South of France Flashcards
Languedoc covers what (3) départements?
Aude
Hérault
Gard
Roussillon covers what département?
Pyrénées-Orientales
Languedoc-Roussillon land under vine? (and breakdown between Languedoc and Roussillon)
Overall 240,000ha
220k in Languedoc; 20k in Roussillon
Which French region has the lowest yields?
Languedoc-Roussillon
Half that of Champagne or Alsace
Languedoc topography
Mainly a low-lying alluvial plain
What infrastructure development transferred Languedoc-Roussillon fortunes? When?
Building of Canal du Midi, 17th century
Exports grew
Co-ops account for what % of Languedoc-Roussillon production
70%
it was 90% in the 1950s
Languedoc-Roussillon became largest source of everyday French wine after 1973. Why?
France no longer sourced wine from Algeria
Languedoc climate?
Mediterranean
Lots of sun
Rain below 600mm
Very warm summer
Wind in Languedoc? So what?
Cool, dry Tramontane wind North-west wind 200 days per year = low disease pressure = less need to spray = lower cost = more organic certification
Languedoc and Roussillon produce what % of France’s organic production?
33%
one third
Carignan buds early or late?
Buds late
Avoid spring frost
Carignan ripens early or late
Ripens late
Needs a warm climate and long ripening season
What sort of yields can Carignan do?
High up to 200hl/ha Popular when volume was the driver but low flavour intensity Needs much lower yields for quality wine
How does Carignan yield naturally get lower?
When vine gets old - 50 years or more
Is Carignan well suited to machine harvest?
Not particularly - bunches firmly attached to vine
Natural characteristics of Carignan grape?
High acid
High tannins
Winemakers seek to soften these characters = carbonic maceration, blending etc
Typical Carignan wine style
Unoaked Medium ruby Simple blackberry fruit High acid High tannin
High-end Carignan style
Intense black fruit, spice, earth
High tannin
High acid
Techniques in Languedoc for small, high quality reds
Sorting tables Warm ferment Ambient yeast Barriques = cost of production +
IGP represents what % of Languedoc production?
70%
Max yields for Languedoc IGP wines
Red and white: 90hl/ha
Rosé: 100hl/ha
IGP in Languedoc allows how many different grape varieties?
58
What category has driven Languedoc’s commercial success in last three decades?
IGP wines with a grape variety on label
Higher yields = lower cost = sharper pricing
Grape on label = consumer-friendly, compete with new world
What are the three types of French IGP?
Regional (IGP Pays d’Oc)
Departmental (IGP Gard)
Smaller unit named after a historical/geographical feature (IGP Cotes de Thongue)
What is France’s biggest IGP?
Pays d’Oc
Pays d’Oc IGP produces what % of ALL French wine?
10-15%, depending on the vitnage
IGP Pays d’Oc production breakdown by colour?
50% red
25% white
25% rosé
Top four single varietals used for IGP Pays d’Oc?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Syrah
Export/domestic split for IGP Pays d’Oc?
Domestic: 50% (supermarkets and hospitality)
Export: 50% (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium)
Red wine is typically what % of production in all Languedoc AOCs?
90%
Excludign AOCs dedicated to white wine
Are AOC wines in Languedoc blends?
Yes
Minimum of two grape varieties
Usually an upper limit of 80% of one grape
Typical yields for AOC wines in Languedoc?
Usually between 45-50hl/ha
each AOC sets its own
What is the regional AOC in Languedoc?
Languedoc AOC
Rules for Languedoc AOC
- Principal: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre
- Min two vareities including at least one of Principal
- Total combo of Principal must be at least 40%
- Other varieties (Cinsaut, Carignan, locals) cannot exceed 30%
Style of Languedoc AOC (Regional AOC)
Medium intensity Simply blackberry and red plum Medium tannin Medium acid Medium alc Medium body
Style of named AOCs in Languedoc (eg Corbieres)
Medium to medium (+) intensity Blackberry, red plum, herb Medium tannin Medium to medium (+) acid Medium to high alc Medium (+) to full body Minority: oak aromas
Style of sub-appellation AOCs in Languedoc (eg Corbieres-Boutenac AOC)
Medium (+) to pronounced
Medium (+) tannins
Some outstanding
Producer in Coerbieres AOC
Ch. de Fontareche
Topography
Hilly
2 mountain ranges: Tauch and D’alaric
slopes up to 450m
Cooling influence (altitude and wind) retain acidity
Land under vine in Corbieres AOC
10,000ha
4th-largest in France
What % of Corbieres AOC is red?
90%
(in line with most AOCs in Languedoc)
There is also white and rosé
Sub-AOC within Corbieres
Corbieres-Boutenac AOC
Domestic/export split of Corbieres AOC
70% domestic (mostly supermarket)
30% export (China, Germany and Belgium)
One thing to know about Minervois AOC
Range of climatic zones based on altitude and proximity to Mediterranean
Extensive appellation
Minervois La Liviniere AOC: what kind of wines
Red only
Terroir of Minervois La Liviniere
Limestone terrace, gentle slopes 400m
Very good drainage, sun exposure, cooling influence
= higher acidity
Saint-Chinian AOC usually broken down into what two sectors?
Northern zone and southern zone. North is better quality!
North: arid, fast-draining schist
= Low yields, high concentration
contains subzones Saint-Chinian Roquebrun and Saint-Chinian Berlout
South: clay and limestone
More water holding
High yields
Less concentration
What was the first AOC in the Languedoc? When?
Fitou AOC
1948