Languedoc and Roussillon

Question 1

Which Languedoc appellation claims to have first produced sparkling wines?

Answer 1

Limoux - sparkling discovered by the monks of Saint-Hilaire in 1531

Question 2

How was the impact of Phylloxera different in Languedoc compared to the other French regions?

Answer 2

They quickly respond to that adhering to the American rootstock (the first to do that) and the first to recover

Question 3

Which two appellation of Languedoc are known for producing single-varietal wines?

Answer 3

Clairette du Languedoc and Picpoul de Pinet AOCs

Question 4

Which grape variety is used in the production of Blanquette Methode Ancestrale?

Answer 4

Mauzac, 100%

Question 5

What is an Episode Cevenol?

Answer 5

Autumn weather phenomenon - trapped hot and cold air masses results in heavy rains that can last for days

Question 6

Languedoc has equal amounts of rainfall all year around. True or false?

Answer 6

False - rainy season before and after summer and can arrive in the form of violent storms

Question 7

What are the three topographical zones of the Languedoc region?

Answer 7

Coastal Region, Hinterland and Atlantic Corridor

Question 8

The VDN appellations of the Languedoc can be made reductively and/or oxidatively. True or false?

Answer 8

False - just reductively

Question 9

Languedoc’s soils are fairly homogenous. True or false?

Answer 9

False - there are a wide range of soils in Languedoc

Question 10

What is the western extremity of Languedoc known as?

Answer 10

The Atlantic corridor - here the Atlantic and Mediterranean weather patterns meet

Question 11

Most Languedoc red wines, at the AOC level, are single varietal. True or False?

Answer 11

False - most are blends including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan

Question 12

Historically, what effect did the Bordelais have on the Languedoc wine trade?

Answer 12

They blocked Languedoc wines from being sold through the Bordeaux port system to protect Bordeaux wine trade.

Question 13

In Languedoc, which grape variety is often fermented using Carbonic Maceration?

Answer 13

Carignan - to soften tannins

Question 14

Which grape variety is used in all Languedoc VDN AOCs?

Answer 14

Muscat a petit grains blanc

Question 15

What is garrigue?

Answer 15

scrub vegetation grown in Languedoc - can also be the name of the limestone soil and the name of the aroma found on those wines

Question 16

In what year was France’s first wine co-operative founded?

Answer 16

1905 in Maraussan near Beziers

Question 17

What are the name of the two sessions of the Fitou AOC?

Answer 17

Fitou Maritime (close to the coast) and Haut Fitou (further inland)

Question 18

In what year were Languedoc and Roussillon joined administratively?

Answer 18

1972

Question 19

Which Roman road traversed through the Languedoc, connecting Spain and Italy

Answer 19

Via Domitia

Question 20

What percentage of France’s organic vineyards are found in the Languedoc

Answer 20

38%

Question 21

Who discovered mutage?

Answer 21

Arnaud de Villeneuve of Montpellier in 1285

Question 22

What is the largest non-regional AOC in Languedoc in terms of geographic size?

Answer 22

Corbieres

Question 23

What are the 2 DGCs of Saint-Chinian AOC?

Answer 23

Berlou and Roquebrun

Question 24

What is the most westerly appellation in Languedoc?

Answer 24

Malepere AOC

Question 25

Languedoc is currently experimenting with which two Greek grape varieties?

Answer 25

Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko

Question 26

Which Languedoc appellation has planted an equal split of Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties?

Answer 26

Cabardes

Question 27

What is the climate of Roussillon

Answer 27

Mediterranean

Question 28

Roussillon is best known for what style of wine?

Answer 28

VDN

Question 29

What is Tramontane?

Answer 29

a cold, north wind that blows through Roussillon

Question 30

What grape is the most commonly used in the production of the dry whites of Roussillon?

Answer 30

Grenache Blanc

Question 31

What are the names of the three main rivers that weave through Roussillon?

Answer 31

The Agly, Tet and Tech

Question 32

Muscat de Riversaltes AOC extends into Languedoc. True or False?

Answer 32

True. It compasses the Fitou AOC

Question 33

What IGT covers most of the Pyrenees-Orientales departement?

Answer 33

Cotes Catalanes IGT

Question 34

Which VDN AOCs in Roussillon produce white, rose and red fortified wines?

Answer 34

Riversaltes AOC, Banuyls AOC

Question 35

What is the minimum number of grapes that must be in the Cotes du Roussillon-Villages blend?

Answer 35

at least of 2 varieties from the main varieties

Question 36

What is mutage?

Answer 36

addition of neutral spirit to fermenting must

Question 37

Many of Roussillon's key red grape varieties originated in Spain. True or false?

Answer 37

True. Example are carinena (Carignan), Mataro/Mourvedre (Monastrell) and Macabeu (Macabeo), Garnacha (Grenache)

Question 38

What is the traditional form of vine training in Roussillon?

Answer 38

Gobelet

Question 39

Maury AOC only produces VDN wines. True or False.

Answer 39

False. Within the borders of Maury AOC, white and red can also be produced.

Question 40

Which important IGP is shared between Languedoc and Roussillon?

Answer 40

Pays d'Oc IGT

Question 41

Banyuls Grand Cru must be made from at least 75% Grenache Noir. True or False?

Answer 41

True

Question 42

What is Muscat de Noel?

Answer 42

wines from Muscat de Riversaltes marketed for the Christmas period of the year of the harvest

Question 43

What are the name of the three mountains ranges that surround Roussillon?

Answer 43

Alberes mountains in the south, Corbieres to the North and Pyrenees to the west

Question 44

What is the main grape variety used to produce red VDN?

Answer 44

Grenache

Question 45

What is the southernmost appellation in mainland France?

Answer 45

Banyuls/Collioure

Question 46

The Languedoc AOC covers Roussillon vineyard areas. True or False?

Answer 46

True

Question 47

What are 2 labeling terms on VDNs that refer to red wines that have aged reductively?

Answer 47

Grenat (used in Riversaltes and Maury) and Rimage (used in Banyuls)

Question 48

What is meant by tuile?

Answer 48

VDN labelling term for slightly oxidised red wines that take on a tuile (clay-tile) colour

Question 49

What is meant by ambre?

Answer 49

VDN labelling term for white VDN - refers to the colour amber - controlled oxidation

Question 50

To what does Hors d'Age refer?

Answer 50

Oxidised VDNs aged for a minimum of 5 years

Question 51

What type of soil covers much of Roussillon?

Answer 51

Iron rich, sandy, red, water-retaining clay

Question 52

Which of the following is false? a. The grapes from IGP Pays d’Oc can be sourced from Roussillon as well as Languedoc b. Collioure and Banyuls share the same zone of production c. Maury Sec produces red and white VDNs d. The Muscat de Rivesaltes zone of production includes Fitou, Maury and Banyuls

Answer 52

c. Maury Sec produces red and white VDNs

Question 53

Which of the following grape varieties is red? a. Maccabeu b. Bourboulenc c. Mauzac d. Cinsaut

Answer 53

d. Cinsaut

Question 54

Banyuls is made predominantly from… a. Syrah b. Mourvèdre c. Grenache d. Muscat

Answer 54

c. Grenache

Question 55

Which of the following grapes is native to France? a. Syrah b. Carignan c. Mourvèdre d. Rolle

Answer 55

a. Syrah

Question 56

Which of the following AOCs is sparkling? a. Minervois b. Corbières c. Blanquette de Limoux d. Faugères

Answer 56

c. Blanquette de Limoux

Question 57

What is garrigue? a. A training method for grape vines b. Large round river stones c. Nutrient-poor limestone d. A hot southern wind

Answer 57

c. Nutrient-poor limestone

Question 58

Which of the following is not a vin doux naturel? a. Maury b. Banyuls c. Pic Saint-Loup d. Rivesaltes

Answer 58

c. Pic Saint-Loup

Question 59

Which of the following is not part of vin doux naturel label nomenclature? a. Rancio b. Hors d’Age c. Rimage d. Supérieur

Answer 59

d. Supérieur

Question 60

Which of the following AOCs is located in Roussillon? a. Cabardès b. Corbières c. Collioure d. Crémant de Limoux

Answer 60

c. Collioure

Question 61

Which of the following vins doux naturels is not located in Languedoc? a. Muscat de Rivesaltes b. Muscat de Lunel c. Muscat de Mireval d. Muscat de Frontignan

Answer 61

a. Muscat de Rivesaltes

Question 62

Which of the following pairings is incorrect? a. Corbières : Carignan b. Minervois : Syrah c. Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale : Mauzac d. Maury : Cinsaut

Answer 62

d. Maury : Cinsaut

Question 63

. Which of the following terms refers to a vin doux naturel that has been aged reductively? a. Tuilé b. Rancio c. Rimage d. Ambré

Answer 63

c. Rimage

Question 64

. Which of the following Languedoc AOCs does not fall into the « Atlantic Corridor » climate zone? a. Cabardès b. Malepère c. Limoux d. Fitou

Answer 64

d. Fitou

Question 65

Which of the following rivers is not found in Roussillon? a. Arc b. Agly c. Têt d. Tech

Answer 65

a. Arc

Question 66

. Which of the following appellations is a white AOC only? a. La Clape b. Saint-Chinian c. Pic Saint-Loup d. Picpoul de Pinet

Answer 66

d. Picpoul de Pinet