South of France Flashcards
South of France covers which 3 regions?
Significance of size (3)?
Common factor for all 3 regions affecting yields (3):
Languedoc / Roussillon / Provence
Languedoc - Roussillon:
~ 240,000 ha under vine (220K in Languedoc alone)
=> more land under vine vs Chile, Australia or South Africa
All 3 regions:
- low rainfall + warm, windy climate (high evapotranspiration)
=> low yields for AOC wines
=> lowest yields of all Fr. regions (1/2 of Champagne / Alsace)
Identify the APPELLATIONS (1-8) and MAJOR CITIES (a-b) in the Provence region:
- *APPELLATIONS**
1. Les Baux de Provence
2. Palette
3. Cotes de Provence
4. Coteaux Varois en Provence
5. Bellet
6. Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
7. Cassis
8. Bandol - *MAJOR CITIES**
a) Marseille
b) Nice
Identify the appellations in the Languedoc-Roussillon region:
- Terrasses du Larzac
- Pic Saint-Loup
- Cabardés
- Saint-Chinian
- Faugéres
- Picpoul de Pinet
- Malpére
- Minervois
- Corbieres
- La Clape
- Fitou
- Cotes du Roussillon-Villages
- Cotes du Roussillon
Languedoc
Main terrain used for grape-growing (2)
Climate
Grapes planted (3 main cat.s) + main wine cat. produced:
Game-changing events (2) + effect?
- mainly low-lying alluvial plain
- some growers w/ vineyards on hillside slopes (for higher quality wines)
- warm Mediterranean climate
- wide range of grapes including:
- *local** varieties (e.g. Piquepoul)
- *General** Southern French (Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan)
- *Mainstream** (Cab, Merlot, etc…)
- v. large vol. of single-variety IGP wine
- construction of Canal du Midi in 17th C. (connecting it to Bordeaux) + railways to Paris in 19th C. (direct transport)
=> grape growing + winemaking became important drivers of the region’s economy.
Languedoc
Importance of Co-ops (2)?
Important event in 1973 + effect?
What main factor has led to a drop in land under vine (1) + effects (3)?
- v. important since 1950s
- today: 70% of region’s production
1973
- wine no longer sourced from Algeria
=> Languedoc-Roussillon, became key source of everyday wine
- Over-production (‘wine lake’)
=> eventual removal of many vineyards
=> today’s area under vine = half of 1968
=> production of cheap wine but increasing small production of high quality wines
Languedoc
General climate (3) + benefit?
What factors (2) affect disease pressure + effects on grape-growing (2)?
Main climate-related risk?
- Mediterranean climate
- high levels of sunshine + moderate rainfall (< 600 mm / year)
- v. warm summers
=> v. favourable for grape growing - Low moisture levels + cool, dry Tramontane wind
= low fungal disease pressure
=> less $$ spent on spraying
=> increasing growth of certified organic wine production (Languedoc + Roussillon = 1/3 of France’s organic production) - dry years + v. low rainfall
=> reduced production levels if no irrigation
Languedoc
Top 6 grapes grown?
Dominated by red grapes:
- Carignan
- Syrah
- Grenache Noir
- Merlot
- Cab
- Cinsault
Carignan
Growing characteristics (3)
Treatment previously (2) vs now (3)?
Challenges (2) + response?
- late budding (avoids spring frosts)
- late ripening (needs warm climate)
- high yields (200+ hL/ha)
Previously: prized for high yields when vol. was focus
=> resulted in low concentration wines
Now: quality (high concentration) > volume
=> yields sharply reduced (EU vine pull scheme)
=> old vines = naturally lower yields
- prone to powdery mildew + grape moths
- bunches firmly attached to vines (bad for mech. harvest)
=> being replaced w/ other varieties
Carignan
Grape’s natural acidity + tannin + techniques to soften?
General characteristics of MAJORITY of wines?
General characteristics of MINORITY of wines?
- naturally high acidity + tannins
- these may be softened by carbonic or blending w/ other grapes
- *MAJORITY** = acceptable - good + inexpensive:
- typically unoaked
- medium ruby
- simple blackberry notes
- high acidity + tannins
- *MINORITY** = v. good - outstanding quality from v. old vines:
- intense black fruit w/ spice + earthy notes
- premium - super-premium
Languedoc
How + why have vines been HISTORICALLY (3) and more RECENTLY (3) trained / trellised?
What combo of factors (2) have affected this trend?
- *Historically** = bush vines (some remain)
- well adapted to warm climate (provides shade to bunches)
- requires more work by hand = higher labor $$
Recently = trellises have been more popular
- enables high degree of mechanisation
=> reduced costs
- reduced availability of labour
+ improvement in quality of machine harvesting
= contributions to increasing trend
Languedoc
INEXPENSIVE WINES: Typical fermentation (4) + maturation (1) choices and general style (1)?
Other fermentation method (1) + effects on style (2)?
Most wines in this category vs a few examples?
1 significant producer?
FERMENTATION:
- large concrete / stainless-steel tanks w/ cultured yeasts
=> ensures rapid + complete fermentation + consistency of style
- shorter maceration (5–7 days) limits extraction of tannins
- Mid-range temps = primary flavours
- *MATURATION**:
- stored for a few months in stainless steel / concrete tanks
- *STYLE**:
- simple wines for early drinking w/ medium tannins
-
Carbonic maceration commonly employed
=> fruity wines w/ medium - deep colour + low tannins
=> particularly pop. w/ tannic varieties, eg. Carignan - vast majority = simple, early drinking
- a few examples = high quality + ageable made w/ Carignan + Syrah
- eg. Château La Voulte Gasparets
Languedoc
Winemaking choices for higher quality, small production wines vs inexpensive, bulk wines (6)?
All these factors affect production costs how?
- more use of sorting tables
- fermentation at warmer temps
- more use of ambient yeast
- use of barriques for maturation
- experimentation w/ concrete tanks + eggs and large format oak
- wines intended to improve w/age in bottle
=> additional equipment (barriques, sorting table) + labor = $$
Languedoc
Importance of IGP wine production:
Why is IGP a popular choice among winemakers (3)?
How does this help them (3)?
Domestic vs export sales for IGP wine + top 3 export markets?
- represents nearly 70% of Languedoc production
- more flexible rules vs AOC
- higher max. yields: 90 hL/ha for white + red, 100 hL/ ha for rosé
- very wide range of varieties (58) permitted
- production levels per hectare = higher
- costs = lower
=> easy to produce large vol.s of inexpensive wine
50% of IGP wine sold in Fr. (supermarkets + hospitality)
Top 3 export markets:
1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. Belgium
1 division?
Languedoc
3 divisions of IGP wines + eg.s?
Breakdown of red / white / rosé?
Typical style (2) + quality and price point?
Top 4 grapes planted?
Other grapes (3)?
Regional, e.g. IGP Pays d’Oc (entire Languedoc-Roussillon)
Departmental, e.g. IGP Gard, (Gard = French administrative département)
smaller unit named after a historical or geographical feature: e.g. IGP Côtes de Thongue.
- IGP Pays d’Oc = biggest producer of IGP wine in France (10-15% of all Fr. wine production)
- ~50% red
~ 25/25 white/rosé - typically fresh, fruity expressions of variety
- little / no use of oak
- good - very good / inexpensive - medium-priced
Top 4 (over 50%): Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay + Syrah
Then other grapes, eg. Pinot Noir, Viognier, Carignan, etc…
Identify the appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon:
- Pic Saint-Loup
- Terrasses du Larzac
- Faugeres
- Muscat de Frontignan
- Picpoul de Pinet
- La Clape
- Corbieres-Boutenac
- Fitou
- Cotes du Roussillon-Villages
- Cotes du Roussillon
- Banyuls / Collioure
- Saint Chinian-Roquebrun
- Saint Chinian-Berlou
- Muscat de St Jean-de-Minervois
- Minervois La Liviniere
- Saint Chinian
- Cabardès
- Malpére
- Minervois
- Corbieres
- Maury
