What are the 3 topographical zones that the Languedoc is divided into?
1) Coastal plains
2) Mountains & hillsides
3) Atlantic corridor
Describe the climate of the Languedoc
- Essentially 2 seasons: mild winters and hot, dry summers
What issues do sea breezes have here? How are these countered?
- Bring unwanted moisture to the vineyards
- Countered by the Tramontane (bring cool air during the summer months and chase humidity)
Which topographical zones achieve the most concentrated wines and why?
- Mountainous areas
- The vines here achieve true winter dormancy, cooler summers and diurnal temperature swings
What are the synonyms of the following grapes?
- Rolle
- Ugni Blanc
- Malbec
- Nielluccio
- Rolle (Vermentino)
- Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)
- Malbec (Côt)
- Nielluccio (Sangiovese)
What style of wine dominates in AOC Languedoc? What are the main varieties used?
- Red
- GSM, Lladoner Pelut, Cinsault & Carignan
What style of wine dominates in Clairette du Languedoc? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- White
- Clairette
- Limestone
What style of wine dominates in Picpoul de Pinet? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- White
- Picpoul
- Limestone
What style of wine dominates in Faugéres-Cru? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- GSM, Cinsault & Carignan
- Schist
What style of wine dominates in Saint Chinian? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- GSM, Lladoner Pelut, Cinsault & Carignan
- Schist (north), Clay/limestone (south)
What style of wine dominates in Terrasses du Larzac? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- GSM, Cinsault & Carignan
- Clay, stone, ruffe and limestone
What style of wine dominates in Minervois? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- Shiraz, GM, Carignan, Cinsault, Terret, Aspiran, Piquepoul Noir
- Clay, limestone, sandstone, marble & schist
What style of wine dominates in Corbieres? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- Carignan, GSM, Lladoner Pelut & Cinsault
- Limestone
What style of wine dominates in Fitou? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- Carignan/Grenache & SM
- Clay limestone (maritime) & limestone/sandstone (Haut Fitou)
What style of wine dominates in La Clape-Cru? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- GSM, Carignan & Cinsault
- Limestone
What style of wine dominates in Cabardés? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- Merlot, Cab Franc & Sav, Syrah, Grenache, Malbec, Fer & Cinsault
- Limestone
What style of wine dominates in Malepére? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red
- Merlot, Malbec, Cab Franc, Cab Sav, Grenache & Cinsault
- Clay/limestone
What style of wine dominates in Limoux? What are the main varieties used? What are the main soil types here?
- Red, white & sparkling
- Red: Merlot, Malbec, Cab Franc & Sav, Grenache, Syrah & Carignan
- White: Mauzac, Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay
- Limestone with sandstone, quartz & clay
What style of wine dominates in Blanquette de Limoux? What are the main varieties used? What are the ageing requirements and styles made? What is special about this AOC?
- Sparkling
- Mauzac, Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay
- 9 months ageing sur lie. Brut or demi-sec.
- Oldest sparkling wine in the world
What varieties are used in Crémant de Limoux? What are the ageing requirements? How are rosé wines made?
- Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac & Pinot Noir
- 12 months ageing sur lie
- Rosé styles introduced in 2006 are achieved by blending <10% Pinot Noir to the assemblage.
What varieties are used in Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale? What are the 2 distinct ways the wines are made? What is the max abv and RS level? What are the ageing requirements?
- 100% Mauzac
1) Partially fermented must is chilled in December and bottled in March producing a lightly sparkling wine that is slightly cloudy due to the yeast.
2) Chill the partially fermented must and then bottle with the addition of yeast and disgorge after 2-3 months. - <7% abv and 60-80g/L RS
- The wine needs to be aged for at least 2 months before release.
What varieties are used in the production of still white wine from Limoux? What are the grape handling and ageing requirements?
- Mauzac, Chardonnay & Chenin Blanc
- Grapes must be hand-harvested and barrel fermented
- Wines must be aged in barrel until May the following vintage (min 7 months)
What varieties are used in the production of dry red wine from Limoux? What are the grape handling and ageing requirements?
- Merlot, Malbec, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cab Franc & Sav.
- The wine must be a blend of at least 3 of the above varieties
- Grapes can be hand-harvested or machine-picked.
- Wines must be aged in tank or barrel for at least 7 months.
What grape variety are all Languedoc VDN wines made from?
- Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc
