Vine Doux Natural 5.3 Appellations and Wine Styles

Question 1

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Where are the VDN Appellations (big appellations)?

Answer 1

• *Southern Rhone**
• *Languedoc**
• *Roussillon = 80% production**

Question 2

What are the VDN appellation in the Rhone valley?

Answer 2

• *Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise**
• *Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau**

Question 3

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise topography and climate?

Answer 3

part of the Rhone valley

• *terraced vineyards** are planted on South east facing slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail -
• *shelter from Mistral** winds which aids in ripening

Question 4

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise vast majority characteristics? white? describe the wine’s characteristics?

Answer 4

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains - white - made in unaged style
Acidity and body medium
low alcohol for a fortified wine (around 15% abv).
Due to protective winemaking - show primary aromas and flavors blossom, grape, peach and honey
Domaine des Bernardins- significant producer

Question 5

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise: name the red grape here and list the style made? (Protective or not protective?)

Answer 5

Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge, a dark-skinned mutation (Brown Muscat in Australia), red and rosé
Unaged style - protective measures

Question 6

Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau can be produced in what styles?

Answer 6

Made in Southern Rhone: red- mostly produced

• *rosé (made by saignee** method, and fortified off the skins)
• *white- tiny portions**

(Made unaged or Oxidative styles)

Question 7

Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau Red production what grapes?

Answer 7

red wine must have Grenache Noir minimum of 75%
others that can be blended in include:
Grenache Gris
Grenache Blanc
number of other Southern Rhone Varieties

Question 8

Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau appellation characteristics?

Answer 8

gentle south facing slopes ,
providing maximum exposure to sunlight and
some protection from the cool Mistral,
grapes easily become very ripe, juicy, jammy fruity flavors
ABV generally low to medium with 16-18% typical

Question 9

Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau -choice of oxygen protection? what is the resulting characteristics?

Answer 9

made either protected unaged or oxidized aged
if unaged (protective style)- show notes of cherries and plums
if aged (Oxidized style) show dried fruit, nutty hints

Question 10

describe the style of VDNs from Languedoc?

Answer 10

only grape and style: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, unaged
Subtle differences between the 4 appellations

Question 11

Name 2 (of the 4) VDN Appellations in Languedoc?

Answer 11

Muscat de Frontignan - the largest

Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois

Question 12

Muscat de Frontignan: where is this appellation and describe characteristics?

Answer 12

Appellation in Languedoc

is based south west of Montpellier at low altitude, relatively warm, fuller body, displays aromas of tropical fruits.

Question 13

Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois: where is this appellation and describe characteristics?

Answer 13

Appellation of Languedoc

is based north east corner of Minervois, 250–300m elevation, continental, higher acidity, lighter body and more stone fruit and floral aromas.

Question 14

Compare VDN production volume between Rhone, Roussillon and Languedoc?

Answer 14

• *Rhone= tiny portion**
• *Languedoc - 2% of all production**
• *Roussillon - 45% of all production**

Question 15

The wines of each Roussillon appellation are made in a range of styles to include?

Answer 15

GRATH
Grenat/ Rimage
Rancio
Ambre
Tuile/ Traditionnel
Hors d’age

Question 16

Grenat/ Rimage

Answer 16

VDN style found in Roussillon
____ denotes unaged styles of red wines.
Grenat is the term used in Maury, Muscat Rivesaults, and Rivesaltes,
Rimage in Banyuls.

Blanc: denotes unaged styles of white wines.

Question 17

Tuilé /Traditionnel

Answer 17

VDN style found in Roussillon
denotes a red wine that has been matured oxidatively.
Tuilé is the term used in Maury and Rivesaltes,
Traditionnel in Banyuls.

Question 18

Ambré

Answer 18

VDN style found in Roussillon
denotes a white wine that has been matured oxidatively.

Question 19

Hors d’âge

Answer 19

VDN style found in Roussillon
denotes a wine that has been matured oxidatively for a longer period than Tuilé or Ambré wines.
The wines can be red or white.

Rivesaults and Banyul Grand

Question 20

Rancio

Answer 20

VDN style found in Roussillon
descriptors: leather, wood varnish, strong coffee, where the chemical compounds extracted from wood, oxygen, and time all play a role
The wines can be red or white.

Rivesaults nad Banyol Grand

Question 21

Banyuls AOC location? and topography of vineyards?

Answer 21

Roussillon AOC within
This appellation is located at the eastern end of the Pyrenees,
Mediterranean to the east
Spain to the south.
The vineyards are planted on steep terraced schist slopes.

Question 22

Name the VDN AOCs in Roussillon?

Answer 22

Grand Roussillon AOC — Maury AOC

Banyuls AOC — Banyuls Grand Cru AOC

Rivesaltes AOC —Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC

Question 23

Grand Roussillon AOC

Answer 23

covers a wide yet specifically delineated area for VDNs produced outside the five leading AOCs
can include declassified wines from those AOCs.

Question 24

Banyuls AOC styles?

Answer 24

red wines - minimum of 50% Grenache Noir
can include Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris.
A small amount of white VDN is also made.

Style: Rimage (unaged) and Traditional (aged)

Significant producers include Domaine Vial-Magneres.

Question 25

Banyuls Granc Cru AOC

Answer 25

This appellation covers the same area as Banyuls,
wines can only be red,
must be made of a minimum 75 per cent Grenache Noir
must be matured for a minimum of 30 months. Traditional style
Wines that have been aged longer may qualify to be labelled as Hors d’âge or Rancio.

Question 26

Maury AOC where? and what soil & soil characteristics?

Answer 26

This appellation is located in the north of Roussillon.
The vines are planted at 100–400 m in the foothills of the Pyrenees
Soil: dark-colored schist soils that store heat from the day and release it at night, aiding ripening.

Question 27

Maury AOC style?

Answer 27

The red VDNs - Min of 75% Grenache Noir
Styles: Grenat (unaged) and Tuile (aged) found here
small amount of white is also made, usually in an unaged style.
Dry, unfortified wines can also be made in the same area, but these must be labelled as Maury Sec AOC

Question 28

Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC

Answer 28

• *largest appellation** in Roussillon in terms of production. I
• *often** made from a blend of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria,
• *only made in an unaged style - Grenat**

Question 29

Rivesaltes AOC where?

Answer 29

This appellation, in the north of Roussillon close to the Mediterranean coast

Question 30

Rivesaltes AOC white?

Answer 30

Both red and white VDNs are made in Grenat (unaged), Tuilé (aged), Ambré (aged), Hors d’âge (aged) and Rancio (aged) styles.

The whites can only be made with a maximum 20 per cent Muscat varieties, with the balance coming from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu and Malvoisie.

Question 31

Rivesaltes AOC Red?

Answer 31

Both red and white VDNs are made in Grenat, Tuilé, Ambré, Hors d’âge and Rancio styles.

The reds are mainly made from Grenache Noir.
Significant producers include Domaine Cazes.