Vins Doux Naturels Flashcards
The term Vins Doux Naturels (VDN) describes a category of French wines made sweet by the addition of spirit during fermentation. There are a number of PDOs for these wines, spread throughout Roussillon, Languedoc and the southern Rhône, with around 80 per cent of production coming from Roussillon.
The general climate in all the VDN PDOs is
Mediterranean.
——– is the warmest and driest region and is influenced by the Tramontane wind all of which leads to greater transpiration from the grapes during the end of ripening, and hence a greater concentration of sugar.
Roussillon
A grape with a high level of sugar can ferment for longer, producing more alcohol, before reaching the desired level of residual sugar for the final wine. T/F
True
How is a greater concentration of sugar in the grapes is more beneficial?
Although this reduces juice yield, less spirit is needed to fortify a wine
The majority of VDNs are produced from ——
Muscat or Grenache Noir
This Muscat variety is the most widely planted in France.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains suited to Mediterranean climates because
It is tolerant of dry weather where rain during the growing season is scarce.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is susceptible to ….
powdery mildew/oïdium, botrytis bunch rot and mites
This Muscat variety has bigger grapes than Muscat Blanc and achieves high sugar levels.
Muscat of Alexandria
——- is a late ripening variety with good drought resistance, making it suitable to Mediterranean climates. It produces high yields, but can be relatively pale in colour unless these are controlled.
Grenache Noir
Why is Grenache Noir suitable for production of fortified wines?
It accumulates sugar quickly
Grenache Noir is susceptible to —-
coulure at fruit set,
downy mildew,
phomopsis and
botrytis bunch rot
Why is a shady a canopy is required for growing grapes for VDNs?
To reduce the chances of sunburn and excessive grape shrivelling
Grapes for VDN must be picked with a minimum of 14.8% abv potential alcohol.
True
For VDN Late harvest or botrytized characters are not desired.
True
For VDN Grapes tend to be hand-harvested, and there may be several passes through the vineyard depending on the ripeness of the crop.
True
Why is a neutral spirit of 95–96% abv is used in the production of VDNs?
so that the character of the spirit does not compete with the character of the base wine and/or maturation.
_____ are produced by adding grape spirit to stop fermentation early to give a sweet, fortified wine.
VDNs
Spirit is added when the fermentation reaches —— abv to makes wines of 15–18% abv.
5–8%
Why VDNs do not have a particularly spirity character?
Only approximately 5–10 per cent of the volume of the wine is made up of the fortifying spirit.
What are the two VDN Appellations in the Rhône?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and
Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau
The vines of —— are planted on terraces on the south-east facing slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Grapes for the production of red and rosé VDN wines
Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge, a dark-skinned mutation (Brown Muscat in
Australia)
Due to —– winemaking the VDN wines usually show primary aromas and flavours including blossom, grape, peach and honey.
protective
A significant producer of VDN wines in Rhone include ——
Domaine des Bernardins
How many VDN appellations are there in Languedoc?
4
The largest appellation in Languedoc for VDNs, is ———, and it is based south west of Montpellier at low altitude, and is hence relatively warm. It produces
wines with a fuller body than many of the other appellations and displays aromas of tropical fruits.
Muscat de Frontignan
What is the climate of the Languedoc appellation for VDNs, Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois is located in the north east corner of Minervois at 250–300m elevation?
cool continental which gives wines higher acidity, lighter body and more stone fruit and floral aromas.
What colour is Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau?
Red, Rose or white
What is the style of Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau?
can be made in unaged or oxidative styles.
What is the requirement for red Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau?
Minimum of 75 per cent Grenache Noir; Grenache Gris and Grenache Blanc as well as a number of other Southern Rhône varieties can also be blended in.
Where are the vineyards for Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau located?
Southern Rhone, on gentle south-facing slopes, providing maximum exposure to sunlight and some protection from the cool Mistral.
What is a giving for red Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau?
juicy, almost jammy fruit flavours. Unaged wines can show notes of cherries and plums, with oxidative styles showing more dried fruit and nutty hints.
What is the abv level of Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau?
Levels of alcohol are generally low to medium, with 16–18% abv being typical
VDNs represent 45 per cent of all this AOC production
Roussillon
This style denotes unaged styles of red VDN wines.
Grenat is the term used in Maury and Rivesaltes, Rimage in Banyuls in Roussillon.
This style denotes a red wine that has been matured oxidatively.
Tuilé is the term used in Maury and Rivesaltes, Traditionnel in Banyuls in Roussillon.
This style denotes a white wine that has been matured oxidatively.
Ambré > Roussillon
This style denotes a wine that has been matured oxidatively for a longer period than Tuilé or Ambré wines. The wines can be red or white.
Hors d’âge > Roussillon
This style denotes a wine with ‘rancio’ character. The wines can be red or white.
Rancio > Roussillon
This appellation covers a wide yet specifically delineated area for VDNs produced outside the five leading AOCs but can include declassified wines from those AOCs.
Grand Roussillon AOC
This appellation is located at the eastern end of the Pyrenees, bordered by the Mediterranean to the east and Spain to the south.
Banyuls AOC
What is the soil of Banyuls AOC?
Schist
Where is Domaine Vial-Magneres located and what do they produce?
Banyuls AOC, at the eastern end of the Pyrenees, VDN from minimum of 50 per cent Grenache Noir
This appellation covers the same area as Banyuls, but the wines can only be red, must be made of a minimum 75 per cent Grenache Noir and must be matured for a minimum of 30 months.
Banyuls Grand Cru AOC
Banyuls Grand Cru AOC that have been aged longer than 30 months may qualify to be labelled as
Hors d’âge or Rancio
This appellation is located in the north of Roussillon. The vines are planted at 100–400 m in the foothills of the Pyrenees on dark-coloured schist soils that store heat from the day and
release it at night, aiding ripening.
Maury AOC
What is Maury Sec AOC?
Dry, unfortified wines made from Grenache Noir in Maury
What is the requirement for Maury AOC?
The red VDNs must be made from a minimum of 75 per cent Grenache Noir.
This is by far the largest appellation in Roussillon in terms of production. It is often made from a blend of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria, and only made in an unaged style.
Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC
What is the requirement for white Rivesaltes AOC?
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.
Where is Rivesaltes AOC located?
in the north of Roussillon close to the Mediterranean coast
Where is Domaine Cazes located?
Rivesaltes AOC
VDNs are always sweet and should be served well chilled.
True
Muscats and Muscatels are produced from Muscat grapes. Apart from Muscat d’Alsace and dry Muscats from Australia, Muscat wines are all sweet and raisin-like with a strong Muscatel bouquet.
True
This AOC is produced in Vaucluse in the Cotes-du-Rhone and takes its name from the village of Beaumes-de-Venise
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
This is classified as a natural sweet wine—vin doux naturel (VDN) and although it is very sweet, no sugar has been added. It is rarely sold under a vintage, and is at its best when young; it is not for keeping.
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
