South of France & Languedoc Flashcards
1
Q
South of France is split into two categories:
A
- Languedoc: the départements of Aude, Hérault and Gard
- Roussillon: the département of Pyrénées-Orientales.
2
Q
Languedoc-Roussillon Overview
A
- With around 240,000 hectares under vine, Languedoc-Roussillon has more hectares under vine than the individual countries of Chile, Australia or South Africa 220,000 of these hectares are situated in the Languedoc.
- One common factor between these three regions is the low yields for AOC wines, due to low rainfall and a warm, windy climate (causing high rates of evapotranspiration).
- In a survey of yields for AOC wine in the decade 2005–2015, Languedoc-Roussillon had the lowest yields of all French regions, roughly half that of Champagne or Alsace.
3
Q
Languedoc Location & production
A
- The Languedoc is mainly located on a low-lying alluvial plain, though recently its more ambitious growers are reclaiming vineyards on hillside slopes with the intention of creating higher quality wines.
- Large volumes of wine are produced at IGP level in this region, especially those produced from, and labelled as, single varieties.
4
Q
Languedoc types of producers and history
A
- Co-operatives became very important in the region, especially in the 1950s when they accounted for 90 per cent of total production. Even today, they account for 70 per cent of the area’s production.
- Post 1973, once France no longer sourced wine from Algeria, Languedoc, together with Roussillon, became the largest source of everyday wine in France.
- Over-production in relation to demand led to the eventual removal of many vineyards; the total area under vine is half what it was in 1968.
- Today the production of inexpensive wine is accompanied by increasing attention to small production, high quality wines.
5
Q
Languedoc Climate
A
- The Languedoc’s Mediterranean climate, typically with high levels of sunshine, rainfall below 600 mm a year and very warm summers, is generally very favourable for grape growing.
- Low moisture levels and the cool, dry Tramontane north-west wind that blows for about 200 days per year mean that there is low disease pressure from fungal diseases, thus reducing the need for spraying and the consequent cost.
- This has also enabled the growth of certified organic wine production (Languedoc and Roussillon are responsible for one third of France’s organic production). However, in dry years very low rainfall can reduce production levels considerably where irrigation is not installed.
6
Q
Most grown varieties in Langedoc
A
- Carignan
- Syrah
- Grenache Noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cinsault
7
Q
Carignan Vine Characteristics
A
- Buds late (and may thereby avoid spring frosts)
- Ripens late (and therefore needs to be grown in a warm climate with a long ripening season).
- It can produce high yields (200 hL/ha and more), which made it popular in the past when the volume of production was the most sought-after characteristic. These wines frequently had low flavour intensity.
- To produce wines of high concentration, its yield has to be sharply reduced and this happens naturally when vines become old (for example 50 years and more).
- It is particularly prone powdery mildew and to grape moths.
- It is not particularly suited to mechanical harvesting as the bunches are firmly attached to the vine.
- The amount planted reduced significantly due to the EU vine pull scheme and it is being replaced with other varieties.
8
Q
Carignan Winemaking, style, quality, price
A
- Its grapes are high in acidity and tannins. Winemakers will often seek to soften these characteristics, for example, by using carbonic maceration or by blending with other varieties.
- The wines, other than those from very old vines, are typically unoaked, medium ruby in colour with simple blackberry fruit, high acidity and tannins.
- The great majority of wines are acceptable to good in quality and inexpensive in price. However, very good or outstanding quality examples have intense black fruit with spice and earthy notes and can attract premium and super-premium prices.
9
Q
Langedudoc Vineyard Management
A
- Historically vines were grown as bush vines and some of these remain. This form of pruning and training is well adapted to the climate (providing some shade to the bunches). However, most work has to be done by hand, which is expensive.
- In recent decades, many new vineyards have been planted with trellises, enabling a high degree of mechanisation, and thus reducing costs. (The reduced availability of labour and the improvement in the quality of machine harvesting have contributed to this trend.)
- IGP wines tend to be machine harvested, but AOC wines may also be machine harvested where the topography allows.
10
Q
Languedoc Winemaking
A
- For inexpensive wines, winemaking is carried out in large concrete or stainless-steel tanks and using cultured yeasts to ensure rapid
and complete fermentation and a consistency of style. - Most inexpensive red wines are made by crushing the grapes and fermenting them on the skins for 5–7 days to limit the extraction of tannins. Mid-range fermentation temperatures are used to preserve primary flavours and the wines are stored for a few months in stainless steel or concrete tanks. These wines are made for early drinking but, with medium tannins, they will hold for 2–3 years.
11
Q
Languedoc Winemaking Carbonic
A
- Carbonic maceration is also commonly employed to produce fruity wines with medium to deep colour and low tannins, particularly with tannic varieties such as Carignan.
- Again, mid- range fermentation temperatures are used to preserve primary flavours and the wines are stored for a few months in stainless steel or concrete tanks.
- The vast majority of these wines are made for early drinking. However, a number of examples of high quality and ageable wines are also made in this way, particularly with Carignan and Syrah
12
Q
Languedoc winemkaing (high quality wine)
A
- For high quality, small volume production, there is more use of sorting tables, fermentation at warm temperatures, more use of ambient yeast and of barriques for the maturation of
the wines. - The additional equipment required for these wines and the use of barriques or tonneaux for maturing the wines adds to the cost of production. These wines are intended to be capable of maturing in bottle.
- There is also experimentation with concrete tanks and eggs and large format oak vats.
13
Q
Languedoc IGP production,yields, varieties, business
A
- IGP represents nearly 70 per cent of the production in the Languedoc. The regulations are more flexible than for AOC (maximum yields of 90 hL/ha for white and red wines, 100 hL/ ha for rosé.) and a very wide range of varieties – a total of 58 – may be used.
- These higher yields mean that production levels per hectare are higher and costs lower, making the wines attractive in the inexpensive price band.
- The IGP category, especially the wines labelled with a grape variety, have been at the root of the region’s commercial success over the last three decades.
14
Q
In France there are three forms of IGP that can overlap:
A
- Regional, e.g. IGP Pays d’Oc, for the whole of the Languedoc-Roussillon region
- Departmental, e.g. IGP Gard, the Gard being a French administrative département
- A smaller unit named after a historical or geographical feature: e.g. IGP Côtes de Thongue.
15
Q
IGP Pays d’Oc overview,color of wines, styles, quality, and price
A
- by far the biggest producer of IGP wine in France. This single IGP produces between 10–15 per cent of all French wine depending on the vintage.
- By colour, just over half of the wines produced are red, a quarter white and just under a quarter rosé.
- The wines are typically fresh, fruity expressions of the variety being used with little or no use of oak.
- They are good to very good in quality and inexpensive to medium-priced.
16
Q
IGP Pays d’Oc Grape varieties and markets
A
- The top four grape varieties grown and mainly used for single variety wines are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah.
- Below the top seven, large volumes of Pinot Noir, Viognier, Marselan, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Blanc, Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains, Carignan, Colombard, Vermentino and Malbec are grown
- Half of the production of IGP Pays d’Oc is sold in France, mostly in supermarkets, but hospitality sales are also significant. The top three export markets are Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
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17
Q
AOC wine law and regulations overview
A
- Each appellation lists its principal grape varieties and other allowed grape varieties.
- In all cases, the Languedoc AOCs for red wine require a minimum of two varieties including one or more of the principal varieties.
- Most of them also give an upper limit for any one variety, meaning that all AOC wines are genuinely blends.
- The AOC may also set minimum and maximum amounts for a single variety or combinations of varieties.
- With the exception of Cabardès AOC and Malepère AOC, all the Languedoc appellations require the use of Grenache Noir in the blend and most require Syrah and Mourvèdre. In many appellations, these three varieties are the principal grape varieties.
- In Corbières AOC and Fitou AOC, Carignan is a principal grape variety and in nearly all other appellations it is an option.
18
Q
AOC wine law and regulations sub zones
A
- The rules for sub-zones can be different to the parent appellation. Thus, Saint-Chinian- Roquebrun AOC requires a higher total percentage of Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre than Saint-Chinian AOC does.
- Different percentages can be set for the varieties in the vineyard and in the final wine, allowing producers some flexibility.
- Unused grapes can be used for other wines. IGP wines or made as Vin de France.
