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Sud de France Master-LevelWebinar Program

Webinar 3:Grapes and Winemaking

The Players in the Game

Look at the major and some minor grape varieties of the regionA resume of the types of wine and winemaking techniques used.Understand the wine quality designations of the region

Learning Objectives

AOC VDN OC IGP Sparkling

White varieties

M = Minervois blanc

BourboulencCarignan blancChardonnayChasanCheninColombardClairetteGrenache blancGrenache grisMacabeuMalvoisie du RoussillonMarsanneMauzacMuscat à petits grainsMuscat d’AlexandriePicquepoul blancRoussanneSauvignonSémillonTerretUgni blancVermentinoViognier

M

Red and Rosé varieties

C = CabardèsM = MalepèreL = LimouxCR = Crémant

Cabernet francCabernet-SauvignonCarignan noirMarselanCinsaultCotGrenache noirGrenache grisLladoner PelutMerlotMourvèdrePetit VerdotPinot noirPortanSyrah

AOC VDN OC IGP

C – M C – M

C – M – L

C – M - L

L – CR

56 varieties allowed for IGP Pays d’Oc

Primary grapes

56 varieties allowed for IGP Pays d’Oc

Secondary grapes

White Grape Varieties

Main Local Varieties :

– Piquepoul Blanc– Grenache Blanc– Grenache Gris– Bourboulenc– Muscats– Macabeu– Roussanne– Marsanne– Clairette– Mauzac

White Grape Varieties

Important Local varieties

– Grenache Gris– Bourboulenc– Macabeu– Mauzac– Clairette– Vermentino (Rolle)

White Grape Varieties

International Varieties

– Chardonnay– Sauvignon Blanc– Viognier

White Grape Varieties

Out of favour

– Chasan– Terret– Ugni Blanc

White Grape Varieties

Surprises

– Gewurztraminer– Riesling– Sylvaner– Altesse– Pinot Blanc

Red Grape Varieties

Main Local Varieties

– Grenache Noir– Carignan– Syrah– Mourvèdre– Cinsault

Red Grape Varieties

International Varieties

– Cabernet Sauvignon– Cabernet Franc– Merlot– Cot (Malbec)– Pinot Noir

Red Grape Varieties

Out of favor

– Alicante Bouschet– Portan– Marselan– Chenanson

Red Grape Varieties

Surprises

– Carmenère– Mondeuse– Négrette– Nielluccio– Petit Verdot– Tempranillo

Gobelet /Bush vineTraditional method. Used for old varieties esp Grenache and Carignan

TrellisingModern vineyards planted on posts and wires.Irrigation.

Viticulture

Vinification, maturation and characteristics

Traditional maceration after crushing

Carbonic maceration (Ex: Carignan )Flash-Détente process, Thermovinification

Microbullage (micro-oxygenation)Mandatory malo-lactic fermentation Maturation:

- AOC: an average of 2 years in vat or in wood - VDPOC (Wines of Pays d ’Oc): from 6 months to 2 years

(barrels, chips)

Dry red wines (*different types of vinification)

Vinification, maturation and characteristics

Vinification obtained by bleeding after a few hours of maceration

Vinification obtained by direct pressing

Possible malo-lactic fermentation

Maturation : “Age-able” wine (which is sometimes vinified and aged in oak barrels)

Dry Rosé wines

Vinification, maturation and characteristics

Mostly made from direct pressing; some maceration

Vinification at controlled temperatures

Some vinification in barrels

Possible malo-lactic fermentation

Stored in cellar:• Most of them should be drunk young (2

years)• Wines aged in oak barrels: longer-lived

Dry white wines

Vinification of Vins Doux Naturels (VDN)

1285: Arnaud de Vilanova

During fermentation, a 96% vol. neutral grape alcohol is added, in the amount of 5% to 10 % of the volume of the must in order to halt the yeast action

Some VDN are made by mutage “sur grains“; others by mutage in the liquid phase

Mutage

Vinification of Vins Doux Naturels (VDN)

Vinification of Vins Doux Naturels (VDN)

Vinification and maturation of VDNs

Red, Tuilé– Vinification either through:

• Mutage on must, long maceration in alcohol

• Mutage after pressing of must derived from traditional maceration

– Maturation of Red VDN Tuilé VDN

White, Ambré– Vinification either through:

• Maceration for a few hours• Direct pressing• Mutage sur marc (Muscat)

or on must (liquid phase)

– Maturation of White VDN Ambré VDN

Vinification of sparkling wines

Whole grape pressing

Juice selection and complete fermentation in temperature-controlled vats.

Just before bottling, a liqueur de tirage (mixture of yeasts and sugar) is added so that a second fermentation will take place in the bottle, thus enabling bubble formation; the yeasts convert the sugar into alcohol and fine bubbles. This second in-bottle fermentation lasts several months (at least 9 months for the Blanquette de Limoux and 12 for the Crémant de Limoux).

The daily remuage (riddling) in the pupitres allows the sediment deposit formed in the bottle to move into the neck. The neck of the bottle is then frozen in order to expel the deposit.

Before the final corking, a liqueur d’expédition (sugar dosage) is added which gives each cuvée its dry or semi-dry character.

Vins de pays d’Oc Vendanges Surmûries

Naturally sweet wines, resulting from the vinification of

an over-ripe harvest without alcohol ‘mutage’

The over-ripeness of the grapes can be obtained via:

• concentration on the vine or through ‘passerillage’

• noble rot

Natural sugar content in the must: minimum 252 g/L

Analytical norms as per the approved Appellation rules :

• Minimum (4.5%) 45 g/l residual sugar in the finished wine

France’s Organic Vineyards

France’s Organic Vineyards

EU rules for Organic

New EU rules from 2012 vintage

‘Organic wine” applies to winemaking as well as viticulture

Banned substances eg Sorbic Acid

Lower levels of SO2

No reciprocal agreement for US

Wine Quality designations

Wine Quality designations

Languedoc-Roussillon AOCs

– Languedoc+ 15 designations

– CorbièresCorbières Boutenac

– MinervoisMinervois La Livinière

– Saint ChinianSaint Chinian RoquebrunSaint Chinian Berlou

– Faugères– Limoux (Still & sparkling AOCs)– Malepère– Cabardès– Clairette du Languedoc– Muscat de Frontignan, de Lunel, de

Mireval et de Saint Jean de Minervois (VDN)

– Côtes du Roussillon• Côtes du Roussillon Les Aspres

– Côtes du Roussillon Villages• Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Caramany• Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour

de France• Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Lesquerde• Côtes du Roussillon Villages

Tautavel– Collioure– Muscat de Rivesaltes (VDN)– Rivesaltes (VDN) – Maury (VDN) and Sec – Banyuls & Banyuls Grand

Cru (VDN)

AOC LANGUEDOC AOC ROUSSILLON