Southwest France

Question 1

Name the 2 largest AOCs in the Dordogne region

Answer 1

Monbazillac
Bergerac

Question 2

Red Bergerac AOC wines must be made from at least two of the permitted varieties in the region and these varieties must make up at least 50% of the final blend. What are the varieties?

Answer 2

Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Malbec
Cabernet Franc

Question 3

90% of all Bergerac AOC wines are sold in France. Provide a breakdown of where they’re sold

Answer 3

• 10% Hospitality and specialist wine shops
• 30% direct sales
• 50% Supermarkets

Question 4

What type of wines does Monbazillac AOC produce, and what methods do they use

Answer 4

Monbazillac AOC only produces sweet wines by allowing the grapes to become botrytised and harvesting the grapes late.

Question 5

True or false?

Fermenting Monbazillac AOC wines in new oak is more common than in Sauternes.

Answer 5

False
Monbazillac AOC wines is not fermented in new oak as often as Sauternes. This reduces costs.

Question 6

Monbazillac AOC wines must be an 80% blend of the principal grape varieties permitted in the region.

Answer 6

Sauvignon Blanc
Sémillon
Muscadelle
Sauvignon Gris

Question 7

Cahors is unique in France as its grape growing is based on a principal grape variety that’s different to all other regions. Which grape variety is this?

Answer 7

Malbec

Question 8

By what other name is Malbec known in Cahors?

Answer 8

Cot

Question 9

Provide an example tasting note for a typical red wine from Cahors.

Answer 9

• Deep Ruby
• Medium to pronounced intensity
• These wines often have primary, floral aromas of violet
• Medium to Medium (+) acidity
• High tannins
• Quality ranges from good to outstanding
• These wines must be made from 70% of Malbec and the rest must be a blend of Merlot or Tannat

Question 10

True or false?

Cahors wines are crushed as whole bunches.

Answer 10

False
Destemming is required by the appellation (to eliminate underripe stems that could add aggressive tannins).

Question 11

Identify and describe the voluntary codes used on bottles of Cahors wines to indicate quality and price.

Answer 11

• Tradition: inexpensive, 70–85% 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: mainly 100 per cent Malbec, premium priced, often grown on the highest plateau.

Question 12

What is the name of the late-harvest sweet wine made in Madiran AOC?

Answer 12

Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh

Question 13

Describe the climate in Madiran

Answer 13

Madiran is generally warm, with sunny summers and dry autumns, however there is some influence from the Atlantic Ocean; rain usually falls in the Winter and Spring though. The hot wind called the Föhn warms the region. The generally warm region means the widely planted Tannat grape variety ripens well in this region

Question 14

Which vine training systems are frequently used in Madiran?

Answer 14

Cordon de Royat
Replacement cane

Question 15

Which technique was pioneered in 1991 by Patrick Ducournau, in an attempt to soften the tannins in Madiran’s Tannat wines?

Answer 15

Micro-oxygenation

Question 16

When can wines from Madiran AOC legally be released?

Answer 16

From the beginning of the November in the year following the harvest.

Question 17

What are the three biggest export markets for Madiran AOC wines?

Answer 17

• Germany
• Belgium
• Cananda

Question 18

Which mountain range has a significant impact on the vineyards of Jurançon?

Answer 18

Pyrenees

Question 19

Briefly describe how the Föhn wind is beneficial to the production of sweet wines in Jurançon?

Answer 19

• 1. The wind is warm and blows frequently throughout the spring and autumn. This ventilates the canopy, moving the air around and protecting the berries against rot/diseases etc. which is important for passerillage as the berries need to be clean.
• The warm wind also boosts temperature, therefore helping to further ripen the fruit. This boosts sugar levels to levels required for sweet wines.

Question 20

Briefly describe Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng

Answer 20

Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng are both early budding, highly aromatic, with thick skins and high acidity. Gros Manseng provides higher yields.

Question 21

Describe South West France’s IGP wines

Answer 21

Throughout South West France there are 14 IGPs and the largest one of them is IGP Côtes de Gascogne. The wines here are mainly white and made from blends of Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Wines are often varietally labelled.