South France

Question 1

List the Southern France characteristics.

Answer 1

• along the Med coast from Italy E to Spanish border in the W.
• warm mediterranean climate with temps in summer in excess of 30, mild winters low rainfall with risk of drought, low disease pressure and summer flooding occasionally.

Question 2

What is Mistral?

Answer 2

A wind blowing down the Rhone Valley.

Question 3

What is Tramantone?

Answer 3

Wind that blows through the gap between Massif Central and the Pyrenees chasing away the disease pressure but damaging the flowering and potentially the vine.

Question 4

List the black varieties found in S France.

Answer 4

Grenache -suited to warm, dry , summer climate, red fruits aromas.
Syrah- perform better in cool sites (black fruits)
Carignan-H Tannin, acidity and colour can lack fruit or finesse sometimes used in semicarbonic maceration to soft the tannins.
Cinsault-mainly used in rose and adds red fruit in reds.
Mourvedre-deeply colored , hight tannin adds richness, color, complexity, ripen successfully only in warm years.
MERLOT and Cab Sav both used in IGP.

Question 5

List the white grape varieties in S France .

Answer 5

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc Viognier and Picpul with its high acidity green fruit and citrus flavours.

Question 6

What is Languedoc?

Answer 6

Generic appellation that covers all the appellations from Spanish borders to city of Nimes.

Question 7

What wines are produced in Languedoc?

Answer 7

Red vast majority from Shiraz, Carignan, Grenache and sometimes Mouvedre.
Full bodied,spicy red fruit often with oak flavours.
White and rose production too.

Question 8

Cotes du Roussillon specifics?

Answer 8

AOC in Languedoc.

- rugged and mountainous with bright sunlight, low rainfall and strong winds that produces concentrated wines.

Question 9

Where Cotes du Roussillon Vilages can be found?

Answer 9

To the N of Cote du Roussillonand are the best vineyards within.

Question 10

Please list the main specifics of appelation Fitou.

Answer 10

Is AOC in Languedoc that its splited in 2 separate area - warm coastal strips that produces fuller bodied wines and inland and at altitude where lighter wines predominate.

Question 11

Please give the main specifics of region Corbieres.

Answer 11

Within the Languedoc and covers warm sites near coast and vineyards planted at altitude that are cooled by Tramantone. This region is subdivided into 11 subregions.

Question 12

Please list the main specifics for the Minervois subregion.

Answer 12

Within Languedoc and lies on the slopes of the Massif Central, vary in their qualities due to altitude, richness of soil and the extent of their exposure to the cooling influences from Atlantic.

Question 13

Please give characteristics for Picpul de Pinet.

Answer 13

Subregion in Languedoc, near the coast cooling sea breezes helps to retain the natural high acidity of Picpul grape.

Question 14

IGP wines specifics.

Answer 14

Production more than in any other region in France.

Sold under regional name Pays d’oc.

Question 15

List specifics of the Provence region.

Answer 15

Range of hills offers the protection from Mistral which provides variety of site climate and soils.
Mainly roses production pale in colour, light bodied, dry with grapefruit and red fruit.
Red- from fresh and fruity to full body barrel matured styles.

Question 16

Please give specifics about Cote de Provence?

Answer 16

largest appellation in Provence and along the coast there are 3 isolated pockets of vineyards with its Appellation Controlee of which the most important Bandol situated E of Marseille and produce premium reds from Mourvèdre from S facing slopes.
- full bodied wines, with powerful tannins and require bottle age before they show their full spectrum of bramble meat and licorice-spice flavors.