Southern France

Question 1

What is the climate in Southern France?

Answer 1

Warm, Mediterranean with low rainfall during growing season

Question 2

What are the two winds called that cool Southern France?

Answer 2

Mistral

Tramontane

Question 3

What are the two main natural risks here?

Answer 3

Drought

Summer floods

Question 4

What are the 7 black grapes of relevance in Sth France?

Answer 4

Grenache
Syrah
Carignan
Cinsault
Mourvedre
Merlot 
Cabernet Sauvignon (some)

Question 5

What winemaking process is commonly used to soften Carignan’s high tannins?

Answer 5

Semi-carbonic maceration

Question 6

Why is Carignan widely planted in Southern France?

Answer 6

Originally planted due to it’s ability to produce enormous yields

Question 7

Which sites does Syrah do best in in Southern France?

Answer 7

Cooler ones

Question 8

What does Cinsault contribute to blends?

Answer 8

Red fruit

Question 9

Mouvedre does best in which sites? What does it contribute to blends?

Answer 9

Warmest

Richness, colour and complexity

Question 10

What class of wines are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot mainly used for here?

Answer 10

IGP wines

Question 11

What is the name of the large generic appellation that covers all appellation vineyards from Spain to Nimes?

Answer 11

Languedoc

Question 12

Which sub-regions can put their names next to the generic appellation ‘Languedoc AC’?

Answer 12

The best ones

Question 13

What are the 6 examples of sub-regions with their own appellations that sit above Languedoc AC?

Answer 13

Cotes du Roussillon
Cotes du Roussillon Villages
Fitou
Corbieres
Minervois
Picpoul de Pinet

Question 14

Which smaller ACs are more rugged and mountainous with low rainfall and cold winds?

Answer 14

Cotes du Roussillon and Cotes du Roussillon Villages

Question 15

Which smaller AC is split into a coastal strip and a cooler inland area at altitude?

Answer 15

Fitou

Question 16

Which of the small AC’s is broken into 11 subregions and is cooled by altitude and the tramontane inland?

Answer 16

Corbieres

warm towards the coast

Question 17

Which AC lies on the slopes of the Massif Central and has been subdivided?

Answer 17

Minervois

Question 18

Which AC is most notably cooled by seas breezes?

Answer 18

Picpoul de Pinet

Question 19

What is the name of the large, sunny regional area in which many IGP wines are produced?

Answer 19

Pays d’Oc

Question 20

Which winds do ranges of hills protect Provence from?

Answer 20

Mistral

Question 21

What is the largest appellation in Provence?

Answer 21

Cotes de Provence

Question 22

How many small individual ACs on the coast in Provence? Which of these is most important?

Answer 22

3

Bandol

Question 23

What grape is most important in Bandol?

Answer 23

Mourvedre

Question 24

Why can Mourvedre ripen reliably in Bandol?

Answer 24

South facing, terraced slopes

Question 25

Describe Bandol wines. (colour, body, tannin)

Answer 25

deep, full, high (powerful)

Question 26

What kind of ageing is important when talking about Bandol? What characteristics does this bring?

Answer 26

Bandol wines require bottle-age to show full spectrum of bramble, meat and liquorice-spice flavours