SW France Quizes Flashcards
What borders SW France?
W - Atlantic
E - Massif Central
N - Bordeaux
S - Pyrenees
What is the overall climate of South-West France?
Continental
The majority of the South-West’s vineyards lie in the Aquitaine Basin. Some of the eastern vineyard areas are outside this. On which geographical feature do you find these vineyards?
Massif Central
What was the name for the province in. SW France?
Gascony or Aquitaine
What were English lands in France called?
Angevin Empire
What was the old name for Dordogne?
Périgord
What groups historically passed through SW France and why?
Pilgrims going to either
1. Lourdes or
2. Camino de Santiago in Spain
Why did wine production stagnate in South-West in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries?
- 2 World Wars
- Downy Mildew
- Phylloxera
Top 3 production areas in SW France?
- Bergerac AOC - 22%
- Cahors AOC - 12%
- Gaillac AOC - 11%
Historically which port was the main export hub for wines from the South-West?
Bordeaux
What subregion are Cahors & Gaillac
Garonne, Tarn and Lot
What subregion are Bergerac & Mobazillac?
Dordogne/Bergerac
What subregion are Madiran & Jurançon?
Pyrenees
Which of the three South-West sub-regions is the most spread out?
Garonne, Tarn and Lot
What are the subregions of SW France?
- Dordogne / Bergerac
- Garonne, Tarn and Lot
- Pyrenees
How many grapes are identified in SW France and how many are indigenous?
+300
120
Where was CabFranc from what was it crossed with to make. which grape?
- Basque Country
- Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
- Created Merlot
Prunelard X Magdeleine Noire
Côt or Malbec
Found in Cahors
CabFrance X Gros Cabernet
Carmenère
What is the principal grape of Madiran and where has it become popular?
Tannat - native
Uruguay
What was a unique wine making advancement originating in SW France and by whom
Micro-Oxygenation
Patrick Ducournau 1991
What does Micro-Oxygenation do?
Softens hard tannins in Tannat grape
What is Mox or micro-bullage?
Micro-Oxygenation
Why the need for Micro-Oxygenation?
Wooden vats swapped for stainless steel made wine making more reductive and tannins them overwhelmed
How does Micro-Oxygenation work?
Small bubbles helps with
1. fermentation to avoid stuck
2. softens tannins
3. clarifies and stabilizes
Both Merlot and Côt came about from crossings of two other grape varieties. They both have a parent in common – which grape variety is that?
Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
Soils of Dordogne/Bergerac
Mostly clay and limestone
Largest areas under vine in Dordogne/Bergerac
Bergerac AOC
Côtes de Bergerac AOC
Major grapes of Dordogne/Bergerac
- White - SavBlanc, Sémillon
- Rosé - Sav Gris
- Red - CabSav, CabFranc, Merlot, Côt
Bergerac AOC
Dry white, rose and red
ALL WINES MUST BLEND ATLEAST 2 primary varieties >50%
Côtes de Bergerac AOC
Red - blend of 2 varieties
Semi-sweet and sweet white
Whites CANNOT BE DRY
Monbazillac AOC
LARGEST DESSERT WINE IN FRANCE
Sweet white & SGN wines
SavBlanc, Sémillon, Muscadelle
Gris - Sauvignon Gris
What is the largest producer of desert wines in France?
Monbazillac AOC
Saussignac AOC
Sweet white wines
Min 6.8%
SavBlanc, Semillon, Muscadelle
Gris - Sauv Gris
What are the main soils of Bergerac?
Clay and Limestone
Which river flows through Bergerac AOC?
Dordogne
Fronton AOC
Garonne, Tarn and Lot
NEGRETTE grape - all
Red/Rosé
wines need 40%
Gaillac AOC
Garonne, Tarn and Lot
W - Len de l’El / Loin de l’Oell,
Mauzac, Muscadelle
R - Duras, Syrah,
Fer Servadou
Rose - Mauzac Rose
Cahors AOC
Garonne, Tarn and Lot
Côt –> Auxerrois
ONLY RED
Limestone/gravelly slopes
Fronton AOC is primarily known for which grape variety?
Négrette
Which rivers flow either side of Fronton AOC?
Tarn and Garonne
What is Côt known is Cahors?
Auxerrois
What are the white grapes of the Pyrenees?
Gros Manseng - dry white
Petit Manseng - high sugar and acid –> sweet wines
Madiran AOC
Pyrenees
ONLY RED
Tannat - always 50%+
Pebble studded limestone clays with silt + iron