South of France Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the main climatic influences in the South of France?
- Mediterranean climate: Hot, dry summers, mild winters
- Mistral and Tramontane winds: Reduce disease pressure
- Altitude and maritime influence in certain inland areas (e.g., Limoux, Cahors)
What style of wine is Provence most famous for?
Rosé wine, typically pale, dry, and delicate—especially from Côtes de Provence AOP.
What are the principal wines of Provence?
- Côtes de Provence – rosé, red, and white
- Bandol – structured red wines from Mourvèdre, also rosé and white
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence
What styles and grapes are typical in Languedoc?
- Red, white, rosé, sparkling (Crémant de Limoux)
- Grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
What are the principal AOP wines of Roussillon?
- Dry red and white wines from Grenache, Syrah, Carignan
- Fortified wines (VDN): Banyuls, Maury, Rivesaltes
What is the principal wine style of Bergerac?
red, white, and sweet wines similar to Bordeaux styles, often using Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon.
What is the principal red grape and wine of Cahors?
Malbec (also called Côt); produces dark, tannic reds often blended with Merlot and Tannat.
What grape dominates the wines of Madiran?
Tannat, producing powerful, structured red wines with aging potential.
What are the main VDN (Vin Doux Naturel) wines from the South of France?
- Banyuls – Grenache-based, red VDN
- Maury – Grenache Noir, similar to Banyuls
- Rivesaltes – Grenache, Muscat (white)
What grape is used in Muscat de Rivesaltes?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat of Alexandria.
Are VDL (Vin de Liqueur) wines commonly produced in the South of France?
Rare; most fortified wines are VDN, not VDL.
What is “Vin de Pays” and how is it structured in the South of France?
Vin de Pays (now called IGP – Indication Géographique Protégée) is a mid-level classification between table wine and AOP. Examples:
- IGP Pays d’Oc – covers much of Languedoc-Roussillon
- IGP Côtes Catalanes – Roussillon
- IGP Méditerranée – Provence & Rhône coastal areas
What is the difference between VDN and VDL wine production?
- VDN: Fermentation partially completed, then fortified
- VDL: Fortified before fermentation starts (rare in South France)
What are the principal wine styles of Bergerac AOP?
- Red and white wines using Bordeaux grapes (Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon)
- Similar to Bordeaux in structure and blends, but generally lighter and more accessible.
What style of wine is Monbazillac AOP known for?
Botrytised sweet wines made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle; similar in style to Sauternes.
What is the principal wine of Pécharmant AOP?
Structured red wines from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, with good aging potential.
What are the key styles and grapes of Fitou AOP?
- Full-bodied red wines from Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre.
- Located in Languedoc, with Fitou Maritime and Fitou Montagneux zones.
What grape and wine style define Cahors AOP?
- Malbec (aka Côt) is the dominant grape
- Produces deeply colored, tannic reds with aging potential
- Can be blended with Merlot or Tannat
What is the grape and style of Madiran AOP?
- Red wines from Tannat – bold, tannic, age-worthy
- Often blended with Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon
What style of wine is produced in Corbières AOP?
- Mainly red blends: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre
- Some rosé and small quantities of white
- One of the largest AOPs in Languedoc
What is Vin de Paille and where is it made?
- “Straw wine” made from grapes dried on straw mats to concentrate sugars
- Jura is famous for Vin de Paille from Savagnin, Chardonnay, Poulsard
- Style: sweet, concentrated, oxidative white wines
What wines are typical of the Jura region?
- Vin Jaune (oxidative wine from Savagnin)
- Vin de Paille (sweet wine from dried grapes)
- Light reds from Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir
- Crémant du Jura (sparkling wines)
What are the principal grapes of Gaillac AOP?
- Whites: Mauzac, Len de l’El, Muscadelle
- Reds: Duras, Fer Servadou, Syrah
- Diverse styles: dry whites, reds, rosé, sparkling (méthode gaillacoise), and sweet wines
Name key subregions of Provence and their wine focus.
- Côtes de Provence AOP – mainly rosé
- Bandol AOP – Mourvèdre-based red, plus rosé & white
- Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence – red, rosé, white
- Coteaux Varois en Provence – similar styles
- Les Baux-de-Provence, Cassis, Bellet – whites & rosés (Cassis = white from Marsanne)
