The South-West Wine Region Flashcards
What small appellation makes wines of a similar style to Monbazillac?
Saussignac AOC
Grapes may be late-harvest and/or botrytized and primary varieties must consitute the majority of the blend.
Name the appellation with the largest dessert wine by size and volume in France.
Monbazillac AOC
What is the primary grape variety of Cahors AOC?
Côt
True or False
Cahors AOC makes both red and white as well rose wines.
False
Only red wines featuring Cot.
What is two general soils found in Dorgogne/Bergerac?
- Limestone
- Clay
What AOC covers the same area as Madiran AOC and only makes dry and sweet whites?
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC
What is the primary white grape especially popular for dry or sweet white wines in Gaillac?
Len de l’El (Loin de l’Oeil)
What is the principal grape for dry white wines in Dordgone/Bergerac sub region?
Sauvginon Blanc
True or False
All wines in Cotes de Bergerac AOC must have higher minimum alcohol level than Bergerac AOC.
True
Describe “Marques & Coop”
An umbrella label to promote top cuvees by Vinovalie Co-Operative and 11 other Co-operatives in France
Which grape variety is used in Gaillac for dry and sweet white wines plus sparkling wines made by both Ancestrale and Traditional methods?
Mauzac Rose
Which is the southern most AOC of South-West France and the only AOC within French Basque country?
Irouleguy AOC
In Fronton AOC, this grape variety must have at least 40% for Reds and Roses and 100% if the producers so choose.
Name the grape variety
Negrette
True or False
Bergerac AOC can produce semi-sweet or sweet white wines from Semillon.
False
Only dry wines are produced in Begerac AOC.
In Jurancon AOC, varietal bottlings from both of the primary white grapes are allowed.
What are the two grape varieties?
- Gross Manseng
- Petit Manseng
What three grapes are primarilly used for white Doux style of sweet wines in Gaillac?
How are the grapes harvested?
- Mauzac
- Muscadelle
- Len de l’El
- Grapes are amply over-riped or over riped before fermented
What is the primary soil type of Fronton AOC?
Boulbenes
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC covers the same area as Madiran AOC.
What other AOC wines are also made in the territory of Pachrenc du Vic-Bilh?
Bearn AOC
What is Cahor’s inky wine known?
“Black wines of Cahors”
Name the top three grape varieties in volume of South West region.
- Merlot (14%)
- Colombard (13%)
- Sauvginon Blanc (13%)
Name the grape variety produced by the cross of Prunelard and Magdeleine Noire des Charantes.
Cot
What is the ageing requirement of Jurancon Vendanges Tardives wines?
Only allowed to be released for sale after June 15 of the second year after harvest
What is Micro-Oxygenation or MOS called in French?
Micro-Bullage
True or False
Over 300 different grape varieties have been identified in the South-West.
True
120 of these are indigenous
True or False
All reds and roses in South-West are dry and still.
True
Name two tributaries of Garonne River and have transported eroded materials from the Causses and the Massif Central downriver.
- Tarn River
- Lot River
True or False
Viticulture was established in the South West before Bordeaux.
True
The Romans helped cultivate vineyards during the 1st century BCE.
In Cahors AOC, which grape variety must constitute 70% of its wines?
Cot (Auxerrois)
What grape variety is used primarilly for Rose in Begerac/Dordogne region?
Sauvginon Gris
Name two grape varieties used to make Gaillac Sparkling - Methode Traditionelle?
- Len de l’EL / Loin de l’Oeil
- Mauzac
Which AOC benefits from foehn winds which makes its Autumn mild and extended?
Irouleguy AOC
What historical and cultural region Dordogne/Bergerac wineregion is a part of?
Perigold
Several dialects of Occitan are spoken here
What are the labels of dry and sweet wines of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC?
- Sweet: Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh
- Dry: Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec
What are two primary WHITE grape varieties of Bergerac/Dordogne?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
What were the South West region historically known as (3)?
- Gallia Aquitania
- Aquitaine
- Gascony
What is the primary difference between Bergerac AOC and Cotes de Bergerac AOC as related to their wine style?
- Bergerac AOC : Dry White, Rose, Red
- Cotes de Bergerac AOC: Red, Semi-Sweet to Sweet White
Name three primary red grape varieties used in Gaillac AOC.
- Duras
- Syrah
- Fer Servadou
What are two well known AOCs in the Garonne, Tarn and Lot sub-region?
- Cahors
- Gaillac
Describe “VinoValie”
An co-operative in South-West itself an amalgamation of four co-operatives working to entice and train people to work in the wine industry.
Partnered with 11 other co-operatives in France to collectively promote all of their top cuvees under the Marques & Coop umbrella.
What is the most important white grape for sweeter wines especially in Monbazillac?
Semillon
Name the geological feature the South-West wine region is located.
Aquitaine Basin
Name the grape variety produced from the cross of Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet.
Which country did the grape find home?
Carmenere
Chile
What grape vareity was the most planted grape in South-West before phylloxera?
Cot/Malbec
True or False
Bearn AOC covers the terriotoiry of both Jurancon and Madiran.
True
What AOC makes the widest range of wine styles in all of South-West France?
Gaillac AOC
Which IGP is the second in IGP production volume next to IGP Pays d’Oc?
Cotes de Gascone IGP
Approximately 100 million bottles (750,000 hl) are produced annually.
What is the primary grape variety of Madiran AOC?
Tannat
Madiran AOC only makes red wines.
Which AOC did Cot find fame in the South-West?
What is another name for Cot and which country it has found success in?
- Cahors
- Malbec
- Argentina
What grape variety is used for Gaillac Red Primeur wines?
100% Gamay - by Semi-Carbonic Maceration and is released on the third Thursday of November
What is the requirement of Cahors AOC as related to the grapes used?
- Minimum of 70%
- No Cabernet Sauvignon nor Cabernet Franc allowed
What grape resulted from the cross of Magdelaine des Charantes and South-West native Prunelard?
Cot
What type of wine is Gaillac Blanc Sec Perle?
Lightly sparkling “prickly” or petillant style.
- Carobon dioxide captured during Malolactic conversion
- CO2 added to the wine after Malolactic conversion
Who is Patrick Ducournau?
While working with the native South-West grape Tannat Patrick Ducournau introduced Micro-Oxygenation technique in 1991.
Vin de Paille is made in this Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region AOC.
Name the AOC
Correze AOC
True or False
The Tarn and Lot rivers are both tributaries of Dordogne River.
False
Both Tarn and Lot Rivers are tributaries of the Garonne River and the western AOCs are closer to the Atlatnic and have strong Maritime influence.
Name two grape varieties Gaillac Sparkling - Methode Ancestrale are made from.
- Mauzac Blanc and/or
- Mauzac Rose
Which AOC is the home of Negrette?
Fronton AOC
What AOC covers the same area as Madiran AOC but for whites only?
Pacherenc du Vicc-Bilh AOC
What is the only AOC within the French Basque country?
Irouleguy AOC
This AOC is on steep slope with soils sandy-clays studded with Galets (known locally as Poundingues) washed down from the Pyrenees.
It produces Dry White, Semi-Sweet to Sweet Wine with Gross Manseng and Petit Manseng represent the majority of wines.
Name the AOC
Jurancon AOC
What is the primary red grape in Gaillac where it is usually known as Braucol?
Fer Servadou
True or False
The Pyrenees sub region vineyards benefit from the warm dry foehn winds that crest the Pyrenees and chase away humidity and bring clear skies.
True
True or False
Dorgodgne/Bergerac sub region is also known as Perigord.
True
What river Cahor AOC lie on?
Lot River
What are two administrative regions covered by the South-West wine region?
- Most of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Half of Occitanie
What is well known production area Cotes de Gascone IGP shares with?
Armagnac
Name the grape variety that produced by the cross of Handabrribi Beltza and Fer Servadou.
Gros Cabernet
What grape variety is well known in Argentina and synonym of Cot?
Malbec
What are two primary grapes of Jurancon?
- Gros Manseng
- Petit Manseng
Jurancon is white (dry, semi-sweet and sweet) wines only AOC
and Bearn AOC wines are also made here.
What grape was once an important part of the Bordeaux blend and today found success in Cahors?
Cot (aka Malbec)
True or False
Cotes de Begerac wines must NOT be dry
True
What is the Cot grape referred locally in Cahors?
Auxerrois
What is a primary red grape in Gaillac where it is known as “Braucol”?
Fer Servadou
Name the four grape varieties that Gaillac Blanc Sec and Gaillac Blanc Sec Perle are based on.
- Mauzac
- Mauzac Rose
- Muscadelle
- Len de ‘El / Loin de l’Oeil
Which route is well transversed by pilgrims in the South-West?
Path to Santiago de Compostela in Spain
Point out the requirement on the label of Jurancon AOC Dry White wines.
“Sec” must aplpear on the label so that consumers know there is no residual sugar for Jurrancon Sec wines
True or False
Armagnac is the famous brandy of Gascony and has AOC status.
True
What is the soil of sand-clay with dotted galets called locally in Jurancon?
Poundingues
What is another name used for Cot in Cahors?
Auxerrois
Which well known area shares the same zone of production as Cotes de Gascogne IGP?
Armagnac
Describe “Micro-Oxygeneration”
Very small quantities of oxygen are bubbled through a vat of fermenting wine to keep yeast healthy and avoid stuck fermentation.
Likewise small qunatities of oxygen can be bubbled through a vat of finished wine to polymerize tannins, clarity and stablize.
This technique is employed worldwide today.
What AOC lies deep within Gascony on the left bank of the Ardour River?
Madiran AOC
Which sub-region is the southernmost of the South-West?
Pyrenees
By having small amounts of oxygen bubbled through a vat of fermenting wine i.e. Micro-Oxygeneation, what are two beneficial effects?
- Keep yeasts healthy
- Avoids stuck fermentations
True or False
There is one AOC to cover the entire region of the South-West wine region and an AOC for each of the three sub-regions.
False
No AOCs for the entire region nor sub-region.
Which AOC the Micro-Oxygenation started and who came up with the idea?
- Madiran AOC
- Patrick Ducournau
What is AOC that has widest wine styles in South West?
Gaillac AOC
What is the production percentages of:
- Dry White
- Sweet White
- Rose
- Red
in Cotes de Gascone IGP?
- 75% Dry White
- 10% Sweet White
- 8% Rose
- 7% Red
What are two well known AOCs in the Pyrenees sub-region?
- Madiran
- Jurancon
Which two wine regions sandwitch the Garonne, Tarn and Lot sub-region?
- Bordeaux
- Languedoc
True or False
Cotes de Bergerac AOC whites can be dry, semi-sweet or sweet.
False
Cotes de Bergerac whites cannot be DRY.
Name the two well known AOCs in Dordgone/ Bergerac sub region.
- Bergerac
- Monbazillac
In Bergerac, what is focused for red blends made there?
Early ripening Merlot to soften the more astringent tannins of the two Cabernets.
What is the wine style of Madiran AOC?
Red only
Must contain more than 50% Tannat
What are three primary soil types the vines are planted in Cahors AOC?
- Limestone plateaus of the Causses
- Gravelly slopes
- River terraces
What is climate of Dordogne/Bergerac sub-region as a whole?
Continental
What is the speciality grape of Fronton?
Negrette
What four RED grapes are primarilly used in Bergerac/Dordogne?
- Cabernet Sauvginon
- Cabernet Franc
- Merlot
- Cot
Name the top four AOCs by the South-West region’s production.
- Bergerac AOC (22%)
- Cahors AOC (12%)
- Gaillac AOC (11%)
- Monbazillac AOC (8%)
What are two sweet wines from Gaillac are called?
- Gaillac Doux
- Gaillac Vendanges Tardives
List FOUR wine styles made in Jurancon AOC.
- Dry White
- Semi-Sweet White
- Sweet White
- Vendanges Tardives
What are the followng grapes called in Madiran:
- Fer Servadou
- Cabernet Franc
- Fer Servadou = Pinenc
- Cabernet Franc = Bouchy
Which South-West grape variety has been adopted in Uruguay?
Tannat
Which culture influenced the South-West historically?
Basque
Name three primary white grapes of Gaillac AOC.
- Len de l’El / Loin de l”Oeil
- Mauzac Blanc
- Muscadelle
True or False
Jurancon Sweet and Jurancon Vendanges Tardives wines are affected by Noble Rot.
False
What grape variety resulted from the cross of Gros Cabernet (a Hondarribi Bleza x Fer Servadou cross) and Cabernet Franc?
Carmenere
What grape is a cross of South-West native Magdelaine Noire des Charentes and Cabernet Franc which originated in Spanish Basque Country?
Merlot
True or False
Cotes de Gascogne IGP production is 75% dry white.
True
What are two grape vareties used for Methode Ancestrale in Gaillac AOC?
And two varieties for Traditional Method?
- Methode Ancestrale - Mauzac Blanc and/or Rose
- Traditional Method: Len de l’El and Mazac
Name the second largest IGP in production volume in France.
Cotes de Gascogne IGP
Second only to Pays d’Oc IGP
What four grape varieties typically make up Gaillac AOC Whites?
- Mauzac
- Mauzac Rose
- Muscadelle
- Len de l’El
How are Gaillac white primeur style wine made?
- Cool fermentation
- Early bottling
Deliverying a very fresh, simple quaff that represents a small niche segment of production
Are some South-West Reds made as vin primeur?
Yes
What are the two ways that Blanc Sec Perle can be made?
- Carbon Dioxide can be captured during malolactic conversion so when bottled the wine retains the “peales”
- CO2 can be added to the wine after malolactic conversion is complete
This appellation is equidistant from the Atlantic and the Pyrenees and is bordered by Saint-Mont to the north.
Name the AOC
Madiran AOC
How is the sweet wine of Pachrenc du Vic Bilh AOC made?
Passerillage Only
Not by Botrytis infection
What is the minimum passes required for Jurancon Vendanges Tardives wines?
At least two passes
What is the minimum sweetness level required for Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC White Sweet Wine?
4.5% / 45 g/l
Which two grape varieties are crafted for Vendanges Tardives in Gaillac AOC?
How are the grapes harvested?
- Len de l’El
- Ondenc
- Passerrillage
- Botrytis
- Hand harvested
What are two beneficail end results of Micro-Oxydation?
- Softens the tannins
- Eliminates Reduction issues
What are the soils of Fronton AOC?
Sandy clays (Boulbenes)
Name SIX rivers that influence the South-West region.
- Dordogne
- Lot
- Tam
- Garonne
- Gers
- Adour
For Jurancon AOC Sweet wines, in addition to Passerillage (raisining on the vine), are they also botrytized?
No.
Passerillage only
What are three styles of Sparkling wines produced in Gaillac AOC?
- Methode Ancestrale
- Traditional Method
- Blanc Sec Perle
True or False
All Monbazillac wines must use 50% of the primary varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Muscadelle).
False
Requires 80% of the primary grapes
Name the red grape used to make Gaillac Primeur.
- Red: 100% Gamay
True or False
Bergerac AOC allows for Varietal wines.
False
All wines must be blends of at least two varieties and contain up to 50% of the primary varieties
List the borders of the South-West wine region
- West - the Atlantic
- East - the Massif Central
- South - the Pyrenees
- North - Bordeaux
What is the native grape to the Adour River Basin and main grape in Madiran?
Tannat
What is the grape variety used for Rose wines in Gaillac AOC?
Mauzac Rose
What appellation is the largest dessert wine appellation by size and volume in France?
Monbazillac AOC
What two styles of Sweet whites are made in Gaillac AOC?
- Doux
- Vendanges Tardives
What are three primary grarpes used in Gaillac Rose and Red wines?
- Duras
- Syrah
- Fer Sevadou
As a general rule, are the wines of Monbazillac AOC sweeter than those from Saunternes?
Yes
Name the varieties as a result of the cross between Cabernet Franc and South-West native Magdeleine Noire des Charantes.
Merlot
What two grapes (either one or both) must constitute Vendanges Tradives Sweet wine of Jurancon AOC?
- Gross Manseng
- Petit Manseng
Name one white grape variety popular for dry and sweet wine, another variety important in Gaillac.
- Len de l’El / Loin de l’Oeil for white
- Mauzac Blanc for sparkling
True or False
Irouleguy AOC makes only dry and sweet white wines.
False
It only makes Rose and Red wines.
What RED grape variety is used as a primary or secondary grape throughout the Garonne, Tarn and Lot sub-region?
Cot
What is the style of wines Cahors AOC?
Red wines only
What are two primary white grapes in the Pyrenees sub-region?
- Gros Manseng - bring freshness to thedry wines of Jurancon, Saint-Mont and Pacherene du Vic-Bilh
- Petit Manseng - Develops high sugar levels white maintaining acidity - for sweet wines of Jurancon and Pacherene du Vic-Bilh
What are soils of Madiran AOC?
Pebble-studded limestone rich clays and silts
What AOC features Negrette grape variety?
Fronton AOC
What three soil types found in Pecharmant?
- Red clay
- Flint
- Gravels
Jurancon AOC sweet wines are labeled “Jurancon”. What does label show for dry white wines made in Jurancon.
Jurancon Sec.
What are four white grape varieties that primarilly make up Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh AOC?
- Gros Manseng
- Petit Manseng
- Corbu
- Petit Corbu
What two synonyms Fer Servadou are known for?
- Braucol
- Pinenc
What Red varieties must be included in Irouleguy Red wines?
- Tannat
and/or
- Cabernet Franc
What is general climate of the South-West?
Continental
The appellaitons are influenced by the topographical features that are in closest proximity. to them
Name the principal grape of Madiran AOC and the country it became the speciality grape.
- Tannat
- Uruguay
This versitile grape has been cultivated in Fronton as far as can be remembered.
It can produce both fruity red and rose wines to enjoy in their youth as well as substantial wines capable of aging.
Negrette
Which river is in close proximity to Coteaux du Quercy, Fronton and Gaillac?
Tarn River
What was the most planted grape in South-West before phylloxera?
Cot
Historically how were the wines of Cahors AOC known for?
“Black Wines of Cahors