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WSET Level 3 Textbook > Southern France > Flashcards

Southern France Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 broad vineyard areas in Southern France?

A

1) Languedoc
2) Rousillon
3) Provence

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2
Q

What is the climate of Southern France?

A

Warm Mediterranean

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3
Q

What are the:

1) Summer temperatures
2) Winters
3) Rainfall levels

A

1) 30°C +
2) Mild
3) Low

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4
Q

Which southern French vineyards are cooler:

  • Foothills inland
  • Coastal plains
A

Surprisingly, the foothill vineyards are noticeably cooler

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5
Q

What is the soil like in the foothills of Southern France?

2 points

A
  • Well-drained

- Not too fertile

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6
Q
  • What are the 2 biggest grape growing challenges in Southern France?
A

1) Drought

2) Occasional summer floods

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7
Q

What is not a problem in the vineyards of Southern France?

A

Fungal disease - it has the lowest incidence in France

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8
Q

Are the majority of plantings in Southern France of black or white grapes?

A

Black

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9
Q

What are Southern France’s 2 most important local black grapes?

A
  • Grenache

- Syrah

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10
Q

Which climate in Southern France is best suited to:

1) Grenache
2) Syrah

A

1) Warm, dry sites

2) Cooler sites

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11
Q

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
A

Carignan

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12
Q

Which Southern French grape is used in rosé production, or to add red fruit flavour to blends?

A

Cinsault

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13
Q

Which Southern French variety:

  • Only ripens in the warmest sites
  • Important in blends
  • Adds richness, colour and complexity
A

Mourvèdre

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14
Q

What accounts for the vast majority of production in Provence?

A

Rosé

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15
Q

Which 2 black international varieties are often used in Southern French IGP wines?

A
  • Merlot

- Cabernet Sauvignon

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16
Q

What have many producers in Southern France invested in to improve wines?

(6 points)

A

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)

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17
Q
  • Which grape is used for premium reds in Bandol AC?

- Why is it grown there?

A
  • Mourvédre

- It can ripen successfully on the south-facing terraces

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18
Q
  • What are the 2 most widely planted white grapes in Southern France? (Both for IGP wines)
  • What has smaller but significant plantings?
A

1) Chardonnay
2) Sauvignon Blanc
3) Viognier

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19
Q
  • What is the most important small AC in Provence?

- Where is it located?

A
  • Bandol

- On the coast, east of Marseilles

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20
Q

What 2 types of wine is Muscat used to produce in Southern France?

A

1) Sweet fortified wines

2) Dry wines with grape aromas

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21
Q

What is the largest appellation in Provence?

A

Côtes de Provence

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22
Q

Which Southern French variety:

  • Dry
  • Soft peachy fruitiness
  • Full body
  • Low acidity
  • Easily oxidised
  • Often blended with local/Rhône varieties
A

Grenache Blanc

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23
Q

Which Southern French variety:

  • High acidity
  • Refreshing
  • Green fruit and citrus
A

Picpoul

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24
Q

Which 2 grapes are native to Provence?

A
  • Rolle

- Clairette

25
Q

The vineyards of the départements of:

  • Aude
  • Hérault
  • Gard

make up which region?

A

Languedoc

26
Q

Which Southern French style:

  • Very pale
  • Light body
  • Dry
  • Grapefruit and red fruit
A

Provence rosé

27
Q

The vineyards of the département of Pyrénées-Orientales are known as what region?

A

Roussillon

28
Q

What lies between Béziers and Montpellier?

A

A large coastal plain

29
Q

What are the inland vineyards in Southern France like close to the Spanish border?

A

Hilly and rugged

30
Q

What is Languedoc?

A

A generic appellation covering the vineyards from the Spanish border to Nîmes

31
Q

Where do geographically specific ACs such as Côtes du Roussillon and Minervois sit within the Southern French system?

A
  • 2nd from the top, and they have their own individual regulations
32
Q

What are 2 advantages of the varied landscape and prominent hills in Provence?

A

1) Protection from the Mistral

2) Great variety of climates and soils

33
Q

Give an example of a sub-appellation in Southern France which has been recognised for its quality.

A

Minervois-la-Livinière

34
Q

Give 2 reasons why Pays d’Oc wines are so successful.

A

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

35
Q

True or false:

Most Languedoc ACs permit red, white and rosé

A

True - the highest level of production is for red though

36
Q

Which regional name covers all the départements that make up Languedoc-Roussillon?

A

Pays d’Oc

37
Q

Where are the most IGP wines made in France?

A

Languedoc and Roussillon

38
Q

What cools down Limoux?

A

Altitude

39
Q

What sort of premium wine is produced in Limoux?

A

Oaked Chardonnay

40
Q

What would you expect from premium Mourvèdre grown in warm areas of Languedoc?

(2 points)

A
  • Full body

- Meaty, gamey flavours

41
Q

What helps Picpoul de Pinet retain its naturally high acidity?

A

Cooling sea breezes

42
Q

What would you expect from Syrah grown in a cool part of Languedoc?

(2 points)

A
  • Finesse

- Light tannins

43
Q

Which area of Languedoc is most consistently rugged and mountainous?

A

Côtes du Roussillon

44
Q

Which 3 weather conditions produce concentrated wines in Languedoc?

A
  • Bright sunlight
  • Low rainfall
  • Strong winds
45
Q

What can wines from Languedoc’s best vineyards call themselves?

A

Côtes du Roussillon Villages

46
Q

What are the 2 distinct geographical areas of Fitou (north of Côtes du Roussillon) and what style of wine does each produce?

A

1) Warm coastal strip - Full-bodied wines

2) Cool inland area at altitude - Light wines

47
Q

Which 2 strong winds have an effect on Southern France, and where are they found?

A

1) The Mistral - The Rhône Valley

2) The Tramontane - The gap between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central

48
Q

Are the Mistral and the Tramontane warming or cooling?

A

Cooling

49
Q

Which Southern French wine:

  • Dark
  • Full body
  • Powerful tannins
  • Bottle age: bramble, meat and liquorice
A

Mourvèdre from Bandol AC

50
Q

What are Southern France’s 2 most widely planted local white varieties?

A
  • Muscat

- Grenache Blanc

51
Q

Which local varieties of Southern France are grown in the following places:

1) Pinet
2) Limoux
3) Roussillon
4) Provence
5) Languedoc and Provence

A

1) Picpoul
2) Mauzac
3) Maccabeu
4) Rolle
5) Clairette

52
Q

Who can add their names to the label alongside Languedoc AC?

A

The best sub-regions, e.g. Pic-St-Loup

53
Q

What is the ‘quartet’ of red grapes in Languedoc?

A

1) Carignan
2) Grenache
3) Syrah
4) Mourvèdre

54
Q

Why is it difficult to describe a typical wine from each AC of Languedoc?

(2 points)

A
  • There are many possible variations in blends

- Many ACs cover large geographical areas with varying climatic and soil conditions

55
Q

Minervois lies on the slopes of __________ .

A

The Massif Central

56
Q

What is Minervois’ best sub-region?

A

La Livinière - it has its own AC

57
Q

What 3 factors affect the quality of Minervois’ vineyards?

A

1) Altitude
2) Soil richness
3) Exposure to cooling influence of the Atlantic

58
Q

How many sub-regions does Corbières have, and which is the best?

A
  • 11

- Boutenac: it has its own AC

59
Q

What are the 2 different geographical vineyard areas of Corbières like?

A

1) Warm sites near the coast

2) Sites at altitude, cooled by the Tramontane

WSET Level 3 Textbook (19 decks)

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