Southwest France Flashcards

1
Q

What three grape varieties are used to make the sweet wines of Saussignac, Rosette and Monbazillac AOC?

A

Sémillon, Savignon Blanc and Muscadelle

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2
Q

What Southwest growing area lies in a rain shadow?

A

The Pyrenean foothills

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3
Q

The term liquoreux refers to:

A

Sweet wines made from botrytized grapes

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4
Q

What grape variety is used to make Gaillac Primeur?

A

Gamay

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5
Q

What grape variety is most associated with the Cahors AOC?

A

Malbec

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6
Q

The Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC overlaps which appellation?

A

The Madiran AOC

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7
Q

Braucol, Mansoi and Pinenc are all synonyms for what grape variety?

A

Fer Servadou

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8
Q

What is the name of the river that runs through Gaillac?

A

The Tarn

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9
Q

What Southwest AOC makes wines mainly from Tannat?

A

Madiran

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10
Q

“Méthode Gaillacoise” refers to :

A

This is a term used in Gaillac to indicate a sparking wine made using the ancestral method

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11
Q

What Southwest AOC makes sparking wine using the ancestral method?

A

The Gaillac AOC

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12
Q

What is the name of the river that runs through Bergerac?

A

The Dordogne

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13
Q

What style of wine is produced in the Jurançon AOC?

A

White wines based on Gos and Petit Manseng

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14
Q

What Southwest AOC is located within French Basque country?

A

The Irouléguy AOC

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15
Q

What style of wine is made in the Saussignac, Rosette and Monbazillac AOCs?

A

All three appellations make sweet whites

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16
Q

Côt is a synonym for what other grape variety?

A

Malbec

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17
Q

All AOCs in the Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region make white wine except:

A

Bergerac AOC (red and rosé) and Pecharmant AOC (red only)

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18
Q

In the Southwest, Cabernet Franc is also known as:

A

Bouchy

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19
Q

What is the name of the river that runs through the Cahors AOC?

A

The Lot

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20
Q

What Southwest sub-region produces wines the closest in style to those of Bordeaux?

A

Dordogne/Bergerac

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21
Q

Where was Micro-oxygenation invented?

A

The Madiran AOC in the Southwest

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22
Q

The term moelleux refers to:

A

Semi-sweet wines made from late-harvest grapes with or without botrytis

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23
Q

What Southwest AOC is most associated with the Len de l’el variety?

A

The Gaillac AOC

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24
Q

Who invented the micro-oxygenation winemaking technique?

A

Patrick Ducournau

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25
Q

What Bergerac AOC makes moelleux-styled whites?

A

The Côtes de Bergerac AOC

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26
Q

What makes Southwest France unique?

A
  • Two seperate river systems
  • Lots of different grapes and wine styles
  • Most of the appellations are unknown
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27
Q

Was the Southwest France or Bordeaux first with viticulture?

A

Southwest France

28
Q

What did the Bordeaux authorities do in the 3rd and 14th Centuries to protect their trade against those up river?

A

They imposed taxes

29
Q

Southwest France has the same grape varieties, styles of winemaking as Bordeaux. But it is often overshadowed. Why?

A

Because of Bordeaux’s power and strength

30
Q

What is Southwest France bordered by?

A

West: The Atlantic
South: Pyrenees and Spanish Border
North: Bordeaux

31
Q

What are the AOCs of Southwest France divided into?

A

4 sub-areas:

  • Bergerac and Dordogne River Sub Region
  • The Garonne and Tarn Sub Region
  • The Lot River Subregion
  • The Pyrenees Sub Region
32
Q

Why is there so many climates in the Southwest France region?

A

Because it is so large.

There are 3 distinct climate groups:

  • Bergerac and Dordogne Area: Oceanic Influences: Slightly warmer temperatures than Bordeaux
  • Garonne, Tarn and Lot:
    Moving towards a continental climate: higher temperatures, drier growing season.
    Impacted by both the Atlantic and Mediterranean
  • Pyrenean Foothills:
    Maritime climate with alpine influences. The Pyrenees ensures cool night and puts the region in an effective rain shadow
33
Q

The area of Southwest France, closest to Bordeaux do what?

A

They are very similar to the areas closest to Bordeaux (similar grape varieties, etc)

34
Q

What are the white grapes of the Dordogne/ Bergerac River Area?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillon
  • Muscadelle
  • Ugni Blanc
  • Ondenc
  • Chenin
35
Q

What are the red grapes of the Dordogne/ Bergerac River Area?

A
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Cabernet Franc (Bouchy)
  • Fer Servadou (Broucol, Mansoi/ Mansois, Pinenc)
  • Merlot
  • Malbec (Cot): native to Southwest France
  • Merille (Perigord): native to Southwest France
36
Q

What are the white grapes of the Garonne/ Tarn/ Lot River?

A
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Semillon
  • Muscadelle
  • Ugni Blanc
  • Ondenc
  • Chenin
  • Len de l’Lel (Loin de l’Oeil)- native here
  • Mauzac/ Mauzac Rose: nativ to Southwest France
  • Saint Come (Rousselou)

In local dialect, Len de L’el means “far from sight”. The cluster has an unusually long peduncle and hangs far from the shoot. Here, Chenin is known as Rouchelein

37
Q

What are the red grapes of Garonne/ Tarn/ Lot River Grapes?

A
  • Gamay
  • Tannat: native to Southwest France
  • Negrette
  • Duras
  • Syrah
  • Abouriou
  • Cinsault
  • Prunelard: native to Southwest France
  • Juracon Noir: native to Southwest France
  • Mouyssagues
  • Pinot Noir
38
Q

What are the white grapes of the Pyrenees?

A
  • Arrufiac: Native to S/West France
  • Baroque: Native to S/West France
  • Carmaralet: Native to S/West France
  • Lauzet: Native to S/West France
  • Raffiat: Native to S/West France
  • Clairette Blanche
  • Courbu
  • Gros Manseng
  • Petit Manseng
39
Q

What are the red grapes of the Pyrenees region?

A
  • Courbu Noir

- Manseng Noir

40
Q

White Wine Styles- Southwest France

A
  • Most of the region’s whites are dry
  • Dessert wines may be either botrytised or late- harvest in style
  • Sparkling wines are crafted either ancestral or following tradition methods
41
Q

Red Wine Styles- Southwest France

A
  • All are dry

- Some reds are made as vin primeur

42
Q

Dordogne and Bergerac AOCs

A
  • Wines the same as the neighbouring Bordeaux region
  • The same grapes as approximately 80 different communes along the Dordogne River

Bergerac reds and roses are crafted from at least two of these grapes:

  • Cab Sauv
  • Cab Franc
  • Merlot
  • Cot
  • Fer
  • Merille
43
Q

Bergerac Sec AOC: Dry White

A

Must contain at least two of the following:

  • Semillon
  • Sauv Blanc
  • Muscadelle
  • Ondenc
  • Chenin
  • Ugni Blanc

(Note: If Ugni Blanc is present, Sauvignon Must also be be present in at least the same amount)

44
Q

Cote de Bergerac: red, molleux- styled whites

A
  • Moelleux: same blending formula as Bergerac Sec; residual sugar b/ween 0.4-5.4% (4-54 g/L); yields are lower
  • Reds: same varieties as the Bergerac red AOC; yields are lower
45
Q

Saussignac: liquoreux whites- Dordogne and Bergerac AOCs

A
  • Any of the following: Semillon, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle
  • Grapes may be late- harvest and/ or botrytised
  • Residual Sugar: over 4.5% (45g/L)
46
Q

Rosette AOC: Moelleux and Liquoreux Whites- Dordogne and Bergerac AOC

A
  • Semillon, Sauv Blanc, Muscadelle

- RS: 0.8%- 5.4% (8-54 g/L)

47
Q

Monbazillac: Liquoreux Whites- Dordogne and Bergerac AOC

A
  • Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle
  • Grapes may be late harvest and/ or botrytised
  • RS: over 4.5% (45g/L)
48
Q

What is the sub region of Garonne and Tarn AOCs named after?

A

The rivers that run through it

49
Q

Gailliac: Red and Roses- Garonne and Tarn AOCs

A
  • 60% red, 30% white, 10% roses
  • Reds and Roses: Duras, Fer and Syrah with Gamay and both Cabernets as additional blending partners
  • Gailliac Primeur is made from 100% Gamay (hand-harvested, fermented via Carbonic maceration)
50
Q

Gailliac: Dry and sweet whites- Garonne and Tarn AOCs

A
  • Dry Whites: at least 50% Mauzac, Mauzac Rose, Muscadelle and Len de l’El. Ondenc and Sauv are optional blending partners
  • Sweet Whites (Gaillac Vendange Tardive); at least 50% Len de l’El and Ondenc with a RS of at least 4.5%; Muscadelle, Mauzac and Mauzac Rose are authorised blending partners
51
Q

Gaillac: Sparkling White- Garonne and Tarn AOCs

A

Traditional and Ancestral Method

Traditonal method sparkling wine: same blending formula as for still whites.

Ancestral method sparkling wines: 100% Mauzac and/or Mauzac Rose

  • Gaillac Methode Gaillacoise: More than 1.7% (17 g/L) of RS
  • Gaillac Methode Gaillacoise Doux: at least 5% (50 g/L) of RS
52
Q

Gailliac Premieres Cotes: Dry Whites- Garonne and Tarn AOCs

A
  • White only AOC on the right bank of the Tarn
  • Located within the Gailliac AOC and at altitude between 460- 990 ft/ 140-300m
  • Primary grapes: Len de l’El, Mauzac, Mauzac Rose and Muscadelle; at least one of these 4 must be in the blend
  • Sauv Blanc and Ondenc can complete the mix
53
Q

Where is the home of the most famous AOC in all of Southwest France?

A

Cahors

54
Q

Cahors: red only- Lot Rivers AOCs

A
  • Long referred to as ‘Black Wines’
  • The reds must contain a minimum of 70% Malbec (Cot) with up to 30% Merlot and/ or Tannat added to the blend
  • Malbec is indigenous to this area of France
55
Q

Pyrenees AOCs

A
  • Reds: artisanal, rustic largely made from Tannat

- Whites: largely local, obscure varieties that are unique in character and flavour profile

56
Q

Jurancon: dry (sec), moelleux & liquoreux whites- Pyrenees AOCs

A
  • Sec: Dry whites made from Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Courbu, Petit Courbu, Camaralet and Lauzet; RS 0.4% (4 g/L) or less
  • Moelleux and Liquoreux: same blending formula as for Jurancon sec; grapes hand-harvested late in the season with at least two passes in the vineyard; min 3.% (35 g/L) RS
57
Q

Jurancon: Vendange Tardive (whites only)- Pyrenees AOC

A
  • 100% Petit Manseng and/or Gros Manseng
  • Harvest cannons begin until 5 weeks after the first day of the Jurancon AOC harvest; must be at least two passes in the v/yard
  • Wines must be held at least 18 months before being submitted to a tasting panel
  • Min of 3.5% (35g/L) RS
58
Q

Irouleguy: Red and White- Pyrenees

A
  • Sthern- most AOC in S/West France and the only AOC from Basque country
  • Whites: Petit and Gros Manseng and/ or Courbu in any percentages
  • Reds and Roses: At least 50% Cab Sauv and Cab Franc (together); plus Tannat
59
Q

Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec: Dry White- Pyrenees AOC

A
  • Pacherenc du Vic- Bilh and Madiran cover the same geographical area.
  • The Pacherenc du Vic- Bilh designation is for whites only; Madiran is solely red
  • Sec: At least 60% Courbu, Petit Courbu, Petit Manseng and/or Gros Manseng, plus (optionally) Arrufiac, Semillon, and/or Sauvignon
60
Q

Pacherenc du Vic Bilh: Moelleux and Liquoreux- Pyrenees AOC

A
  • Follows the same blending formula as Pacherenc du Vic Bilh Sec but with at least 3.5% RS
  • “Pacherenc” in the local dialect means ‘vine stakes’; Vic Bilh is a village. The term means ‘old country’
61
Q

Madiran: reds only- Pyrenees AOC

A
  • Wines must contain more than 70% Tannat

- Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer Servadou can complete the blend

62
Q

What are the two largest and most significant IGPs of the Southwest France?

A

IGP Cotes de Cascogne and IGP Comte Tolosan (is big it contains 12 departments)

63
Q

In the IGP Comte Tolosan what are the white and red grapes?

A

Whites: Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Mauzac

Reds and Roses: Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Gamay, Syrah, Tannat, Duras and Fer

64
Q

IGP Cotes de Gasconge?

A
  • 80% of this IGP is white, either dry or moelleux, 10% red, 10% roses
  • 75% of the total is exported
  • Cotes de Gascogne shares the same zone of production as Armagnac
65
Q

What are the approved grapes for IGP Cotes de Gascogne?

A
  • Colombard, Ugni Blanc, Gros and Petit Manseng, Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc
  • Tannat, Merlot, Cab Franc and Cab Sauv