Provence/Corsica - Nellites

Question 1

What is the primary grape variety used in Côtes de Provence AOP?

Answer 1

Cinsault

Other grape varieties include Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah.

Question 2

What is the wine style of Côtes de Provence AOP?

Answer 2

• Dry rosé dominates (90%)
• Rosés must be a blend of two varieties
  — CANNOT blend red and white wine to make rosé

Question 3

Which grape variety must constitute at least 50% of Bandol AOP?

Answer 3

Mourvèdre

Other permitted varieties include Grenache and Cinsault.

Question 4

What is the wine style of Bandol AOP?

Answer 4

Dry, red wine-dominant

This indicates that the primary wine produced is predominantly dry red.

Question 5

RED grapes of Côtes de Provence AOP?

Answer 5

• Cinsault
• Grenache
• Syrah
• Mourvèdre
• Carignan
• Tannat
• Tibouren

Question 6

Where is the birthplace of wine in France?

Answer 6

• Provence
• Phoenician merchants established the first vineyards around 600 BC
• Romans further developed viticulture and wine production in the region

Question 7

What foods pair well with Côtes de Provence dry rosé?

Answer 7

• Shellfish
• Fish
• Local fare
• Bouillabaisse

Question 8

Which wines are associated with Bandol?

Answer 8

• Domaine Tempier
• Château de Pibarnon
• Château Pradeaux

Question 9

What geographical features are found in Provence?

Answer 9

Rolling foothills

These foothills contribute to the unique terroir of the region.

Question 10

Name three grape white varieties commonly grown in Provence.

Answer 10

• Clairette
• Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano in Italy)
• Rolle (Vermentino in Italy)

These grapes are essential for producing both white and rosé wines in the region.

Question 11

Where in France is Provence?

Answer 11

• Southeastern corner of France
• East of Languedoc-Roussillon
• South of the Rhone Valley
• Bordered by:
  — Rhône River (West)
  — The French Riviera (East, AKA Côte d’Azur)
  — Mediterranean Sea (South)

Question 12

What are the five sub zones of Côtes de Provence AOP?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Provence climate factors

Answer 13

• Mediterranean
• Mistral winds: Same as the Rhône!
  — Fierce winds that blow from the North towards the Mediterranean
  — Keeps things DRY and pest free

Question 14

Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence AOP

Answer 14

• Second largest AOP
• Heavily influenced by the Mistral winds
• Rosé is King. Red and white also found
• Cabernet Sauvignon grown in small amounts
  — Brought by Georges Brunet (owner of Chateau La Lagune) after WWII

Question 15

Les Baux-de-Provence AOP

Answer 15

• RED dominates
• Hottest, furthest west
• Alpilles Mountains (Run East-West)
• Domaine de Trévallon
  — Refuse to comply with AOP regulations so they bottle as IGP
  — Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah dominate blend
  — Patriarch drew on 50 posters before he died (2000), they use a different poster for every vintage

Question 16

What’s does ‘skittle’ refer to in Provence?

Answer 16

• Hourglass shaped bottle
• I dunno why it’s a thing