Lesson 4 Principle Wine Regions of the World a unique gift from nature and the earth’s geology

Grape varieties: Black: Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon (for red and rose).

Languedoc – Roussillon (also called the Midi): location, soils and appellations

Huge viticultural area,together provides one-third of France’s vineyard acreage and an average yearly production of 18 million hectolitres of wine.

Grape varieties: AC Black: Carignan, Cinsualt, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah (for AC red and rose). VDP Black: Merlot, cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Mourvedre (for VDP red and rose). VDP White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier.

Main appellations : Languedoc ACs: Clairette de Bellegarde, Costieres de Nimes, Coteaux du Languedoc, Clairette du Languedoc, Faugeres, St. Chinan, Minervois, Cabardes, Cotes de la Malapere VDQS, Limoux, Cremant de Limoux, Blanquette de Limoux, Corbieres, Fitou. Pic St-Loup = Coteaux du Languedoc Cru.

Roussillon ACs: Cotes du Roussillon-Villages, Cotes du Roussillon, Collioure.

Fortified wines or Vins Doux Naturels : Languedoc: Muscat de Lunel, Muscat de Mireval, Muscat de Frontignan, Muscat de St-

Jean de Minervois. Roussillon: Maury, Riversaltes and Muscat de Riversaltes, Banyuls.

Key ACs to look for are; Fitou, Corbieres, Costieres de Nimes, Cotes du Roussillon, Faugeres, Minervois, St Chinian and Coteaux

du Languedoc.

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.10 France (continued) [ South West Region ]

• The wines of the south west don’t fall into any single category. They range from the dry reds and whites of Galliac to sweet Jurancon whites, full red Buzet and the powerful wines of Cahors. The area also produces a large amount of Vin de Pays.

• Location : South West of France, Climate: continental, with some maritime influence in the west.

• SW France Black grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.

• SW France White grape varieties: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc.

• South West – key wines: Dry wine: Vin de Pays, Sweet White: Jurancon

• Red: AC Cahors, AC Cotes de Buzet, AC Gaillac.

• The Micro Technique: Micro-oxygenation (called microbullage) developed by Patrick

• Ducournau of la Chapelle Lenclos, this process introduces O2 (a timbel per litre, this

• slows oxygenation in the wine and microfuses the wine, helps reduce painful tannin levels

• achieved in this region.

• SW France (sometimes referred to Bordeaux look-alikes) : main appellations: AC

• Bergerac: Red, rose and white, AC Cotes de Duras, AC Buzet, AC Cahors, AC Madiran,

• Vin de Pays des Cotes de Gascogne, AC Gaillac.

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.11 Germany [ Wine Map of Germany ]

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.11 Germany (continued)

• Background: German wines are full of character and interest unlike most wines they were made not for drinking with

• food, but for social occasions. Germany’s vineyards lay along the river Rhine and its tributaries. They are scant in the

• extreme south and thickest in Rheinland-Pfalz near the French border. German wines are all about sweetness.

• Climate and weather: Germany has a Northern continental climate, this variable weather (for example spring frosts,

• heavy rains in July and August) gives rise to vintage variations but the long autumns encourage noble rot.

• Grape varieties: black Spatburgunder, Dornfelder , white Riesling (accounts for a quarter of all plantings, Muller

• Thurgau, Kerner, Scheurebe.

• Vinification: Chaptalisation allowed with the exception of QmP wines, Sussreserve (sterile grape juice) could be used for

• sweetening wines at bottling.

• Key Areas and Wines: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: Bernkastel, Piesport, Saar, Ruwer, Nahe: Schlossbockelheim, Rheingau:

• Rudesheim, Hochheim, Johannesburg, Rheinhessen: Theinterrace, Nierstein, Pfalz: Forst, Deidesheim, Baden:

• Kaiserstuhl-Tuniberg. (Further information: Chapter 4 – pp. 118)

• Riesling: Germanys most famous noble variety was first discovered in the Johannesburg region, other versions of this

• famous grape which should not be confused as they are poor imitations include the Welsh Riesling (Austrian), Laski

• Rizling (Slovenia), and the Olaszrizling (Austrian).

• German wine classification: Quality wines – 2 top levels: Qualitatswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA),

• Qualitatswein mit Pradikat (QmP) (Further information: Chapter 4 – pp. 115). 2 bottom levels: Deutscher Tafelwein, Landwein

• (simliar to Vin de Pays in France, can come from one of 17 designated regions).

• IP number: all German wines must have an IP number for total traceability and quality indication.

• QmP Level: at this quality level only natural sugar is allowed not Chaptalisation.

• Liebfraumilch: this famous QbA wine from Germany, actually got it’s name from medieval times and is always made from a blend of four

• grape varieties (Silvaner, Kerner, Muller-Thurgau and Riesling-only a sprinkle of this one). Liebfruammilch can come from 1 of these four areas

•