Southern France

Question 1

St. Chinian

Answer 1

Located in the middle of Languedoc Roussillon. A great many readily available wines of Saint Chinian use lighter varieties such as Carignan, Grenache and Cinsault.

Question 2

Faugères

Answer 2

Located very close to Saint Chinian. Faugères is in the hills off the coast with a high percentage of schist soils; perfect for aromatic reds such as Grenache.

Question 3

Picpoul de Pinet

Answer 3

A white wine appellation produced with the regional zesty white wine variety, Picpoul. Perfect with oysters.

Question 4

Corbières

Answer 4

Fruity and juicy red wines use Carignan, Syrah and Grenache. Think easy going, like a mid-week Merlot.

Question 5

Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux

Answer 5

Fantastic value-driven sparkling wines made in the same style as Champagne.

Question 6

Bergerac

Answer 6

Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec

Question 7

Monbazillac

Answer 7

sweet region of Bergerac AOC. botrytis-affected Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Question 8

Pecharment

Answer 8

East of Bergerac: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec

Question 9

Fitou

Location

Grapes

Answer 9

South east France, below corbieres, above Maury and Rivesaltes,

Carignan and Grenache. Together this pair must constitute at least 60% of the blend. The remainder is typically made up from Mourvedre and Syrah, which must each be represented to the tune of at least 10%

Question 10

Madiran

bottom left of France

Answer 10

Tannat grapes must make up between 60% and 80% of any wine bearing the Madiran appellation. The remaining portion can be made up with any combination of the Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (also known as Bouchy) and a little-known Gascon variety, Fer Servadou (known here as Pinenc).

Question 11

corbieres

Grapes

Location

Answer 11

Red: rich, herbal wines of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan.

Rosé: same red varieties, combined with Grenache Gris and Picpoul.

White: Wide selection of varieties – most notably Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Marsanne and Roussanne.

South-east corner France

Question 12

IGP Comte Tolosan

South-west Vin De Pays

Answer 12

Petit Manseng, Colombard, Tannat and Cot (Malbec) Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Question 13

VDP d’Oc (Languedoc-Roussillon)

Answer 13

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The traditional Rhône grapes of Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Viognier are also prominent.

Question 14

VDP Portes de Mediterranee (Provence and Corsica)

Answer 14

(Grenache , Cabernet , Merlot , Syrah , Viognier , Chardonnay , Caladoc and Marselan)

Question 15

Cote de Provence regions:
Saint-Victoire
La Londe
Fréjus
Pierrefeu

Answer 15

Saint-Victoire - reds and rosés
La Londe- Cinsault and Grenache Rosé.
Fréjus - volcanic vineyards Tibouron, 6 months in oak
Pierrefeu - Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. home to wild fennel and Garrigue,

Question 16

Coteaux d’Aix en Provence

Answer 16

Rosé is king and is usually a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Syrah and Counoise. Cabernet Sauvignon is grown here too.

Question 17

Coteaux Varois de Provence

cool heart of provence

Answer 17

Cooler, higher region. Rosés from Cinsualt, Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah with whites dominated by Rolle

Question 18

Les Baux de Provence

Answer 18

predominantly red wines, with Granache, Syrah, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon

Question 19

Cassis

Location

Grapes/styles

Answer 19

Marsanne is the main grape, along with Clairette, so the wines have wonderful elegance and intense aromas of citrus, peach, honey and dried herbs. Many say you can even taste the salt of the nearby sea!

Provence sub-region

Question 20

Bandol

Answer 20

Amazing whites from Clairette blended with Ugni Blanc or Bourbouenc, and structured, flavorful rose but its signature wines are the rich, intense, red wines made with up to 95% Mourvedre and aged in oak for at least 18 months

Question 21

Palette

Answer 21

Mourvedre -main varietal in both rosé and red along with Cinsault, Grenache, unusual grapes like Castet, Muscat de Hamburg, Petit Brun, and Téoulier. Mandatory 18 months in oak, similar style to Bandol.
Whites 37% of production, often a blend of Clairette Blanche, Picardan, Bourboulenc and unusual grapes like Panse Muscade, Terret Gris, Piquepoul Blanc, and Aragnan! Both white and rosé wines must be aged at least 8 months prior to release.

Question 22

Bellet

Answer 22

dominant white varietal is Rolle (Vermentino) and it’s the only AOC in Provence that is allowed to use Chardonnay. Red and Rosé are mostly made with Braquet and Folle Noire. Rosé from Bellet has a distinctive aroma of rose petals!

Question 23

Pierrevert

Newest, north-est appellation

Answer 23

Red blends of Grenache and Syrah with perhaps some Cinsault and Carignan, and whites such as Grenache Blanc, Rolle (Vermentino), Roussanne and Marsanne. Rosé is a big deal here, made from the same varietals as the reds but it differs from the other parts of Provence. The rules of the area dictate that a minimum of 50% of the wine must be made in the ‘saignée’ method, the only place where this technique is allowed.

Question 24

Minervois

Location

Grapes/styles

Answer 24

Location: immediately west of St. Chinnian, inland of South-east French coast

GSM blends,

Whites: marsanne rousanne rolle and Grenache blanc