Provence

Question 1

What 3 appellations make up 96% of Provence production?

Answer 1

Côte de Provence
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOC
Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC

Question 2

What style of wine is produced in Bandol AOC?

Answer 2

Dry white, rosé, red

Reds must be aged min of 18 months in oak

Key grape is Mourvèdre (can’t be more than 95%), plus Grenache and Cinsault

Question 3

What style of wine is produced in Cassis AOC?

Answer 3

Dry white (71%), rosé, red

Key grapes are Clairette and Marsanne

Question 4

How many estates are classified as Cru Classé?

Answer 4

18 (was 23 originally)

Question 5

What are the 6 primary grapes of Provence?

Answer 5

Grenache
Cinsault
Syrah
Carignan
Vermentino (Rolle)
Mourvédre

Question 6

What is the Rhône delta, vast largely vine-less salt marsh called?

Answer 6

Camargue

Question 7

What chain of volcanic mountains lie between Fréjus and Cannes?

Answer 7

Massif de L’Esterel

Question 8

What mountain range runs along the edge of the Mediterranean coast between Hyères and Fréjus?

Answer 8

Massif des Maures

Question 9

What mountain range stretches from Toulon to Marseille?

Answer 9

Sainte-Baume

Question 10

What mountain range runs along the coast between Marseille and Cassis?

Answer 10

Massif des Calanques

Question 11

What is the most famous mountain of Provence thanks to paintings by Cézanne?

Answer 11

Montagne Sainte-Victoire

Question 12

What is the name of the chain of low mountains south of Avignon?

Answer 12

Les Alpilles

Question 13

What is the term for aromatic, resinous herbs that grow on alkaline soils (limestone soils)?

Answer 13

Garrigue (can refer to the scrub, the soil, or the fragrance of the herbs in wine)

Question 14

What is the term for an aromatic, resinous scrub that grows on acidic, quartz-rich schist?

Answer 14

Maquis

Question 15

What is the main soil type found in the eastern part of Provence?

Answer 15

Crystalline Schist

Question 16

What is the main soil type found in the western part of Provence?

Answer 16

Limestone and clay

Question 17

Who first brought viticulture to Provence and when?

Answer 17

The Phoceans in the 6th century BCE

Question 18

Provence wines became the drink of aristocrats during which period?

Answer 18

The Middle Ages

Question 19

Who became the first French king of Provence and when?

Answer 19

King Louis XI in 1481

Question 20

Who was the King when Provence officially became part of France in 1486?

Answer 20

King Charles VIII (the Affable)

Question 21

What area of Provence was most important for Cork production?

Answer 21

The Massif des Maures area

Question 22

What was the first Provençal AOC in 1936?

Answer 22

Cassis AOC

Question 23

What red grape is unique to the Bellet AOC?

Answer 23

Braquet Noir

Question 24

What is the Provençal synonym for Vermentino?

Answer 24

Rolle

Question 25

What are the training systems in Provence?

Answer 25

Older vines: Gobelet Newer: Guyot

Question 26

How are Provence grapes harvested in order to preserve acidity?

Answer 26

Harvested at night when grapes are cooler Picked earlier

Question 27

What 7 factors can affect the color of the wine?

Answer 27

The grapes used Ripeness of the vintage Temperature of the grapes at harvest Winemaking method Length of maceration Oxygen exposure Soil type

Question 28

What color rosé does Syrah and Mourvèdre produce?

Answer 28

Pink

Question 29

What color rosé does Tibouren produce?

Answer 29

Salmon

Question 30

How does acidity affect a wine’s color?

Answer 30

Higher acidity is more pink Lower acidity is more salmon

Question 31

How does the winemaking method: **direct press** or **Saignée** affect color?

Answer 31

Direct press creates delicate, pale colored rosés Saignée gives deeper colored rosés

Question 32

How can rosés achieve a more orange color?

Answer 32

Oxygen exposure Volcanic soils (like around Massif de L’Esterel)

Question 33

What are Vins de Soif?

Answer 33

Thirst quenching wines; light bodied, crisp, refreshing

Question 34

What are Vins de Gastronomie?

Answer 34

Gastronomic wines; deeper in color, fuller bodied, more structured. Meant to be drunk with food

Question 35

What 3 AOCs require oak aging for their red wines?

Answer 35

Fréjus Bandol Palette

Question 36

How many AOCs are there in Provence?

Answer 36

9

Question 37

What are the 5 DGCs of Côte de Provence AOC?

Answer 37

Sainte-Victoire Fréjus Notre-Dame des Anges La Londe Pierrefeu

Question 38

What style of wine is produced in Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire?

Answer 38

Red, rosé Carbonic maceration is permitted Reds must be aged until Aug 15th the year after harvest

Question 39

What style of wine is produced in Fréjus?

Answer 39

Red, rosé Reds must be aged until Oct 15th the year after harvest, and spend min. 6 months in oak (foudres)

Question 40

What style of wine is produced in La Londe?

Answer 40

White, red, rosé Reds must be aged until Aug 15th the year following harvest

Question 41

What style of wine is produced in Notre-Dame des Anges?

Answer 41

Red, rosé Reds must be aged until Aug 15th the year after harvest

Question 42

What is the only Côtes de Provence DCG that produces white wine?

Answer 42

La Londe

Question 43

What style of wine is produced in Pierrefeu?

Answer 43

Red, rosé Red must be aged until Oct 15th the year after harvest

Question 44

For Provence’s 1955 classification, is the estate or vineyard ranked?

Answer 44

The estate, as in Bordeaux

Question 45

What style of wine is produced in Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence?

Answer 45

At least two grape varieties are required in the blend. White (Vermentino dominant) Red (Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) Rosé

Question 46

What style of wine is produced in Coteaux Varois en Provence?

Answer 46

Red, white, rosé High elevation gives fresh acidity and more delicate fruit than other AOCs

Question 47

What are the low, man made stone wall terraces called in Bandol?

Answer 47

Restanques

Question 48

What AOC is known for organic and biodynamic farming?

Answer 48

Les Baux-de-Provence

Question 49

What is the smallest Provence AOC?

Answer 49

Palette

Question 50

What is **Vin Cuit**?

Answer 50

A local sweet wine (from **Palette**) made by cooking grape must for 10 hours over an open fire to concentrate the sugars

Question 51

What percentage of Provence wine production is rosé?

Answer 51

91%

Question 52

What are *Vins de Garde*?

Answer 52

Wines for aging (usually red)

Question 53

Which grape is dominant in Provence’s rosé blends?

Answer 53

Grenache

Question 54

How many hours of sun does Provence receive per year?

Answer 54

Around 3,000

Question 55

What is the most significant IGP in Provence?

Answer 55

Méditerranée IGP

Question 56

Which is Provence’s most northerly AOC?

Answer 56

Pierrevert

Question 57

Which is the only Provence AOC that allows Chardonnay?

Answer 57

Bellet

Question 58

Which AOCs/DCGs mandate oak aging for their red wines?

Answer 58

Fréjus Bandol Palette

Question 59

What is the climate of Provence?

Answer 59

Mediterranean with some continental and alpine influences depending on appellation

Question 60

In what year was the Provence classification system created?

Answer 60

1955

Question 61

What is Provence’s largest AOC by size and volume?

Answer 61

Côtes de Provence

Question 62

What is a “baou”?

Answer 62

A rocky outcrop

Question 63

Which AOCs require hand harvesting?

Answer 63

Bandol Palette

Question 64

What are the primary red varieties use in Bellet?

Answer 64

Braquet Noir Fuella Nera

Question 65

What are the dominant grapes in the Cassis AOC?

Answer 65

Marsanne Clairette