Vins Doux Naturels - Growing environment and grape growing

4 important questions on Vins Doux Naturels - Growing environment and grape growing

Climate for VDN (= in France)

  • General climate Mediterranean
  • Roussillon warmest and driest
    • Tramontane wind
      • 1 > greater transpiration from the grapes during end of ripening
        • > greater concentration of sugar
        • > less spirit is needed
        • (high sugar > longer fermentation > producing more alcohol before reaching the desired level of residual sugar for the final wine)
      • 2 > also reduces yield

Muscat à Petits Grains

  • Most widely planted
  • smaller grapes then Muscat of Alexandria
  • greater intensity of aromas and flavour
  • tolerant of dry weather > suited to Mediterranean climates in which rain during growing season is scarce
    • > popular, mainly in dry unfortified wines > plantings increasing
  • susceptible to
    • powdery mildew
    • botrytis bunch rot
    • mites

How is the canopy for VDN and why

  • A shady canopy is wanted in the warm climate to reduce the chances of sunburn and excessive grape shrivelling
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How big and when are the yields for VDN and when and how harvest

  • Yields are small, generally 30 hl/ha
  • by law grapes must be picked with a minimum of 14,8% abv potential alcohol
  • producers generally want to retain as much acidity as possible to balance the residual sugar in the wines
    • > not much longer than the 14,8% abv
  • hand-harvest
  • several passes depending on ripeness of the grapes
  • late harvest - botrytized characters not desired

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