21. Southern France Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in 21. Southern France Deck (15)
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1
Q

Southern France - 3 areas? IGP?

A
  • West of Rhône: Languedoc, Roussillon
  • East: Provence
  • IGP Pays d’Oc: covers Languedoc & Roussillon
2
Q

Climate?

A
  • warm Mediterranean climate
  • summer often in excess of 30°C
  • mild winters, low rainfall levels in growing season
  • ideal for growing grapes
3
Q

Winds - 2? mountains - 3?

A

2 cool dry winds from the north:

  • Mistral from North down Rhone valley between Massif Central & Alps
  • Tramontane West between Massif Central & Pyrenees
4
Q

Geographic variability? better? worse? grape growing challenges (3)?

A
  • very diverse
  • vineyards in inland in foothills of mountains –> cooler, less fertile, well-drained soils
  • coastal plains –> hot, opposite (fertile, not well-drained)
  • biggest challenge: warm, dry climate
  • fungal diseases less of a problem
  • summer floods can happen
5
Q

grape varieties - most prominent black or white? top 5+2 black?

A
  • local: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvèdre

- international: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

6
Q

top 5+2 black varieties - character?

A
  • Syrah: cooler sites
  • Grenache: warmer sites
  • Carignan: widely grown, high tannin/acid/colour but lack in fruit/finesse. High yields, so often - not always - poorer quality
  • Cinsault: used in rosé, add red fruit flavours to red blends
  • Mourvèdre: only in warmest sites, adding richness, colour, complexity
  • Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon: significant plantings, often used for IGP wines
7
Q

technologies?

A
  • most wines benefited from investments in modern equipment, improved cellar hygiene, temp control, oxygen mgmt, judicious use of oak
  • semi-carbonic maceration sometimes practiced, can play role in softening tannins of Carignan
8
Q

white varieties - 2 dominant? other - 1? local ones - 2?

A
  • Chardonnay & Sauvignon blanc, used a lot in IGP
  • Viognier: significant
  • most widely local: Muscat (mostly for sweet fortified wines), Grenache Blanc (soft peachy fruitiness, full body, low acidity, but oxidises easily, often blended)
9
Q

5 white local varieties - best known?

A
  • Picpoul (Pinet, best known) - high acidity, green fruit & citrus flavours
  • Mauzac (Limoux)
  • Maccabeu (Roussillon)
  • Rolle (Provence)
  • Clairette (Languedoc, Provence)
10
Q

Largest appellation? from where to where? better sub-regions?

A
  • Languedoc AC
  • from Spanish border to Nimes
  • those sub-regions can add their name to the label alongside Languedoc AC
11
Q

Vast majority of appellation wines - grapes? typical? cooler? best wines? rosés?

A
  • Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, lesser extent Mouvèdre
  • difficult to describe typical wine because manyappellations are large and very diverse in climates and soils
  • cooler: lighter tannins, often best Syrahs,
  • warmer: Mouvèdre at its best, some meaty, gamey flavours
  • best: full-bodied, concentrated spicy, red fruit often with oak flavours
  • rosés: often soft and fruity
12
Q

Languedoc - 6 appellations? short descriptions?

A
  • from SW to NE: Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Fitou, Corbières, Minervois, Picpoul de Pinet
  • Côtes du R.: more mountainous
  • Côtes du R Villages: best, in the North
  • Fitou: N of C. du R. V. - split in two (coast, mountain - lighter wines)
  • Corbières: warmer sites near coast cooled by tramontane, 11 subregions
  • Minervois: cooled by Atlantic influences
  • Picpoul de Pinet: whites, near coast
13
Q

IGP wines - volume? coverage? why so successful?

A
  • more IGP wines in Pays d’Oc than in any other region in France
  • cover all departments from Languedoc, Roussillon
  • success due to several factors:
    • IGP regulation allows for more flexibility (grape varieties, labelling)
    • warm sunny climate
  • most wines excellent value for money
14
Q

Provence - climate advantage? predominant wines? characteristics

A
  • several split up valleys protected from Mistral, great variety of climates and soils
  • Rosés!: very pale in colour, light-bodied, dry, flavours of grapefuits, red fruits
  • reds: range from fresh, fruity to full-bodied, barrel-matured
15
Q

Provence - largest appellation? majority of production? other appellations - where? what? most famous? characteristics?

A
  • Côtes de Provence
  • Rosés
  • along the coast 3 pockets of vineyards, each with its own AC
  • Bandol: premium reds based on Mourvèdre, dark, full-bodied reds with powerful tannins, ageing in bottle