South of France - Languedoc - The Growing Environment and Grape Growing
4 important questions on South of France - Languedoc - The Growing Environment and Grape Growing
Describe the environment of the Languedoc
- Low lying alluvial plain
- 220.000ha (under vine is half of what it was in 1968): removal was due to overproduction
- Mediterranean climate
- Great range of Rhône varieties (GSMCC) and local varieties (piquepoul)
- Large volumes of single variety wines sold as IGP
- sourced in the past from Algeria till 1973.
- Was big up till 1950s with 90% produced by Coops.
- Even todays coops account for 2/3 of the area's production
- The largest source of everyday wine in France
- today: inexpensive wines accompanied, with small production high quality wines.
What is the Climate of the Languedoc?
- Mediterranean; very favorable for wine growing
- high levels of sunshine
- rainfall < 600 mm/y
- very warm summers
- low moisture levels and cool dry Tramontane n-w wind 200 days/year > therefore low degree of fungal diseases > growth of organic winemaking
- low spraying, low cost
- Low rainfall can also reduce production, where no irrigation is placed in dry years
Describe Carignan, the most planted black variety in Languedoc
- Late budding
- avoid spring frost
- late ripening
- needs long ripening season
- high yielding (>200 hl/ha)
- popular in past
- prone to powdery mildew and grape moths
- Tannic
- bunches firmly attached to vine
- no machine harvest possible
- replaced with other varieties after EU vine pull scheme (neutral wines with high yielding, no machine harvest)
- high acidity and tannins
- > softening by maceration carbonique or blending
- unoaked, medium ruby, blackberry, high acidity, high tannins
- acceptable-good
- inexepensive
- good-outstanding:
- older vines are oaked
- intense black fruit
- spice and earthy
- Higher grades + faster learning
- Never study anything twice
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
How are vines grown in Languedoc?
- Historically bush vines
- to shade the bunches, adapted to the climate
- In recent decades more trellises
- mechanisation possible > reducing costs
- IGP wines in general machine harvested
The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:
- A unique study and practice tool
- Never study anything twice again
- Get the grades you hope for
- 100% sure, 100% understanding
![Trustpilot Logo](/images/design_2020/lp/clp-trustpilot-en.png)