South Of France Flashcards
(37 cards)
What is the climate in Southern France?
Warm Mediterranean
Describe the warm Mediterranean climate experienced in Southern France?
Mild winters
Low rainfall during the growing season
What areas are particularly suitable for quality viticulture in Southern France and why?
The foothills of the mountains.
Noticeably cooler.
Less fertile soils.
Well drained.
Name two cool, dry winds that are common in Southern France and describe their location.
Tramontane: From the north west between the Pyrenees and the Massif Central
Mistral: From the north, down through the Rhone Valley.
Which two climate-related risks are associated with Southern France?
Drought
Summer floods
Which locally important red grape variety is well adapted to the dry summer climate in Southern France?
Grenache
Which locally important red grape variety performs better in cooler sites in Southern France?
Syrah
Which red grape variety is widely grown and has high tannins, acidity, colour, enormous yields but lacks fruit in Southern France?
Carignan
Which red grape variety is often used in Southern France, like the Rhône Valley, for the production of rosé wines?
Cinsault
Which red grape variety can ripen successfully only in the warmest sites and adds richness, colour and complexity (meaty, gamey flavours) to blends in Southern France?
Mourvèdre
Which two international red grape varieties can be used in the production of IGP wines in South France?
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Which two international white grape varieties dominate Southern France and are used in IGP wines?
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Which white Southern France grape variety is used to create wines with refreshing high acidity with green fruit and citrus flavours?
Picpoul
Used in Picpoul de Pinet
What is the generic appellation in Southern France that covers all the other appellations in Languedoc and Roussillon?
Languedoc AOC
Languedoc and Roussillon can be thought of as having two general types of geography. What are they?
Coastal Plains
Mountain Foothills
Describe the geology and climate of Côtes du Roussillon AOC & Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC.
Rugged mountainous
Cooler than coastal plain
Bright sunshine
Low rainfall
Particularly strong winds cooling Tramontane
Winds produce concentrated wines passerillage
Fitou AOC has a coastal region and a cooler inland area at altitude. Which produces fuller wines with more body?
The warmer coastal strip.
What is the name of the strong cooling Atlantic wind that cools Corbieres AOP, Minervois AOP and Côtes du Roussillon AOP?
Tramontane
Minervois AOC in Southern France is cooled by the Tramontane winds and varying altitude associated with which mountain range?
Massif Central
What climatic effect helps Picpoul de Pinet wines hold onto their fresh acidity?
Cooling sea breezes.
Which IGP from Southern France is the largest in France?
Pays d’Oc
What factors have helped Pays d’Oc to dominate the IGP value for money wines in France?
Warm, sunny climate.
Wide range of grapes that are allowed to be varietal-labelled.
Which Southern France appellation is responsible for rosé wines that are pale in colour, light bodied, dry, with flavours of grapefruit and red fruit?
Côtes de Provence AOP
Which French appellation produces premium reds from Mourvèdre with dark fruit, full bodied with powerful tannins and that, with bottle age, show flavours of bramble, meaty & liquorice-spice?
Bandol AOC
