What are the main soils in Provence?
Where are they found?
- Limestone / Clay
- Inland, most of NW Provence
- Narrow corridor from Les Arcs - Toulon that has a mix
- SE Provence has crystalline (quartz) schist.
Provence:
What is Garrigue?
- Garrigue
- found on limestone soil
- resinous herbs grow on this
Provence:
What are the principle white grapes?
- Viognier
- Rousanne
- Marsanne
- Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano)
- Rolle (Vermentino)
- Grenache Blanc
- Muscat a petits grains blanc
- Bourboulenc
- Clairette Blanc
- Pascal
- Picardan
- SB
- Chardonnay
- Semillon
- Spagnol
- Pignerol
- Picpoul
- Blanqueron
Provence:
What are the principle red varieties?
- Grenache
- Syrah
- Mourvedre
- Cinsault
- Carignan
- Counoise
- Terret Noir
- Tibouren
- Braquet
- Calitar
- Folle Noire
- Clairette rose
- Barbaroux
Provence:
How does direct press and saignée methods affect the wine?
Direct:
- explosion of aromatics with little tannin
- paler in colour
Saigée:
- grapes left to macerate for 8-24 hours
- more colour
- more tannin
- less complex aromatics
Provence:
What is the difference between vins de soif and vins gastronomique?
Soif:
- thirst quenching wines
- light bodied and refreshing
Gastronomie:
- deeper in colour
- structured
- full bodied
- to be enjoyed with food
What are the 2 bottle types in Provence?
Skittle
St-Tropez
What are Côtes de Provence AOC unique attributes?
- Made up of 5 seperate vineyard areas
- Largest AOC - 85 communes
- Responsible for 75% of the all the wine in Provence
- Has Provence’s Cru Classe = ranking of 18 estates within this AOC
- There are 4 geographic designations within the AOC; only on rose and reds
- Sainte-Victorie
- Frejus (reds, must spend 6 months in oak barrels (foudres)
- La Londe
- Pierrefau
- Reds and roses must contain at least 2 of the primary grapes:
1. Grenache
2. Syrah
3. Mourvedre
4. Cinsault
5. Tibouren
What is unique about Coteaux d’Aix-en-provence?
- 2nd largest AOC
- Mistral heavily influences this area
- Whites must be at least 50% rolle
- Reds/Rose are GSM blends as the backbone
What is unique about Les Baux de Provence?
- Located west/nw of Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
- Stronghold for organic / biodynamic viticulture
- Produces more red
- Reds are mainly GSM
- they must age for a year
Provence:
What’s unique about Palette AOC?
- Smallest AOC
- Produces mainly reds
- reds must age for 18 months
- Whites must be at least 55% Clairette Blanch, Clairette Rose, Picardan, Bourboulenc
– Makes ‘vin cuit’; a wine prodduced in Palette AOC by cooking grape must
What is unique about Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC?
- Experiences Continental climate to the North
- Mediterranean to the South
- Whites must be at least 30% Rolle
- Reds / Rose are GSM and Cinsault Blends
Provence:
What’s unique about Cassis AOC?
- Sheltered from the Mistral by the Massif des Calanques
- Mainly white (70%) produces from Marsanne / Clairette blend
Provence:
Why is Bandol AOC unique?
- Produces mainly rosés
- Mourvedre is the main var for reds/rosés
- Whites are at least 50% Clairette Blanche
- Bourboulenc and/or Ugni Blanc may be added
- Reds MUST be aged
Provence:
What’s unique about Bellet AOC?
- Produces reds/rosés/whites in equal amounts
- Bellet DOESN’T allow Bordeaux vars
- Rolle is the dominant white var
- reds/rosés are Bracquet and Folle Noir dominant; indigenous grapes that Bellet are known for
- surrounds the city of Nice
Provence:
What’s unique about Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC?
- Northern most AOC;
- strong Alpine influences
- Wines mirror that of the Rhone
- some with vars
- Whites must be Grenache Blanc and Rolle
What are the mountain ranges in Provence?
- Mount Ventoux
- Saint-Victoire
- Massif des Calanques
- Les Alpilles
- Sainte Beaume
- Massif de Maures
- Massif de L’Esterel
Provence:
What is Maquis?
A mix of resinous herbs found on quartz soil
– woody vegetal ; also herbs but different characteristics
Provence:
What AOC is known for organic and biodynamic farming?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
Provence:
Which AOC makes more red wine than rosé?
Les Baux de Provence AOC
What are the four geographic designations of the Cotes de Provence AOC?
- Sainte-Victoire
- Frejus
- La Londe
- Pierrefeu
Provence:
What is the climate?
Med w/ some alpine and contential influences from the north
Provence:
What is the only AOC that allows Chard?
Bellet AOC
Provence:
What are restanques?
Terraced stone walls in vinyeards, especially Bandol
