South West France Flashcards
Which of the following wine producing areas lies within the Dordogne region?
Bergerac
Monbazillac
Red Bergerac AOC wines must be made from at least two of the permitted varieties in the region and these varieties must make up at least 50% of the final blend. Which varieties must make up that 50%?
Malbec
Merlot
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
What % of Bergerac is sold domestically?
90%
90% of all Bergerac AOC wines are sold in France. What is the % breakdown to Supermarkets, Direct Sales, and Hospitality/Specialist Wine Shoppes?
50% = Supermarkets
30% = Direct Sales
10% = Hospitality & Specialist Wine Shops
Monbazillac AOC only produces sweet wines. Via which production processes are these wines produced?
Late harvest
Botrytis bunch rot
How does the winemaking of Monbazillac wine differ from Sauternes?
They are not fermented in oak which saves cost
Monbazillac AOC wines must be an 80% blend of which principal grape varieties permitted in the region?
Sauvignon Gris
Sauvignon Blanc
Muscadelle
Semillon
Cahors is unique in France as its grape growing is based on a principal grape variety that’s different to all other regions. Which grape variety is this?
Malbec
By what other name is Malbec known in Cahors?
Cot
What is the color, aroma intensity, aroma/flavor, acid, tannin & quality of Cahors?
deep ruby
medium to pronounced aroma
floral/violet
med to med+ acid
high tannin
good to outstanding
What grapes must make up the blend of Cahors?
70% Malbec
with Merlot & Tannat blended in
Are wines in Cahors whole bunch or destemmed?
destemmed, to elminate underripe stems that could add aggressive tannin
What are the voluntary codes used on bottles of Cahors wines to indicate quality and price.
Tradition
Prestige
Speciale
What is the price, grape, soil and yield for Cahors Tradtion?
inexpensive
70-85% Malbec
grown on rich, alluvial soils
high yields/low fruit concentration
What is the price for Cahors Prestige and where are they grown?
mid-priced
mid-slope
What is the grape and price for Cahors Speciale and where are they grown?
100% Malbec
premium price
highest plateau
What is the name of the late-harvest sweet wine made in Madiran AOC?
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh
What is the weather in Madiran?
warm, sunny summers
dry autumns
some atlantic influence
rainy winter and spring
What wind warms the Madiran region?
Fohn
What grape does well in Madiran due to the warm, sunny conditions?
Tannat
What vine training systems are frequently used in Madiran?
Replacement cane
Cordon du Royat
Which technique was pioneered in 1991 by Patrick Ducournau, in an attempt to soften the tannins in Madiran’s Tannat wines?
Micro-oxygenation
When can wines from Madiran AOC legally be released?
From the beginning of the November in the year following the harvest.
What are the three biggest export markets for Madiran AOC wines?
Belgium
UK
Germany
Which mountain range has a significant impact on the vineyards of Jurançon?
Pyrenees
How is the Föhn wind is beneficial to the production of sweet wines in Jurançon?
It helps dry the grapes and boost temps.
The wind is warm and blows frequently throughout the spring and autumn. This ventilates the canopy, moving the air around and protecting the berries against rot/diseases etc. which is important for passerillage as the berries need to be clean.
The warm wind also boosts temperature, therefore helping to further ripen the fruit. This boosts sugar levels to levels required for sweet wines.
Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng are both early budding, highly aromatic, with thick skins and high acidity. Which one of them provides higher yields?
Gros Manseng
How many IGP wines are in South West France?
14
What is the largest IGP in South West France?
Cotes de Gascogne
What grapes are used in the production of white Cotes de Gascogne?
Colombard
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
