Roussillon

Question 1

How many hectares are under vine in Roussillon?

Answer 1

21,000ha

Question 2

Many vineyards in Roussillon are in the foothills of which mountains?

Answer 2

The Pyrenees

Question 3

What percentage of Roussillon wines are made by co-ops?

Answer 3

75%

Question 4

Describe the climate in Roussillon, including rainfall.

How does this affect growing conditions here?

Answer 4

Warm, windy Mediterranean climate with high sunshine hours. Moderate rainfall: 500-600mm

Wind and low rainfall reduce disease pressure and decrease yields

Question 5

What type of weather can threaten viticulture in Roussillon?

Answer 5

Drought can be an issue in dry years

Question 6

Has area under vine in Roussillon increased or decreased since 1990?

Answer 6

It has decreased; land under vine is now one third of what it was previously

Question 7

What four grapes are commonly used for red wine production in Roussillon?

Answer 7

Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
Carignan

Question 8

Describe what vine training methods you would expect to see in Roussillon and why these might be chosen

Answer 8

Many bush vines; well adapted to the climate, providing shading, but require manual labour adding to cost.

New vineyards planted on trellises to aid mechanisation.

The amount of flat land suitable for trellising is in Roussillon is far less than in the Languedoc.

Question 9

What percentage of vineyard area in Roussillon is classified as AOC?

Answer 9

70%

Question 10

What percentage of Roussillon wine is sold domestically?

Answer 10

80%

Question 11

What 3 country’s are the top three export markets for Roussillon wines?

Answer 11

China
Belgium
Germany

Question 12

What area is covered by the Côte de Roussillon AOC?

Answer 12

Large appellation (5,000ha) including the entire department of Pyrenées Orientale

Question 13

Describe the topography of Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC.

Answer 13

Vines grown on slopes at 100m to 400m with the cooling influence of altitude contributing to higher acidity in the wine.

Less than half the size of Côtes du Roussillon AOC.

Question 14

Why might Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC wines be more expensive than Côtes du Roussillon AOC?

Answer 14

• Vines Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC vineyards are tended by hand as they are planted on slopes
• Permitted yields are lower for Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC

Question 15

What are the permitted yields for Côtes du Roussillon AOC?

What are the permitted yields for Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC?

Answer 15

Côtes du Roussillon AOC:
48hl/ha

Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC:
45hl/ha

Question 16

What are the principal varieties in Côtes du Roussillon AOC and Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC ?

What stipulations are there on the final blend?

Answer 16

Carignan
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre

2 varieties minimum
No single variety can exceed 80%

Question 17

How many villages may append their name to Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC if 100% grapes are from there?

How does this affect the permitted yield?

Answer 17

5

Maximum yield goes down to 42hl/ha

Question 18

Some Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC villages require Carignan to be vinified in a particular way - what is this?

Answer 18

They require Carignan to be made with Carbonic maceration to promote the primary fruit and limit tannin extraction

Question 19

Collioure AOC has the same boundaries as which VDN producing appellation?

Answer 19

Banyuls

The area extends along the coast to the Spanish border.

Question 20

What is the maximum yield in Collioure AOC?

Answer 20

40hl/ha

Rarely achieved; yields are low, around 20 to 25hl/ha

Question 21

What are the principal varieties in Collioure AOC reds?

Whites?

Answer 21

Red wines:
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre

White:
Grenache Gris

Question 22

IGP ____ _____ overs the Pyrénées-Orientales département and is used by producers for both red and white wine

Answer 22

IGP Côtes Catalanes

Question 23

Name a significant producer in IGP Côtes Catalanes.

Answer 23

Domaine Gauby