How much of France’s VDN wine is produced in Roussillon?
80%
Describe the climate of Roussillon
- Mediterranean
- Pyrenees cast a rain shadow over the region meaning warm and sunny conditions
How many winds affect Roussillon and which is the prevailing wind?
- 8
- Tramontane (NW)
Describe the topography of Roussillon
- Comprised of hills and surrounded by mountains
- Corbieres Mountains due north
- Pyrenees due west and south
What effects temper the vineyards?
- Altitude
- Diurnal swings
- Winds
- Rivers
What are the two additional grapes of the Roussillon that aren’t grown in Languedoc?
- Muscat d’Alexandrie
- Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon or Malvasia)
What is the dominant wine style of the Côtes du Roussillon? What are the dominant grapes here?
- Red
- GSM, Carignan, Cinsault & Lladoner Pelut
What is the dominant wine style of the Côtes du Roussillon Villages? What are the dominant grapes here? How many villages can append their name to this appellation?
- Red
- Grenache-based but all wines must be a blend of at least 2 varieties. No variety can account for more than 70% of the blend.
- 4
What is the dominant wine style of Collioure? What are the dominant grapes here? What other region does Collioure share the same delimited area with?
- Red, white & rosé
- Red: GSM & Carignan
- White: Grenache Blanc & Gris
- Banyuls (VDN)
What are the dominant wine styles of Maury? What are the dominant grapes here? What is the ageing requirement for dry red wines and what must be written on the label?
- Dry red and VDNs
- Dry reds: Grenache (but must be a blend of more than 2 varieties)
- VDNs: GSM & Carignan
- Dry reds must be aged for at least 6 months prior to release and say ‘sec’ on the label to avoid confusion with the VDNs
How many VDN AOCs are in Roussillon? What are they called and what colours can they be produced in?
- 5
- Rivesaltes (red, rosé and white)
- Muscat de Rivesaltes (white)
- Maury (red and white)
- Banyuls (red, rosé and white)
- Banyuls Grand Cru (red)
Which grape are red VDNs based on?
Grenache
What is the min abv, general RS level and harvest sugar level for VDNs?
- 15% abv
- 45 to >100g/L
- Harvested at 252g/L
Are all VDNs sweet?
No, but dry VDNs are rare.
What grapes are used in white VDN production in Rivesaltes, Maury & Banyuls AOCs?
- Grenache Blanc
- Tourbat
- Maccabeu
Muscat de Rivesaltes Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
- Yes (Muscat)
- No (except for very rare occasions)
- No
Rivesaltes Blanc Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
- No
- Yes (Ambré)
- Yes
Rivesaltes Rougue Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
- Yes (Grenat)
- Yes (Tuilé)
- Yes
Rivesaltes Rosé Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
- Yes (Rosé)
- No
- No
Maury Blanc Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
Yes (Blanc)
Yes (Ambré)
No
Maury Rouge Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
Yes (Grenat)
Yes (Tuilé)
Yes
Banyuls Blanc Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
Yes (Blanc)
Yes (Ambré)
Yes
Banyuls Rouge Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
Yes (Rimage)
Yes (Tuilé)
Yes
Banyuls Rosé Are they made reductively? Are they made oxidatively? Are they made extremely oxidised and or maderized? (If yes, what is it called?)
Yes (Rosé)
No
No
