Wine Appellations and Styles

Question 1

Vin de pays

Answer 1

Vin de pays - 90,000ha / 40% of total area production

1. Requirements: Max 80hl/ha; variety &vintage on the label; wine to pass tasting panel; 85% rule
2. Mainly Cabernet sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay & Viognier
3. Covers the whole Languedoc area; other VdP appellations represent 26% of production

Question 2

1. Languedoc

Answer 2

Languedoc

1. Covers 3 départements between Massif central & Mediterranean sea; produces a 1⁄4 of France production
2. Key ACs (east to west):
   
   1. Costieres de Nimes
   2. Languedoc - Superior crus ACs:
      
      1. La Clape:
      2. Pic Saint Loup
      3. Montpeyroux
      4. Picpoul de Pinet
   3. Faugeres
   4. Saint Chinian
   5. Minervois
   6. Corbieres
   7. Fitou - 2 zones:
      
      1. Fitou maritime: clay & limestone soils + sea influence -> softer, more rounded wines; Mourvedre
      2. Fitou de Hautes Corbieres: schist soils + less sea influence -> more structure; Syrah

Question 3

Languedoc - Costieres de Nimes AC

Answer 3

Costieres de Nimes (R/W/R) – 3,000ha AC / 25,000ha overall

1. One of the hottest climate in France; Soils low-lying and covered with stones (//Chateauneuf du Pape)
2. 3⁄4 of reds w min 25% Grenache -> similar style to the Southern Rhone: powerful & fleshy

Question 4

Languedoc - Languedoc AC

Answer 4

Languedoc (R/W/R) – 10,000ha

1. Around Montpellier; 2,000 producers; 47hl/ha; 400,000hl w 78% reds; 12% white and 10% rosé
2. Spicy full bodied reds from max 40% Carignan max 40% Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
3. Whites made from at least 2 between Grenache blc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul
4. Superior crus ACs:
   
   1. La Clape: mainly whites with minimum 40% Bourboulenc
   2. Pic Saint Loup: 500ha in 12 communes north of Montpellier; Syrah+Grenache+Mourvedre 90% of plantings
   3. Montpeyroux: historically Carignan dominated; Syrah, Mourvedre & Cinsault overtaking; good VdP too.
   4. Picpoul de Pinet: varietal AC; green gold lemon-flavoured, hi acidity whites; dominated by cooperatives.

Question 5

Languedoc - Faugeres AC

Answer 5

Faugeres (R/W/R) – 2,000ha

1. North of Béziers; hi altitude vineyards on the foothills of the Cévennes
2. Homogeneous soils of schist suited for best quality reds esp. Syrah
3. Max 40% Carignan; inclusion of Grenache, Mourvedre & Syrah; 42hl/ha avg yield
4. Full bodied reds with spice and slight rusticity. Complex & elegant examples aged in oak.
5. Whites made from Roussanne (min 30%) and Rosés made from Cinsault.

Question 6

Languedoc - Saint Chinian AC

Answer 6

Saint Chinian (R/W/R) – 3,300ha / 130,000hl/yr

1. Situated between Faugeres & Minervois, north of Béziers with 2 Zones:
   
   1. South: lime clay soils -> reds with body and tannins
   2. North: schist soils with some estates producing some fine fuller softer reds
2. Max 40% Carignan; Cinsault up to 30%; 42hl/ha avg yield

Question 7

Languedoc - Minervois AC

Answer 7

Minervois (R/W/R) – 5,000h / 150,000hl production; 94% of reds, 4% rosé & 2% white

1. Western part of Languedoc; east of Carcassonne; stretches across 61 communes in Hérault & Aude;
2. 5 climates & different terroirs e.g. Minervois La Liviniere first sub-AC/cru in 1998 -> full bodied reds
3. Carignan, vinified with full or partial carbonic maceration is limited to max 40% of blends Mourvedre & Syrah must be min 20%. Grenache noir & Cinsault also in the blend. Whites made from Rolle & Macabeo.
4. Considerable cooperative & individual investment to drive quality & innovations

Question 8

Languedoc - Corbieres AC

Answer 8

Corbieres (R/W/R) – 15,000ha

1. Large quantity AC w 587,000hl & 2,000 producers;
2. At the foot of Pyrenees -> mix of mountains, valleys and areas of sparse rocky terrain -> 11 distinct terroirs
3. Carignan max 50% of blend, usually with Grenache; Avg yields: 45hl/ha
4. Full bodied, herby reds; small amount of white & rosé

Question 9

Languedoc - Fitou AC

Answer 9

Fitou – 2,500ha

1. Sub-appellation of Corbieres since 1948 -> all Fitou can be bottled as Corbieres; 9m btls/yr;
2. 2 zones:
   
   1. Fitou maritime: clay & limestone soils + sea influence -> softer, more rounded wines; Mourvedre
   2. Fitou de Hautes Corbieres: schist soils + less sea influence -> more structure; Syrah
3. Nowadays, semi-carbonic on Carignan then blended w Mourvedre & Syrah for finer tannins & spicier aromas

Question 10

Roussillon

Answer 10

Roussillon

1. Single department: Pyrénées orientales; Hot & driest region in France w continuous northerly Tramontane winds.
2. Key ACs:
   
   1. Cotes du Roussillon (R/W/R) – 7,700ha
   2. Cotes du Roussillon-villages (Reds only)
   3. Limoux – 1,800ha

Question 11

Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon AC

Answer 11

Cotes du Roussillon (R/W/R) – 7,700ha

1. Whole plain btw Pyrénées and the sea; 188 communes
2. Reds - Min 3 varieties: Syrah/Mourvedre min 20% of blend; white Macabeo up to 10%; Grenache. →Robust and Spanish-style reds
3. Whites – Grenache Blanc+Macabeo+Tourbat = min 50% of blend; Marsanne+Roussane+Rolle = min 20% →Full bodied, fragranced & low in acidity whites

Question 12

Roussillon - Cotes du Roussillon-villages AC

Answer 12

Cotes du Roussillon-villages (Reds only)

1. Superior appellation from River Agly Valley, inland from Perpignan & up to 600m towards Mt Canigou
2. Specific hill sites in the valleys to the north w terroir only comparable to Alsace in richness & complexity
3. Min. 3 varieties in blend: Carignan max 60%; Syrah and/or Mourvedre min 30%; Cinsault & Macabeo forbiddenHi acidity, deep coloured bitter wines, w more spice and concentration vs. CdRss. Carbonic to soften wines
4. North: Caramany, Tautavel, Latour-de-France & Lesquerde are individual communal appellations
5. South: Les Aspres –recognised terroir since 04. Rosés & whites made in the area -> ‘Cotes du Roussillon’

Question 13

Roussillon - Limoux AC

Answer 13

Limoux – 1,800ha

1. Mainly Sparkling but Red AC since 2005 (2,800hl) and some white.
2. Merlot must be 50% of blend with Carignan no more than 10%; Syrah+Malbec+Grenache = 30%