Southern France Flashcards
What is the climate of southern France?
Mediterranean
- summer temperatures often over 30C, mild winters and low rainfall
- cooler inland where the land rises
- northern winds at either end of the region, the mistral and the tramontane
- drought a problem but fungal disease not really one
What is the tramontane?
Northern wind that blows through gap between Massif Central and the Pyrenees and cools western end of the southern region.
What type of grapes do you get in southern France?
The majority are black.
Local varieties.
But now plenty of international varieties.
Talk about black varieties in Southern France.
Grenache - well suited to warm dry summer climate.
Syrah - performs better in the cooler sites.
Carignan - widely planted - allowed by all AC regulations
Cinsault - smaller plantings - used to add red fruit in blends and for rosé.
Mourvèdre - needs the warmest sites to ripen fully. Plays important role in blends.
Talk about Carignan in Southern France.
Widely popular in past due to its huge yields.
- much now grubbed up
- high in tannin
- high in acidity
- high in colour
But can lack fruit or finesse.
- old vine Carignan on poor soil can produce quality wine.
so widely planted still that all AC regulations allow it.
Semi-carbonic maceration used by some producers to soften its tannins.
Talk about white varieties in Southern France.
Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc the two most widely planted - this is comparatively new.
Viognier - smaller plantings of this.
Muscat and Grenache Blanc the most widely planted local white varieties.
Other local white varieties and their areas:
- Picpoul in Pinet
- Mauzac in Limoux
- Maccabeu in Roussillon
- Rolle in Provence
- Clairette in Languedoc
Talk about Provence.
Varied landscape with different sites and climates
- having protection from the mistral important
Rosé is the vast majority of production
- very pale
- light-bodied and dry
- delicate flavours of grapefruit and red fruits
Red wines range from light to full.
Best whites make feature of aromatic qualities of Rolle or Clairette.
Bandol is an AC within Provence. Produces premium reds based on Mouvèdre
- dark, full-bodied wines with powerful tannins
- bottle age allows them to show full spectrum of bramble, meat and liquorice-spice flavours.
Talk about Fitou.
To north of Côtes du Roussillon Villages
- has two separate areas, one cool, inland and at altitude producing light wines, the other coastal and warm producing fuller bodied wines
How many sub-regions are there in Corbères?
11
Where is Minervois? Talk about it.
Western Languedoc. On slopes of Masif Central. Not coastal.
- has been upgrading its quality for 40 years
- Mouverdre and/or Syrah must account for 20% of blend.
- Grenache and/or Lladoner Peut must be at least 60%
For whites Bourboulenc Rolle (Vermentino) Maccabeo Roussanne Marsanne Grenache Blanc are used in various combinations.
Bourblanc and Rolle suited to south eastern part of appellation closest to Mediterranean.
Marsanne and Grenache Blanc perform best in western part with most Atlantic influence.
What is La Livinière?
Minervois-La Livinière. An AC which is the best subdivision of Minervois.
- in hilly north of Minervois
- 244 hectares
- Syrah and/or Mourvèdre must make up at least 40% of blend (for rest of Minervois need on be 20%).
What is Pays d’Oc wine ?
IGP wine from all the départements which make up Languedoc-Roussillon.
- wide range of grape varieties
- varietal labelling allowed
- more IGP wine made in Languedoc-Roussillon than any other region of France
What are the five climate zones of Minervois?
- Les Côtes Noires in far north west - on the coolest, most Atlantic-influenced foothills of the Montagne Noir
- La Clamoux - alluvial terraces and flatter land to south west towards Carcassonne.
- La Zone Centrale - in middle, at around 400 m.
- La Causse - north east, dry and or soil, yields low
- Les Serres - south east, warmest and most Mediterranean.
Talk about La Clape.
Named Terroir in Languedoc AOC
- clay-limestone slopes
- used to be an island, now a small mountain just south of Narbonne
- Bourboulenc makes up 40% of its iodine-scented white wines (along with Grenache Blanc and a little Viognier)
- most wine produced is red though, and could be taken for maritime Corbieres
Talk about Picpoul de Pinet.
Languedoc AOC since 2013
- ‘son terroir c’est le mer’ say the advertising hoardings at Sète and Béziers
Was decreed that Piquepoul (meaning ‘lip-stinger’) be used for the name of the variety
- is tolerant of sand
- 2,400 hectares between Pézenas and Bassin de Thau
- green-gold, full-bodied, lemon flavoured white wine
- the co-operative at Pinet is the dominant producer
