SOUTHERN FRANCE

Question 1

Which IGP produces a majority of French IGP wine and what area does it cover?

Answer 1

Pays d’Oc IGP, which produces 50 million cases/year and covers the entire Languedoc-Rousillon area

Question 2

What is the difference between the Pays d’Oc IGP and the Languedoc AOC?

Answer 2

Stricter standards, including use of grapes traditional to the region and limited to vineyards in Herault, La Clape, and Quatourze.

Question 3

What are the approved red/white grape varieties for Languedoc AOC?

Answer 3

Red: GSM, Cinsault, Carignan. White: Piquepoul Blanc varieties; Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino (among others)

Question 4

How many subregions in Languedoc AOC and how are they broken down by wine type?

Answer 4

10; 1 red-only (Terrasses du Larzac), 2 white-only (Clairette du Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet) 3 R/W/R (Corbieres, Minervois, St.-Chinian), 1 R/W (Limoux), and 3 R/R (Cabardes, Malepere, and Pic St.-Loup).

Question 5

How many communal AOCs in Languedoc?

Answer 5

Five: Corbieres-Boutenac, Faugeres, Fitou, La Clape, and Minervois La Liviniere)

Question 6

How many sweet/sparkling AOCs in Languedoc

Answer 6

4 sweet (Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de Lunel. Muscat de Mireval, Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois and 3 sparkling (Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant de Limoux, and Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale).

Question 7

How many IGPs in Southern France?

Answer 7

19; 3 Departmental IGPs (Aude, Gard, Pays d’Herault) and 16 with Historic, Heritage or Nature Preserve/Park affiliations).

Question 8

How many AOCs in Roussillon?

Answer 8

4: Collioure, Maury (sec), Cotes du Roussillon, and Cotes du Roussillon Village (6 subregions)

Question 9

How many Vin Doux Naturel AOCs in Rousillon?

Answer 9

Five:
Banyuls (Ambré, Tuilé, Hors d’Age, Rancio, Blanc, Rimage, Rosé)
Banyuls Grand Cru (Tuilé)
Maury (Ambré, Tuilé, Hors d’Age, Rancio, Blanc, Grenat)
Muscat de Rivesaltes (white)
Rivesaltes (Ambré, Tuilé, Hors d’Age, Rancio, Grenat, Rosé)

Question 10

How many IGPs in Roussillon?

Answer 10

2: Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille

Question 11

What is unique about Rousillon?

Answer 11

It is protected by mountains on 3 sides, is a leading producer of fortified sweet wine and has the largest percentage of organic/biodynamic vineyards in France.

Question 12

What is the oldest purposefully-produced sparkling wine in France and what grape is used?

Answer 12

Limoux Methode Ancestrale, based on Mauzac grape

Question 13

What area is known as “the birthplace of French wine”?

Answer 13

Provence, dating back to 600 BCE

Question 14

What is unique about Provence’s production?

Answer 14

~90% is rose; it produces 40% of all rose wine in France

Question 15

How many AOCs in Provence?

Answer 15

9: Bandol, Bellet, Cassis, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence, Cotes de Provence, Les Baux-de-Provence, Palette, Pierrevert

Question 16

How many subregions in Cotes de Provence?

Answer 16

5: Sainte-Victoire, Frejus, La Londe, Pierrefeu, Notre-Dame des Anges

Question 17

Which villages in Cotes du Rousillon (north of Tet river) can attach their name to this label?

Answer 17

Caramany, Latour de France, Lesquerde and Tautavel

Question 18

What is the primary grape (historically) in Cotes du Rousillon Village and what soil type is it famous for?

Answer 18

1) Carignan (more Syrah and Grenache)
2) Granite

Question 19

What is the fifth Cotes du Rousillon Villages area that is south of the Tet river?

Answer 19

Les Aspres

Question 20

What are the 5 IGP regions surrounding the city Of Beziers?

Answer 20

Cotes de Thau, Cotes de Thongue, Coteaux d’Enserune, Coteaux de Beziers, Coteaux de Narbonne

Question 21

What are the 8 sub-IGPs within IGP Herault?

Answer 21

Cotes de Thau, Cotes de Thongue, Coteaux d’Enserune, Coteaux de Beziers, Coteaux de Narbonne, Haute Vallee de l’Orb, Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, Vicomte d’Aumelas

Question 22

Where are Malepere and Cabrades AOCs located and what is unique about them?

Answer 22

Locates South and North (respectively) of the Aude river in Eastern Languedoc.
Known for a unique blend of both Bordeaux and Languedoc red varietals

Question 23

Where is the Minervois AOC located and what are its borders

Answer 23

Western Languedoc.
Bordered by Carcassone (West), Aude river (South), Saint Chinian AOC (NE) and the Central Massif mountains (North)

Question 24

How does the Minervois la Liviniere AOC differe from Minervois AOC?

Answer 24

Uses more Carignan/Cinsault (40%) max then GSM (60%) max. Minervois must be 50% GSM/Carignan Cinsault, but can be a max of 80% of any one of these varieties

Question 25

Where is the Picpoul de Pinet AOC and why is it unique?

Answer 25

In Languedoc Between Montpellier and Bezier.
Unique because its eastern boundary is a lagoon (Étang de Thau) and it is named after Picpoul (“stings the lip”), the only grape used in the AOC.
The ancient Roman road the Via Domitienne (now the A9) also bisects the AOC

Question 26

How many terroirs can append their name to the Languedoc AOC and what are their names?

Answer 26

8
Terrasses de Montpellier, Terrasses de Beziers, Terres de Sommieres
Costieres de Pomerol, Pézenas/,Cabrières, Quatourze, Saint-Saturnin

Question 27

Where is Corbieres-Boutenac and what is unique about its location?

Answer 27

It is located between the Nielle and Orbieu rivers, clustered around an elevated ridge of limestone.
GSM and 30-50% Carignan

Question 28

Which of the 15 “terroirs” of Languedoc lies withnin the Terrasses du Larzac AOC?

Answer 28

Montpeyroux

Question 29

What are the four subzones (terroris/communes) within the Gres de Montpellier AOC that can append their name to the AOC?

Answer 29

La Méjanelle
Saint-Christol
Saint-Drézéry
Saint-Georges-d’Orques