The South-West Flashcards
Which two native South-West grape varieties have found success in New World Vineyards?
Cot (Malbec) in Argentina
Tannat in Uruguay
What is the origin of the term Gascony?
The Vascones, a pre-Roman tribe from which modern-day Basque culture originated.
What borders South-West France to the north, east, south and west?
North- Bordeaux
East- Massif Central
South- Pyrenees
West- Atlantic Ocean
What is the most important IGP in South-West France?
Cotes de Gascone IGP, second in production to Pays d’Oc IGP of Languedoc and Roussillon.
What was the most planted grape in South-West France before phylloxera?
Cot (Malbec)
Which sub-region of the South-West has Mediterranean climatic influences?
The Garonne, Tarn and Lot sub-region.
What is “Boulbene”?
Sandy clay soils found in the South-West AOCs of Fronton and Buzet.
What do Monbazillac, Saussignac and Rosette have in Common?
They are AOCs in the Dordogne that make sweet or semi-sweet wines based on Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle
The sale of wines from South-West France was historically curtailed by which rival wine region?
Bordeaux
Which appellation makes red and rose wines from Negrette?
Fronton AOC
Which appellation of South-West France may use the term SGN?
Monbazillac, if the wine contains R.S over 8.5% (85 g/l)
What is the “methode gaillacoise”?
A term used in Gaillac to indicate a sparkling wine made using the ancestral method.
Bergerac AOC may produce sweet wines.
False, Only dry white, red and rose are authorized in this AOC.
Which South-West sub-region is affected by foehn winds
The Pyrenees sub-region
What is “passerillage”?
The act of twisting the stalks of grape bunches in order to stop the flow of sap; this dessicates the grapes on the vine.
Monbazillac is the largest dessert wine appellation by size and volume in France. True or False?
True
What are the two styles of sweet wines made in Gaillac?
Vendages Tardives and Doux
Madiran lies on the left bank of the Tarn River.
True or False?
False. It lies on the left bank of the Ardour River.
South-West France claims to have how many indiginous grape varieties?
120
What are the three styles of sparkling wines made in Gaillac AOC?
Gaillac Methode Ancestrale, Traditional Method and Blanc Sec Perle.
Len de L’El is a white grape. True or False?
True
Cabernet Franc may be used as a blending grape in Cahors AOC. True or False?
False. Only Merlot and Tannat can be blended with Cot in Cahors.
What is the local Jurancon name for galets (stones)?
Poudingues
What are the two primary red grapes of Irouleguy.
Tannat and Cabernet Franc.
What are the two most important grapes of Jurancon?
Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng.
Irouleguy is the southernmost AOC in South-West France?
True or False?
True
Gaillac Primeur wines are made using what vinification technique?
Semi-Carbonic maceration
What does “moelleux” refer to?
Semi-sweet wines made from late-harvest grapes with or without botrytis.
What does “liquoreux” refer to?
Sweet wines made from botrytized grapes.
What is “micro-oxygenation”?
A technique developed by Patrick Ducourau in Madiran to tame tannins. Minute amounts of oxygen are bubbled through must or wine.
