Southern France Flashcards
Name the three broad areas of Southern France.
Languedoc, Roussillon (both to the west of Rhone), and Provence to the east of Rhone. All lie along the mediterranean Coast from Italy in the East to Spanish border in the west. Prevalence of local IGP, Pays d’Oc, for the wines of Languedoc and Roussillon, alongside a number of more traditional appellations means that a great diversity of wine styles can be found here.
Describe the climate and grape growing conditions in Southern France.
Warm Mediterranean climate with hot summers (>30C), mild winters, low rainfall levels especially during the growing season. Ideal conditions for growing grapes.
Vineyards planted inland in the foothills of the mountains surrounding the region are noticeable colder than those on the coastal plain, often have less fertile, well-drained soils that are better suited to quality viticulture. Strong winds can also have a significant impact on the climate. Cool dry winds blow from the north, cooling the eastern and western ends of the region. The mistral blows down the Rhone valley and the tramontane blows throuh the gap between the Massif Central and the Pyrenees.
Warm dry climate means that the biggest grape growing challenge is drought. Fungal diseases not as much a problem as the rest of France, but the region can experience summer floods.
Name the primary black varieties in the region.
Grenache and Syrah are the two most important. Grenache is well suited to the warm dry summer climate, Syrah better for the cooler areas.
Carignan is also widely grown, naturally high in tannin, acid, and colour, but lacks fruits or finesse (although old vine on new soil can produce quality wines). Produces large yields but plantings have been reduced significantly in recent years, but still widely planted as is permitted by AC regulations.
Cinsault, smaller amount of plantings, primarily used for Rose or to add red fruit flavours to red blends. Mourvedre can ripen successfully only in the warmest sites and is used for adding richness ,colour, and complexity to blends.
Other plantings of international varieties, such as Merlot and Cab Sauv, that are used in production of IGP.
Wine making involves modern equipment, improved cellar hygiene, temperature control, oxygen management, and the judicous use of new and old oak. Semi-carbonic maceration is practised by some producers as it can play an important role in softening the tannins in Carignan.
Describe the white varieties in the region.
Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc, which were not traditionally grown in the region, are now the two most widely planted, used in production of IGP.
There are smaller but still significant plantings of Viognier.
Most widely local planted varieties are Muscat and Grenache Blanc. Muscat for sweet fortified wines, but also for making dry wines with aromatic grapey aromas. Grenache Blanc makes dry wines that have a soft peachy fruitiness, full body, low acid, but tend to oxidise easily. Often blended with other local or Rhone varieties.
Other local varieties grown in the region that are prized in their specific locales: Piquepoul in Pinet, Mauzac in Limoux, Maccabeau in Roussillon, Rolle in Provence, and Clairette in Languedoc and Provence. Piquepoul is perhaps the best known, producing wines with refreshing high acidity and green fruit and citrus flavours.
Describe the broader regions of Languedoc and Roussillion.
Majority of wines come from the vineyards of the departements of Aude, Herault, and Gard tradiditionally known as Languedoc, where as the vineyards of the departement Pyrenees-Orientales are known as Roussillon. There is a large coastal plan area between Bezier and Montpellier, but further inland and towards the Spanish border the vineyards become more hilly and rugged.
Describe the generic appellation of Languedo.
Languedoc is the generic appellation that covers all the appellation vineyards from the Spanish border to Nimes. Above this, there is a more geographic specific appellations like Cotes du Roussillon and Minervois, which have their own specific regulations. Some even have been recognised for their quality and have tehir own sub-appellations now. The appellation system continues to evolve as the sub-regions of Languedoc apply for full AC status.
Most appellations permit the production of Rose, Red, and white. Majority are generally based on blends of Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and to a lesser extent Mourvedre. Very difficult to describe typical wine from each appellation, due to variation in blends but also broad geographical cover in different appellations with different climatic and soil conditions dominating in different zones.
Cooler areas produce wines with more finesse and lgihter tannins, often the best Syrahs. Warmer areas Mourvedre is at its best and wines have greater body, meaty, gamey flavours. In larger appellations, wines can often be a blend of these different styles. Best wines are full bodied and have concentrated spicy red fruit, often with oak flavours. Roses tend to be soft and fruity wines.
Describe the Cotes du Roussillon vineyards
More consistently rugged and mountainous than other areas of Languedoc, bright sunlight, low rainfull, and strong winds can produce concentrated wines. The best vineyards are in the north and qualify for Cotes du Roussillon Villages.
Describe the Fitou appellation
Fitou just to the north of Cotes du Roussillon Villages, is split into 2 areas: a warm coastal strip that produces full bodied wines and another cooler area inland at altitude where lighter wines predominate.
Describe the Corbieres appellation
Corbieres covers warm sites near the coast and vineyards planted at altitude that are cooled by the tramontane. It has been subdivided into 11 sub-regions, the best of which, Boutenac, has its own AC.
Describe the Minervois appellation.
Minervois lies on the slopes of the Massif Central. The vienyards do not reach the coast but vary in their qualities due to altitude, the richness of the soil, and the extent of their exposure to the cooling influences from the Atlantic. It too is subdivided and the best sub-region, la Livinier has its own AC.
Describe the white variation in th eLanguedoc region.
Whites can vary dramatically (like the reds) depending on grape variety and location.
Picpoul de Pinet is near the coast, cooling sea breezes help to retain the natural high acidity of the Piquepoul Grape. By contrast, Limoux benefits from the cooling effects of alittude and is a source of premium oaked Chardonnay.
Describe IGP wines in Southern France
More IGP wines are made here than anywhere in France, vital for commercial survival of grape growing in south of France. Most are sold uner regional name of Pays d’Oc, covers all departements in Languedoc-Roussillon.
IGP regulation permits wider range of grape varieties, as well as varietal labelling, and the warm, sunny climate means that large volumes of ripe, fruity wines can be produced here relatively easily compared to other areas of France, and therefore many of the wines are excellent value for money.
Describe Provence region and Cotes de Provence appellation.
Landscape is varied and broken up by many prominent ranges of hills, which offer protection from the mistral, and great variety of different site climates and soils. Roses majority, pale in colour, light to medium bodied and dry on the palate, delicate flavours of red fruits. Red wines range from fresh and fruity to more full-bodied, barrel-matured styles. The best white wines are often made featuring aromatic qualities of Rolle or Clairette.
Cotes de Provence largest appellation in Provence. Roses majority of production. 3 isolated vineyards along the coast, each with individual AC. Most important is Bandol, located to the east of MArseille. Premium reds based on Mourvedres grape, ripen relaiably on the regions south facing terraced slopes. Dark, full-bodied wines with powerful tannins, require bottle age before they show their full spectrum of bramble, meat, and liquorice-spice flavours.
