South of France

Question 1

Departments of Languedoc-Roussillon:

Answer 1

Languedoc - Aude, Herault, Gard
Roussillon - Pyrenees-Orientales

Question 2

Size of Languedoc-Roussillon:

Answer 2

220000ha - Languedoc
20000ha - Roussillon

Question 3

Describe Languedoc:

Answer 3

Co-ops important
Largest source of everyday wine in France
1/3 of France’s Organic production
Early drinking; carbonic maceration common

Question 4

Climate/vineyards of Languedoc?

Answer 4

Warm Mediterranean
Moderate rainfall (under 600mm)
Traditionally hand harvesting - moving to machine harvesting

Question 5

Describe Carignan:

Answer 5

Late budding
Late ripening
High yields
Prone to powdery mildew and grape moths
High acidity
High tannins

Question 6

Describe IGP Wines in Languedoc?

Answer 6

70% of total Languedoc
High yields (90-100hL/ha)
58 varieties allowed
Includes regional/departmental/named after geographic feature

Question 7

Describe IGP Pays d’Oc:

Answer 7

Biggest IGP producer in France
10-15% of all French wine
50% red, 25% white, 25% rose
Merlot, Cab Sauv, Chard, and Syrah are top 4
50% sold in France, 50% export - Germany, Netherlands, Belgium

Question 8

Describe the rules of Languedoc AOC’s:

Answer 8

All blends by law
Min/Max varietal requirements for each AOC
Most require GSM
Sub-zones can have different requirements than parent zone
Low max yields (45-50)

Question 9

Describe Languedoc AOC:

Answer 9

Principal varieties: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre
Minimum of 2 varieties, at least one must be a principal variety
No variety more than 80%
Principal varieties must be at least 40%
A non-principal variety has max of 30%

Question 10

Name Languedoc AOCs:

Answer 10

Corbieres AOC
Minervois AOC
Minervois La Liviniere AOC
Saint-Chinian AOC
Fitou AOC
Faugeres AOC
Pic Saint-Loup AOC
Terrasses du Larzac AOC
La Clape AOC
Picpoul de Pinet AOC
Malepere AOC
Cabardes AOC
Limoux AOC

Question 11

Describe Picpoul de Pinet AOC:

Answer 11

Grape Piquepoul
Dry
Med body
Med+/High acid
Med int
Lemon, light floral
Mainly exported - UK, USA, Netherlands
90% Co-op

Question 12

Describe Roussillon:

Answer 12

70% AOC
25% Vin Doux Naturels
75% Co-ops
Mostly red wines

Question 13

Climate/vineyards of Roussillon:

Answer 13

Warm Mediterranean
Windy
Moderate rainfall
High sunshine hours
Bush vines common

Question 14

Grapes of Roussillon:

Answer 14

Grenache Noir
Syrah
Carignan
Mourvedre
Muscat (Vin Doux Naturels)
Macabeu

Question 15

AOCs for dry wines in Roussillon:

Answer 15

Cotes du Roussillon AOC
Cotes du Roussillon Villages AOC
Collioure AOC

Question 16

Describe Cotes du Roussillon AOC:

Answer 16

Large (5000ha)
Max yield 48 hL/ha
Carignan - max 50%
Syrah/Mourvedre - min 25% combined
Min. 2 varieties

Question 17

Describe Collioure AOC:

Answer 17

Same boundaries as Banyuls AOC, but for dry wines
GSM for reds
Grenache Gris for whites
Low yields

Question 18

IGP wines in Roussillon:

Answer 18

IGP Cotes Catalanes
Covers Pyrenees-Orientales departement

Question 19

Describe Provence:

Answer 19

Pale pink rose made principally from Grenache Noir and Cinsaut - 90% of production
40% of France’s AOC rose

Question 20

Climate/vineyards in Provence:

Answer 20

Warm Mediterranean
Adequate rainfall
Double national average of organic vineyards
Traditionally bush vines, but most moved to trellised vines - mechanization

Question 21

Winemaking in Provence Rose:

Answer 21

Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, and Tibouren most popular
Up to 20% white varieties allowed
Direct press (most common) or short maceration (a few hours only)
MLF blocked
Premium: oak-aged

Question 22

Appellations in Provence:

Answer 22

Cotes de Provence AOC
Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
Les Baux de Provence AOC
Bandol AOC
Ballet AOC
Cassis AOC
Palette AOC

Question 23

Describe Cotes de Provence:

Answer 23

Large (20,000 ha)
Must be a blend
Max yield 55hL/ha

Question 24

Red wine regions of Provence?

Answer 24

Les Baux de Provence AOC
Bandol AOC

Question 25

Wine business of Provence:

Answer 25

1955 Cru Classe status given to 23 estates - 18 remain; no changes to this program
Export - USA largest, UK
Negociants and co-ops important