South-West

Question 1

Describe the Bergerac AOC.

Answer 1

Dry white, rose, and red wine

White grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Rose grapes: Sauvignon Gris
Red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cot

All wines must be blends of at least 2 varieties

Part of the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region

Question 2

Describe the Cotes de Bergerac AOC.

Answer 2

Red and semi-sweet to sweet wines

White grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Rose grapes: Sauvignon Gris
Red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cot

White wines can be made in a wide range of sweetness levels, and the only regulation is that they are not dry

Red wines must be a blend of at least 2 varieties, and are generally aged in oak

All wines must have a higher minimum alcohol level than Bergerac AOC wines

Part of the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region

Question 3

Describe the Monbazillac AOC.

Answer 3

Sweet white and SGN wines

White grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Rose grapes: Sauvignon Gris

Wines are generally sweeter than Sauternes
Grapes must be hand harvested and may be late harvest and/or botrytized
SGN wines are usually made from botrytized grapes
Primary varieties must make up at least 80% of the blend

Part of the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region

Question 4

Describe the Saussignac AOC.

Answer 4

Sweet white wine only

White grapes: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle

Wine is a similar style to Monbazillac
Grapes may be late harvest and/or botrytized
Primary varieties must make up the majority of the blend

Part of the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region

Question 5

Describe the Fronton AOC.

Answer 5

Rose and red wine

Red grapes: Negrette

All wines must be at least 40% Negrette, although many are 100%

Part of the Garonne, Tarn, and Lot sub-region

Question 6

Describe the Gaillac AOC.

Answer 6

Wide array of wine styles

White grapes: Len de l’El, Mauzac Blanc, Muscadelle
Rose grapes: Mauzac Rose
Red grapes: Duras, Syrah, Fer Servadou

Wines are typically blends

Part of the Garonne, Tarn, and Lot sub-region

Question 7

Describe the Cahors AOC.

Answer 7

Red wine only

Red grapes: Cot

Wines must be at least 70% Cot
Cot is known locally as Auxerrois

The wines were historically known as black wines of Cahors, de to the deep color, concentration, and age worthiness

Part of the Garonne, Tarn, and Lot sub-region

Question 8

Describe the Madiran AOC.

Answer 8

Red wine only

Red grapes: Tannat

All wines must be at least 50% Tannat

Part of the Pyrenees sub-region

Question 9

Describe the Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC.

Answer 9

Dry white, sweet white

White grapes: Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Courbu, Petit Courbu

Wines must contain at least 2 grape varieties, with one being a primary grape listed above

Sweet wines are made by passerillage (raisining on the vine), NOT botrytized grapes

Same geographical area as Madiran

Wines labelled “Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh” are sweet
Wines labelled “Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec” are dry

Part of the Pyrenees sub-region

(“Pa-shu-rank du vick bill-uh”)

Question 10

Describe the Jurancon AOC.

Answer 10

Dry white, semi-sweet to sweet white, Vendanges Tardives white wine

White grapes: Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng

Wines labelled “Jurancon” are sweet
Wines labelled “Jurancon Sec” are dry

Part of the Pyrenees sub-region

Question 11

Describe the Irouleguy AOC.

Answer 11

Dry white, rose, and red wine

White grapes: Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Courbu, Petit Courbu
Red grapes: Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon

White wines must be a blend of at least 2 varieties
Red wines must contain a majority of Tannat and/or Cabernet Franc

Majority of production is red

Part of the Pyrenees sub-region

Question 12

Describe the Cotes de Gascogne IGP.

Answer 12

Dry white, rose, red, semi-sweet to sweet white wine

White grapes: Chardonnay, Colombard, Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni Blanc
Rose grapes: Sauvinon Gris, Clairette Rose, Pinot Gris, Mauzac Rose
Red grapes: Cabnernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tannat

Production is 75% dry white

Shares the same production area as Armagnac

One of the largest IGPs in France. Second to Pays d’Oc IGP in production volume.

Part of the Pyrenees sub-region

Question 13

What is “boulbene”?

Answer 13

Sandy clay soils found in the South-West AOCs of Fronton and Buzet

Question 14

What is the methode gaillacoise?

Answer 14

A term used in Gaillac to indicate a sparkling wine made using the ancestral method

Question 15

What is “passerillage”?

Answer 15

The act of twisting the stalks of grape bunches in order to stop the flow of sap
This desiccates the grapes on the vine

Question 16

What are the 2 styles of sweet wines made in Gaillac?

Answer 16

Vendanges Tardives
Doux

Question 17

What are the 3 styles of sparkling wine made in the Gaillac AOC?

Answer 17

Gaillac methode ancestrale
Traditional method
Blanc sec perle

Question 18

Gaillac Primeur wines are made using what vinification technique?

Answer 18

Semi-carbonic maceration

Question 19

What is “moelleux”?

Answer 19

Semi-sweet wines made from late-harvest grapes with or without botrytis

Question 20

What is “liquoreux”?

Answer 20

Sweet wines made from botrytized grapes

Question 21

What is micro-oxygenation?

Answer 21

A technique to tame tannins

Minute amounts of oxygen are bubbled through must or the wine

Question 22

Describe the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region.

Answer 22

Considered an extension of Bordeaux

Mainly produces Merlot-dominated red wines and Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon-dominated white wines

Rose grapes can be vinified as white wines

Most famous AOCs are Bergerac and Monbazillac

Question 23

Describe the Garonne, Tarn, and Lot sub-region.

Answer 23

Most spread-out sub-region of SW France

Most famous AOCs are Cahors and Gaillac

Question 24

Describe the Pyrenees sub-region.

Answer 24

North of the Pyrenees mountains, on the border with Spain

Vineyards are planted in mountain foothills, next to rivers

Most famous AOCs are Madiran and Jurancon