South West France

Question 1

Bergerac producers what kind of wines?

Answer 1

• Red
• Rose
• Dry and sweet white

Question 2

What white grapes are approved for use in Bergerac AOC?

Answer 2

• Semillon
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Sauvignon Gris
• Muscadelle
• Ugni Blanc
• Chenin Blanc
• Ondenc

Question 3

What black grapes are approved for use in Bergerac AOC?

Answer 3

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Malbec
• Cabernet Franc
• Fer Servadou
• Merille

Question 4

What wines are generally of higher quality between Bergerac AOC or Côtes de Bergerac AOC? Why?

Answer 4

Côtes de Bergerac AOC is generally considered to be of higher quality as they require lower yields and are only made from Bordeaux varieties

Question 5

Where are most of the wines of Bergerac sold?

Answer 5

90% of Bergerac wines are sold in France

• 50% in supermarkets
• 30% as direct sales
• 10% going to hospitality and specialist wine shops

Question 6

Name the type of wines produced in Monbazillac

Answer 6

Monbazillac only producers sweet white wines

Question 7

Name the principal grape variety of Cahors?

Answer 7

Malbec (this is the only region in all of France where Malbec is the principal variety)

Question 8

Malbec accounts for what percentage of the plantings in Cahors?

Answer 8

85%

Question 9

Does the Atlantic still affect Cahors?

Answer 9

Yes, while it is further inland, it can still be affected by the Atlantic Ocean

Question 10

How do the soils change in Cahors as you move up the slope, away from the river?

Answer 10

• The valleys floors have rich alluvial soils, generally making wines with less concentration, but higher yields
• The mid-slope has poorer soils, leading to lower yields and better concentration
• The plateau has low nutrient limestone soils, usually leading to greater concentration due to lower yields

Question 11

What river runs through Cahors?

Answer 11

The Lot River

Question 12

What types of pruning systems are used in Cahors?

Answer 12

• Single Guyot (most common)
• Bush
• Cordon Trained

Question 13

Which is more common in Cahors, hand harvest of machine harvest?

Answer 13

Machine is widely practiced on any land that can support it.

Hand Harvesting does take place, but there are many factors that can affect it (availability of labor, added cost to final wine, weather conditions, return on investment).

Question 14

Malbec is known as ___ in Cahors

Answer 14

Cot

Question 15

What are some of the precautions that Malbec growers/producers need to take?

Answer 15

• It is a very vigorous variety so it needs careful canopy and yield management depending on the style of wine
• It is susceptible to coulure, so keeping an eye out for that is important as well

Question 16

What are the other two grapes that are usually blended with Malbec in Cahors?

Answer 16

• Merlot

- Tannat

Question 17

What is something that seems odd, but required by the Cahors AOC?

Answer 17

De-stemming is required as a way to prevent underripe stems from adding aggressive tannins to the wine

Question 18

Name the 3 different voluntary code/labeling terms that producers in Cahors have started using

Answer 18

Tradition - inexpensive, 75-85% Malbec, often grown on the rich alluvial soils at higher yields

Prestige - mid-priced, often grown on the mid-slope. Lower yields and higher fruit concentration

Spéciale - often 100% Malbec, premium priced and often grown on the highest plateau. Low yields with great ageing potential

Question 19

How much of the wine produced in Cahors is sold domestically?

Answer 19

70%, mainly sold thru supermarkets or direct sales

Question 20

How much has the export market grown, and who are the biggest importers of Cahors?

Answer 20

• Exports rose from 10,000 hL in 1997, to 40,000 hL in 2017

- UK, Canada and USA

Question 21

Madiran AOC wines are high tannin red wines made primarily from what grape?

Answer 21

Tannat

Question 22

What is the name of the sweet white wine made in the same area as Madiran?

Answer 22

Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh (which is also the name of the AOC)

Question 23

How much rain falls in the Madiran AOC, and when does that rain come?

Answer 23

The Madiran AOC gets 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rain a year, which is a large amount. The rain usually falls in the late winter or spring.

Question 24

What are some of the moderating factors that helps ensure ripeness for the Tannat grapes in the Madiran AOC in most years?

Answer 24

• Warm summer days and dry autumns
• Warm days and cool nights
• The hot and dry summer Föhn wind

Question 25

Tannat is prone to develop which type of fungal rot?

Answer 25

Botrytis Bunch rot

Question 26

What are the blending requirements for Madiran wines?

Answer 26

60-80% Tannat, blended with Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Fer Servadou

Question 27

What are the two training systems used in Madiran?

Answer 27

• Cordon du Royat

- Any cane replacement system

Question 28

Grapes used to produce Madiran wines must be _____

Answer 28

Destemmed

Question 29

How much of the wine produced in Madiran is sold domestically?

Answer 29

80%; with 50% going to supermarkets, 25% through hospitality and the last 25% is split between DTC sales and specialist bottle shops

Question 30

Name the two significant producers, and the two largest co-ops in Madiran

Answer 30

• Alain Brumont
• Chateau d’Aydie
• Cave de Crouseilles
• Plaimont (Also the dominant producer in Saint-Mont)

Question 31

The Jurançon is know for producing what two kinds of wine?

Answer 31

Sweet (70%) and Dry (30%) white wines

Question 32

What are the three different styles produced in the Jurançon?

Answer 32

• Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (sweet)
• Jurançon (typically medium sweet)
• Jurançon Sec (dry)

Question 33

How much rain does the Jurançon usually receive in a year?

Answer 33

1200mm/47 inches

Question 34

Is the rain that the Jurançon receives usually all at once or spread throughout the year?

Answer 34

It is spread through out the year, so it can affect flowering, fruit set, and harvest

Question 35

Where is the Jurançon located?

Answer 35

In the foothills of the Pyrenees, meaning that many vineyards will be sloped. These sloped vineyards can help offset some of the water issues producers face throughout the year

Question 36

What is something that can increase the initial investment and maintenance for some vineyards in the Jurançon?

Answer 36

Some of the vineyards may be so steep that they require terracing

Question 37

Name the two main varieties grown in the Jurançon

Answer 37

• Gros Manseng

- Petit Manseng

Question 38

Is the Föhn wind a rare occurrence, or something that happens semi-frequently in the Jurançon?

Answer 38

During the spring and autumn, it usually happens about one out of 3 days

Question 39

What is the benefit of the Föhn wind for the grapes grown in the Jurançon?

Answer 39

It is a warm and drying wind, so it helps keep the disease pressure down while helping produce overripe grapes for the sweet wines

Question 40

The soils in the Jurançon are a mixture of ___________

Answer 40

Limestone, sand, clay and stone

Question 41

How is picking for sweet wines carried out in the Jurançon?

Answer 41

Usually in tries, or multiple passes through the vineyard.

Question 42

What does a typical harvest season look like in Jurançon?

Answer 42

• The first pass through the vineyards happen in October, and these grapes will turn into dry wines and sweet wines meant for early consumption
• The second and third passes through the vineyard are carried out from November thru December for progressively sweeter wines. These grapes are usually overripe and have dried on the vine

Question 43

What is passerillage?

Answer 43

The process where overripe grapes have been dried on the vine

Question 44

Grapes destined to become Jurançon Vendanges Tardives can not be picked before _______

Answer 44

November 2nd