Southern France Flashcards
What are the 3 broad vineyard areas in Southern France?
1) Languedoc
2) Rousillon
3) Provence
What is the climate of Southern France?
Warm Mediterranean
What are the:
1) Summer temperatures
2) Winters
3) Rainfall levels
1) 30°C +
2) Mild
3) Low
Which southern French vineyards are cooler:
- Foothills inland
- Coastal plains
Surprisingly, the foothill vineyards are noticeably cooler
What is the soil like in the foothills of Southern France?
2 points
- Well-drained
- Not too fertile
- What are the 2 biggest grape growing challenges in Southern France?
1) Drought
2) Occasional summer floods
What is not a problem in the vineyards of Southern France?
Fungal disease - it has the lowest incidence in France
Are the majority of plantings in Southern France of black or white grapes?
Black
What are Southern France’s 2 most important local black grapes?
- Grenache
- Syrah
Which climate in Southern France is best suited to:
1) Grenache
2) Syrah
1) Warm, dry sites
2) Cooler sites
Which Southern French variety:
- High tannins
- High acid
- Deep colour
- Can lack fruit and finesse
- Old vines with poor soil = quality wine
- High yielding
- Unfashionable
Carignan
Which Southern French grape is used in rosé production, or to add red fruit flavour to blends?
Cinsault
Which Southern French variety:
- Only ripens in the warmest sites
- Important in blends
- Adds richness, colour and complexity
Mourvèdre
What accounts for the vast majority of production in Provence?
Rosé
Which 2 black international varieties are often used in Southern French IGP wines?
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
What have many producers in Southern France invested in to improve wines?
(6 points)
1) Modern equipment
2) Improved cellar hygiene
3) Temperature control
4) Oxygen management
5) Use of new and old oak
6) Semi-carbonic maceration (especially to soften tannins in Carignan)
- Which grape is used for premium reds in Bandol AC?
- Why is it grown there?
- Mourvédre
- It can ripen successfully on the south-facing terraces
- What are the 2 most widely planted white grapes in Southern France? (Both for IGP wines)
- What has smaller but significant plantings?
1) Chardonnay
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Viognier
- What is the most important small AC in Provence?
- Where is it located?
- Bandol
- On the coast, east of Marseilles
What 2 types of wine is Muscat used to produce in Southern France?
1) Sweet fortified wines
2) Dry wines with grape aromas
What is the largest appellation in Provence?
Côtes de Provence
Which Southern French variety:
- Dry
- Soft peachy fruitiness
- Full body
- Low acidity
- Easily oxidised
- Often blended with local/Rhône varieties
Grenache Blanc
Which Southern French variety:
- High acidity
- Refreshing
- Green fruit and citrus
Picpoul
Which 2 grapes are native to Provence?
- Rolle
- Clairette
The vineyards of the départements of:
- Aude
- Hérault
- Gard
make up which region?
Languedoc
Which Southern French style:
- Very pale
- Light body
- Dry
- Grapefruit and red fruit
Provence rosé
The vineyards of the département of Pyrénées-Orientales are known as what region?
Roussillon
What lies between Béziers and Montpellier?
A large coastal plain
What are the inland vineyards in Southern France like close to the Spanish border?
Hilly and rugged
What is Languedoc?
A generic appellation covering the vineyards from the Spanish border to Nîmes
Where do geographically specific ACs such as Côtes du Roussillon and Minervois sit within the Southern French system?
- 2nd from the top, and they have their own individual regulations
What are 2 advantages of the varied landscape and prominent hills in Provence?
1) Protection from the Mistral
2) Great variety of climates and soils
Give an example of a sub-appellation in Southern France which has been recognised for its quality.
Minervois-la-Livinière
Give 2 reasons why Pays d’Oc wines are so successful.
1) IGP regulations permit a wide range of varieties and varietal labelling
2) Warm sunny climate produces a large volume of ripe and fruity wine which is easy to produce and thus excellent value for money
True or false:
Most Languedoc ACs permit red, white and rosé
True - the highest level of production is for red though
Which regional name covers all the départements that make up Languedoc-Roussillon?
Pays d’Oc
Where are the most IGP wines made in France?
Languedoc and Roussillon
What cools down Limoux?
Altitude
What sort of premium wine is produced in Limoux?
Oaked Chardonnay
What would you expect from premium Mourvèdre grown in warm areas of Languedoc?
(2 points)
- Full body
- Meaty, gamey flavours
What helps Picpoul de Pinet retain its naturally high acidity?
Cooling sea breezes
What would you expect from Syrah grown in a cool part of Languedoc?
(2 points)
- Finesse
- Light tannins
Which area of Languedoc is most consistently rugged and mountainous?
Côtes du Roussillon
Which 3 weather conditions produce concentrated wines in Languedoc?
- Bright sunlight
- Low rainfall
- Strong winds
What can wines from Languedoc’s best vineyards call themselves?
Côtes du Roussillon Villages
What are the 2 distinct geographical areas of Fitou (north of Côtes du Roussillon) and what style of wine does each produce?
1) Warm coastal strip - Full-bodied wines
2) Cool inland area at altitude - Light wines
Which 2 strong winds have an effect on Southern France, and where are they found?
1) The Mistral - The Rhône Valley
2) The Tramontane - The gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central
Are the Mistral and the Tramontane warming or cooling?
Cooling
Which Southern French wine:
- Dark
- Full body
- Powerful tannins
- Bottle age: bramble, meat and liquorice
Mourvèdre from Bandol AC
What are Southern France’s 2 most widely planted local white varieties?
- Muscat
- Grenache Blanc
Which local varieties of Southern France are grown in the following places:
1) Pinet
2) Limoux
3) Roussillon
4) Provence
5) Languedoc and Provence
1) Picpoul
2) Mauzac
3) Maccabeu
4) Rolle
5) Clairette
Who can add their names to the label alongside Languedoc AC?
The best sub-regions, e.g. Pic-St-Loup
What is the ‘quartet’ of red grapes in Languedoc?
1) Carignan
2) Grenache
3) Syrah
4) Mourvèdre
Why is it difficult to describe a typical wine from each AC of Languedoc?
(2 points)
- There are many possible variations in blends
- Many ACs cover large geographical areas with varying climatic and soil conditions
Minervois lies on the slopes of __________ .
The Massif Central
What is Minervois’ best sub-region?
La Livinière - it has its own AC
What 3 factors affect the quality of Minervois’ vineyards?
1) Altitude
2) Soil richness
3) Exposure to cooling influence of the Atlantic
How many sub-regions does Corbières have, and which is the best?
- 11
- Boutenac: it has its own AC
What are the 2 different geographical vineyard areas of Corbières like?
1) Warm sites near the coast
2) Sites at altitude, cooled by the Tramontane
