South Of France Flashcards
Languedoc has high or low yields and why?
Low - lowest in France
Low rainfall, warm and windy climate- evapotranspiration
Languedoc climate
Mediterranean
Languedoc topography
Low lying alluvial plane
Some slopes
Languedoc produces large volumes of what kind of wine
IGP especially single variety
What % of production are co-ops in Languedoc?
60%
Cool wind in Languedoc called
Tramontane
What factors allow for an increase in certified organic producers in Languedoc?
Warm, dry, high sunshine, tramontane wind cools and dries vineyards
Carignan in S France hazards and features
Feature:
Buds late to a avoid frost
Ripens late - warm climate
High yielding
Hazards:
High yielding- low intensity
Not suited to machine harvest as bunches firm on vine
Carignan winemaking
High acid and tannin
Carbonic maceration or blending
Languedoc vineyard mgmt
Historically bush trained but moving towards trellis for mechanization
Languedoc IGP production is what %
70%
Pays d’Oc IGP
Produces 10-15% of all French wine
Fresh fruity examples
Top: Merlot, Cab, Chard, Syrah
50% sold in France
AOCs in Languedoc
Detail rules for varietal composition
Min 2 varieties- max %’s for true blends
All but Corbieres and Fitou use GSM - Carignan
Corbieres
Hilly - Tauch and D’Alaric mtns for altitude (cool) and cold N wind for acid
90% red
CGSM
Minervois
Range of climatic zones based in altitude and proximity to Mediterranean
GSM
Minervois La Liviniere
Red only
Limestone terrace up to 400m
Good drainage, sun exposure, cooling influence
Higher acid
GSM
Saint Chinian
Red/Rose mostly
GSM
North - fast draining soils for high concentrations (Roquebrun and Berlou)
South - clay/ limestone higher yields less concentrated