Southwest France

Question 1

Southwest France Climate

Answer 1

• The climate is broadly similar to Bordeaux, in that the whole region is influenced by the Atlantic. South of Bordeaux (Madiran, Jurançon), the Atlantic influence extends inland for more than 100 kilometres (60 miles) owing to the largely flat, gently undulating territory
• Elsewhere the Atlantic influence diminishes with greater distance from the ocean (Bergerac, Monbazillac and Cahors), resulting in slightly less rainfall and warmer summers. For example, per year Cahors has about 200 mm of rainfall less than in Bordeaux. Large volumes of wine are made at both PDO and PGI levels.

Question 2

The Dordogne – Bergerac and Monbazillac

Answer 2

The Dordogne, immediately to the east of Entre-Deux-Mers, is home to a number of appellations that make wines with the same varieties and in similar styles to the wines of Bordeaux. Bergerac AOC and Monbazillac AOC are the two largest producing appellations

Question 3

Bergerac AOC styles of wine, climate, soil

Answer 3

• The appellation includes dry and sweet white, rosé and red wines.
• 50 per cent of production is red wine, just over 10 per cent is rosé, and just under 40 per cent is white.
• With a climate slightly warmer and drier than Bordeaux, and clay and limestone soils with some gravel, the Bordeaux varieties, white and black, can be grown here and ripen well.
• The wines must be made from a blend of the allowed principal grape varieties.

Question 4

Bergerac AOC Red Wine Varieties and Yields

Answer 4

• The red wine must be made from at least two of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, and this blend must be at least 50 per cent of the final wine. Less internationally recognised local varieties are allowed as a small part of the blends.
• The maximum yields are similar to Bordeaux AOC (67 hL/ha for whites, 60 hL/ha for red wines), resulting in some wines of low flavour intensity.

Question 5

Bergerac AOC Red Winemaking aging

Answer 5

• These wines are typically aged in large stainless steel or older oak casks, producing wines in an easy-drinking style that can be released earlier on the market and that reduces cost in comparison to ageing wine in new barriques

Question 6

Côtes de Bergerac AOC, blend,yield quality and price

Answer 6

• For higher quality red wines
• Restricted to the main Bordeaux varieties (no local varieties permitted), the maximum yield is lower at 50 hL/ha and ageing in oak is used by some producers.
• Most wines are predominantly Merlot.
• Bergerac AOC and Côtes de Bergerac AOC wines are typically good to very good in quality and are inexpensive to mid-price.

Question 7

Bergerac AOC Markets

Answer 7

• Nearly 90 per cent of Bergerac AOC is sold in France. Within the domestic market, supermarkets are the largest outlet (more than 50 per cent), then direct sales (under 30 per cent) with around 10 per cent each going via hospitality and specialist wine shops.
• The largest export markets are China (40 per cent), Belgium and the UK.

Question 8

Monbazillac AOC (wine style, location, climate)

Answer 8

• This is an appellation for sweet white wines only. The grapes may be affected by botrytis or simply late harvested.
• The region lies between the River Dordogne and one of its tributaries. This location, plus the funnelling of moist air along the rivers creates high levels of humidity.
• In warm late summer and early autumn, the humidity is burnt off by the sun creating good conditions for noble rot.

Question 9

Monbazillac AOC picking, blend, yield, winemaking, style and price

Answer 9

• The grapes must be picked by hand in a number of passes through the vineyard.
• The wine must be at least 80 per cent of the principal varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle.
• Maximum yield is 30 hL/ha. Fermentation
  in barrel with new oak is much less common than in Sauternes, thus reducing costs and making the wine available at a lower price.
• The wines are similar in style to sweet wines from Bordeaux’s less prestigious appellations, good to very good in quality and inexpensive to mid- priced.

Question 10

Bergerac Region Markets including Monbazillac

Answer 10

• For the Bergerac region as a whole, the wines are mainly sold in France (more than 50 per cent in supermarkets and deep discounters) with less than 10 per cent being exported.
• The main export markets are in north-west Europe.

Question 11

Cahors Area under vine & Principle Grape Variety

Answer 11

• Today the appellation has around 4,000 ha planted
• Malbec accounts for 85 per cent of hectares planted.
• Cahors is the only appellation in France in which Malbec is the principal grape variety.

Question 12

Cahors Grape Growing Environment & organic production

Answer 12

• Cahors receives some influence from the Atlantic. However, the climate is warmer and slightly drier (less than 800 mm of rainfall per year) than Bordeaux.
• Lower rainfall = less need for spraying against fungal diseases than in Bordeaux.
• 17% organic

Question 13

Tannat Use

Answer 13

• Tannat is also authorised though it is usually less than 10 per cent of the blend and many wineries do not use it all.

Question 14

Cahors Vineyard Sites & Soil

Answer 14

• The vineyards, next to the River Lot, range from being on rich, alluvial soils (resulting in higher yields and lower fruit concentration), via the mid slope (poorer soils and hence lower yields and higher concentration) to the highest plateau at just below 350 metres (low nutrient limestone soils, resulting typically in lower yields and higher concentration).

Question 15

Cahors Vineyard Management

Answer 15

• The single Guyot training system is the most common but others are also used (bush vines, cordon-trained).
• Machine harvesting is widely practiced for land for the vineyards that are easier to access.
• Hand harvesting take place, depending on the market prices of the wines, machine accessibility, weather conditions and the availability of labour. Return on investment is often the decisive factor.
• Hand harvesting can raise quality, allowing more careful sorting, but also raises the cost of production.

Question 16

Malbec Grape Characteristics

Answer 16

• This variety, also known as Cot, is vigorous and hence needs careful canopy and yield management depending on the style of wine to be made.
• It is susceptible to coulure, which reduces yields.

Question 17

Malbec Wine Style

Answer 17

• Traditional style Cahors wines, often made with a high percentage of Malbec, are typically deep ruby in colour, with medium to pronounced levels (depending on quality level) of violet, red and black plum fruit, medium to medium (+) acidity and medium (+) to high tannin.
• Very good and outstanding examples may be aged in French oak barriques (adding to cost) and so have vanilla and sweet spice notes.
• Some producers today favour foudres for ageing their wines, allowing slow oxidative development but not adding oak aromas.
• The wines range in quality from good to outstanding (the latter can be aged in bottle for many years) and are mid- to premium priced. Some lighter coloured high quality wines are also made

Question 18

Cahors Winemaking(Blend, Destemming, Styles)

Answer 18

• Cahors AOC must be a minimum of 70 per cent Malbec with rest of the blend being Merlot and/or Tannat. The top-quality wines are increasingly 90–100 per cent Malbec.
• Destemming is required by the appellation (to eliminate underripe stems that could add aggressive tannins). In the past, a lack of maturity was most likely to be due to cool seasons, but today it is as likely to be due to a lack of water preventing full ripeness.
• Styles vary from early drinking (using Merlot in the blend; typically 7–10 days on the skins for limited extraction of tannins) to wines intend to bottle age (typically 15–25 days on the skins for greater extraction of flavour and tannins). As noted, the higher quality wines are often matured in oak.

Question 19

Cahors Wine Producer types

Answer 19

• 80 per cent of Cahors is produced by private companies and 20 per cent by a single co- operative, the Cooperative des Vignerons d’Olt
• Since 2000, Cahors has marketed itself as ‘Cahors, the French Malbec’ and ‘Cahors, The Capital of Malbec’.

Question 20

Cahors wine business three levels of quality

Answer 20

a voluntary code has been introduced by growers to indicate three levels of quality and price:

• Tradition – inexpensive, 70–85 per cent Malbec, often grown on rich alluvial soils and at higher yields and lower fruit concentration
• Prestige – mid-priced, often grown on the mid- slope
• Spéciale – often 100 per cent Malbec, premium priced, often grown on the highest plateau)

The latter two categories are typically grown at lower yields, have higher fruit concentration and longer expected ageing potential.

Question 21

Cahors wine business markets

Answer 21

• 70 per cent of the wine by volume is sold in France with supermarkets and direct sales, the two most important channels.
• Exports make up 30 per cent by volume and are growing.
• The top three markets are the United Kingdom, Canada and USA. Significant producers include Ch. du Cèdre and Ch. de Chambert.

Question 22

Madiran

Answer 22

Madiran AOC is a high tannin red wine made principally from the Tannat variety. Within the same geographical area, a white late harvest sweet white wine called Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC is made from local varieties, similar in style to Jurançon.

Question 23

Madiran Climate

Answer 23

• Madiran has some Atlantic influence with a relatively high annual rainfall of 1,000 mm. However, this falls mainly in late winter and spring.
• Warm, sunny summers and dry autumns with warm days and cool nights and a hot, dry southern Föhn wind (more detail in Jurançon below) enable Tannat to ripen fully in most years.

Question 24

Madiran Topography & soils

Answer 24

• Madiran comprises four large, roughly parallel ridges oriented north–south, with steep west-facing slopes.
• The soils on slopes are mainly clay and limestone with good drainage, producing grapes that make tannic wines suitable for long bottle-ageing.
• On the flatter land, clay and clay and loam soils predominate and the resulting wines are less tannic and can be drunk earlier.

Question 25

Tannat Grape Characteristics

Answer 25

• vigorous and therefore best supported on a trellis.
• It is mid-ripening= normally been picked before the onset of autumn rains.
• prone to botrytis bunch rot
• highly tannic, which affects decisions about winemaking

Question 26

Tannat Wine Styles

Answer 26

• Madiran wines intended for ageing are typically deep ruby in colour, with pronounced aromas and flavours of blackberry and blackcurrant plus oak flavours, high tannins, high acidity with a full body and medium+ to high alcohol
• These wines are very good to outstanding in quality and mid- to premium priced.
• Earlier drinking styles with lower levels of tannins and concentration are also made.

Question 27

Madiran AOC permitted Varieties and training methods

Answer 27

• Madiran AOC must be made with 60–80 per cent Tannat, blended with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and/or the local black variety Fer (also known as Fer Servadou).
• Vines can be trained with the Cordon de Royat or a cane-replacement system.

Question 28

Madiran AOC winemaking
(destemming,yield, reducing tannin,release date)

Answer 28

• Grapes must be destemmed (to reduce the extraction of further tannins) and the maximum yield is 55 hL/ha.
• Wine makers have sought to soften the tannins in Madiran by shorter maceration times, ageing in oak and through bottle age (the last two adding cost).
• In 1991, Patrick Ducournau pioneered the technique of micro-oxygenation, seeking to soften the tannins in Tannat wines.
• In addition to wines intended for long ageing, the recent trend is towards a more accessible style. Early drinking styles are achieved by picking only the ripest grapes, gentle pressing and the use of micro-oxygenation.
• Wines can only be sold to consumers from the beginning of November in the year following harvest, allowing some time for maturation before release

Question 29

Madiran Wine Business

Answer 29

• 80 per cent of Madiran AOC is sold in France (50 per cent of this is through supermarkets, 25 per cent through hospitality, and 25 per cent directly or through specialist wine shops).
• The top export markets are the UK, Belgium and Germany.
• Production is split roughly 50:50 between private growers and co- operatives.
• Important co-operatives include Cave de Crouseilles and Plaimont

Question 30

Jurançon Location, grape varieties, styles of wine

Answer 30

• This region is in the foothills of the Pyrenes, at an altitude of around 300 m, producing dry wines and a range of sweet white wines from the white varieties Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and other local varieties.
• 70 per cent medium-sweet or sweet
• 30 per cent dry
• there are three styles:
• Jurançon Vendanges Tardives (sweet),
• Jurançon (typically medium-sweet)
• Jurançon Sec (dry).

Question 31

Jurançon Vendanges Tardives, style, quality, price

Answer 31

• typically have intense aromas and flavours of lemon and mango, high acidity and medium high to high alcohol with a full body.
• sweet and is typically very good to outstanding in quality and mid-price to premium in price.

Question 33

Jurançon AOC

Answer 33

Jurançon AOC is medium-sweet and is typically good to very good in quality and inexpensive to mid-priced.

Question 34

Jurancon Climate & rainfall

Answer 34

• Jurançon has a mild, humid climate, with relatively high annual rainfall, about 1,200 mm, which is distributed throughout the year and can affect flowering and fruit set and the period of harvest.

Question 35

Jurancon Vineyard Sites

Answer 35

• Vineyards are planted on slopes for good drainage to offset these issues. Some slopes are steep enough to require terracing, increasing initial investment and maintenance.
• The best sites are south and south-west facing for maximum sunlight interception, thereby aiding ripening.

Question 36

Jurancon Principle Grape Varieties

Answer 36

Gros Manseng (65%) and Petit Manseng.(30%)

Question 37

Jurancon Pyrenees Influence

Answer 37

• The region is also strongly influenced by the presence of the Pyrenees as this gives rise to a Föhn wind.
• This hot and dry wind blows in spring and autumn, about one day in three, drying the air and ventilating the canopy (and bunches in autumn), as well as boosting temperature.
• The heat and the wind help to produce over-ripe berries for the sweet wines.

Question 38

Jurancon risks, budding zone & soils

Answer 38

• Due to the altitude, spring frosts are also a risk.
• The budding zone is trained well above the ground to mitigate this risk.
• Soils are a mixture of limestone, sand, clay and stones.

Question 39

Jurancon Harvest

Answer 39

• Grapes are picked by hand and, for the sweet wines, in a series of selective pickings, raising cost.
• The first selection is in October, mainly for dry wines but also some sweet wines for early consumption. The second and third selections (November to December) are used for progressively sweeter wines.
• These last two selections are carried out after over-ripe grapes have been dried on the vine (passerillage). The drying process is due to the effect of prolonged time hanging on the vine, the autumn sunshine and the wind.
• Low yields raise the intensity of fruit and increase production costs.

Question 40

Petit Manseng Grapevine Characteristics

Answer 40

• This variety is early budding and hence prone to spring frosts. It is mid to late ripening, has thick skins and is resistant to botrytis bunch rot, which makes it suitable for late harvesting.
• It is moderately aromatic and retains its high acidity, making it particularly suitable for the production of balanced sweet wines.
• It also has high alcohol, which means that producers must be precise about the picking date to balance the goals of full flavour ripeness, acidity and potential alcohol

Question 41

Gros Manseng Grape Characteristics

Answer 41

• Gros Manseng shares the characteristics of Petit Manseng but has higher yields and usually less aromatic concentration and flavour intensity.
• It is principally used for dry wines.

Question 42

Jurancon yields & styles

Answer 42

• As stated, there are three styles of Jurançon wine. All three must be made with a minimum of 50 per cent of Petit and/or Gros Manseng, though in practice these two varieties are used exclusively for an overwhelming majority of the wines.
• Jurançon Sec – dry, maximum yield 60 hL/ha
• Jurançon – a medium sweet wine, minimum of 40g/l residual sugar, maximum yield 40 hL/ha
• Jurançon Vendanges Tardives – a sweet wine, minimum 55 g/L residual sugar but typically much higher, no enrichment allowed, maximum yield 40 hL/ha, Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng exclusively. Grapes for Jurançon Vendanges Tardives may not be picked before 2 November.

Question 43

Jurancon Winemaking for high quality sweet wines

Answer 43

• The higher quality sweet wines made with Petit Manseng are typically fermented in barriques and aged in them for 12–18months.
• Top quality wines typically use old oak, though new oak
  is occasionally used. This adds complexity to the wines and increases the cost of production.
• Malolactic conversion typically does not happen as the pH is too low and the acidity too high. This retains acidity and preserves the primary fruit flavours

Question 44

Jurancon Dry Winemaking

Answer 44

• Producers are increasingly making high quality dry wines and may include a small proportion of Petit Manseng. These are typically aged on the lees often in stainless steel.

Question 45

Jurancon Wine Business

Answer 45

• Sales are divided almost equally between direct sales, supermarkets and the hospitality sector, with a small percentage being exported.
• Significant producers include Domaine Cauhapé (dry and sweet wines). The co-operative Cave de Gan accounts for roughly half of production.
• Producers are giving more attention to dry wine production as there is competition, for example with other French regions, to sell sweet wines, and sweet wines are in general more difficult to sell.

Question 46

IGP wines

Answer 46

• There are 14 IGPs in South-west France. IGP Côtes de Gascogne is by far the largest, in terms of vineyard planted. It has been particularly successful in marketing its white wines in the export markets of UK and northern Europe, led by Tariquet and Plaimont.
• This resulted in a three-fold rise in production between 1990 and 2000, 80 per cent of which was exported.
• The wines continue to have commercial success in export markets around the world but now have more competition from the wines from non-European countries.
• The wines are made from mainly from Colombard (producing neutral white wine with medium– medium (+) acidity, usually used in blends), Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The style of wine is fruity and easy to drink, labelled with the name(s) of the variety or varieties.
• The quality of the wines is acceptable to good and the prices are inexpensive to mid-priced.