks the westerly winds and inclement weather and heat is trapped.
What is the climate of Roussillon?
Mediterranean. It has low/moderate rainfall of 500-600mm p.a. It enjoys 300 days of sunshine and has some of the highest temperatures in France. Summers are prone to drought. It is always windy.
What is the prevailing north wind in Roussillon?
There are eight winds which affect the area but the main one is the Tramontane
How does the Tramontane affect the vineyards of Roussillon?
Much like the Mistral it dries the soils and mitigates humidity, reducing disease pressure. It also dessicates the grapes concentrating flavours but also lowers yields.
What geological events formed Roussillon?
Similar to Languedoc it was formed by uplifting of ancient seabeds and erosion by the torrential rains at the close of the last Ice Age.
What is the geological difference between Languedoc and Roussillon?
Rousillon was subjected to more intense pressure and buckling so is more mountainous.
Where are the Roussillon vineyards located?
Many line the slopes of the Pyrenees foothills. Others are located at various elevations on thin strips of land between peaks.
What do vineyards planted near the mountains benefit from?
Cold air masses that descend in the evening hours.
How does the landscape of Rousillon influence the climate effects of Roussillon?
The convoluted landscape captures water, funnels, channels and sometimes intensifies the winds and provides a varied degree of orientations and elevations to mitigate the fierce heat.
What are the elevations of vineyards in Rousillon?
Up to 600 mtrs.
Which three rivers pass through Roussillon?
Agly, Tet and Tech.
Which river passes through a number of Roussillon Cru sites?
The Agly which passes among a geologically diverse series of hills which provide some of the regions best vineyards.
