5.1: Vins Doux Naturels - The Growing Environment and Grape Growing

Question 1

What is the general climate in all the VDN PDOs?

Answer 1

Mediterranean

Question 2

Which VDN PDO is the warmest and driest?

Answer 2

Roussillon

Question 3

Describe the climate of Roussillon.

Answer 3

• warm, dry

- influenced by the Tramontane wind

Question 4

How does the climate of Roussillon affect the concentration of sugar in the grapes?

Answer 4

• warm, dry climate and wind lead to greater transpiration from the grapes during the end of ripening, and hence a greater concentration of sugar

Question 5

What is the main pro and con of the Roussillon climate making more concentrated sugars in grapes?

Answer 5

• Pro: less spirit is needed to fortify a wine to a certain level of alcohol while retaining a certain level of residual sugar (i.e. 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)
• Con: reduces yield

Question 6

What are the 3 main grape varieties?

Answer 6

1. Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
2. Muscat of Alexandria
3. Grenache

Question 7

What is the most widely planted Muscat variety in France?

Answer 7

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains

Question 8

Describe the qualities of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains compared to Muscat of Alexandria.

Answer 8

• smaller grapes

- greater intensity of aroma and flavour

Question 9

Describe the growing characteristics of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.

Answer 9

• tolerant of dry weather hence suited to Mediterranean climates in which rain during the growing season is scarce
• susceptible to powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and mites

Question 10

Why are plantings of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains increasing?

Answer 10

due to its popularity in dry, unfortified wines, either as a blending component (for aroma) or as a single varietal wine

Question 11

Describe the qualities of Muscat of Alexandria compared to Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.

Answer 11

• bigger grapes than Muscat Blanc

- achieves high sugar levels

Question 12

Describe the growing characteristics of Muscat of Alexandria.

Answer 12

• tolerant of dry weather

- susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot

Question 13

Why are plantings of Muscat of Alexandria decreasing?

Answer 13

is often thought to produce wines that are less refined than those from Muscat Blanc

Question 14

Describe the growing characteristics of Grenache Noir.

Answer 14

• late ripening
• good drought resistance
• high yields (can be relatively pale in colour unless these are controlled)
• accumulates sugar quickly
• susceptible to coulure at fruit set, and downy mildew, phomopsis and botrytis bunch rot (can reduce yields)

Question 15

In addition to the main three varieties, what other grapes may be used as part of the blend?

Answer 15

• Grenache Blanc
• Macabeu (the same as Macabeo in Spain)
• Grenache Gris

Question 16

In terms of canopy management, what is needed in most VDN PDOs? Why? For what style is this particularly important?

Answer 16

• shady canopy is required to reduce the chances of sunburn and excessive grape shrivelling
• particularly for unaged styles of Muscat

Question 17

How high are yields?

Answer 17

small, the maximum is generally 30 hL/ha

Question 18

By law, with what potential alcohol level must the grapes be picked? In practice?

Answer 18

• minimum of 14.8%
• in practice: picked slightly riper but overall producers generally want to retain as much acidity as possible to balance the residual sugar in these wines

Question 19

How are the grapes typically harvested?

Answer 19

• hand-harvested

- may be several passes through the vineyard depending on the ripeness of the crop

Question 20

What is not desired in this grapes?

Answer 20

late harvest or botrytized characters are not desired