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viscacatalunya: Cotlliure. Rosselló, Catalunya Nord.
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viscacatalunya: Cotlliure. Rosselló, Catalunya Nord.
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atsoukalidis: Southern France This post is based on the relevant lecture given by Konstantinos Lazarakis MW http://www.mastersofwine.org/en/about/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/CEEFD58C-F47F-4D5C-B1B8C23D55FEF22E at WSPC http://www.wspc.gr/ for the diploma level of WSET http://www.wsetglobal.com/ , the relevant study guide, Jancis Robinson’s http://www.jancisrobinson.com/ “Oxford Companion to Wine” 3rd edition http://www.amazon.com/The-Oxford-Companion-Wine-Edition/dp/0198609906/ref=pd_rhf_ee_s_cp_2 and various Internet sources (all referenced and linked to). The vineyards around the Mediterranean coast from Italy to Spain comprise the wine region of Southern France , with three main regions: Provence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provence_wine , Languedoc and Rousillon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languedoc-Roussillon_wine . This region is the source of most of the Vins de Table http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_wine of France with growers looking for quantity not quality in wine production. In the last years there was severe and rapid modernisation (mostly EU-funded). The region still has the image of a bulk wine producer since it produces a third of all French wine (90% of it is red). Vin de Pays legislation development gave this region the opportunity to develop monovarietal wines and thus attract skilled winemakers fron France and abroad (mostly US - Mondavi and Australia - Cobstellation wines - La Baume), making it France’s “New World”. There are about 1,000 estates and 285 co-operatives, with 22 large negociant houses. Southern France as a wine region, is the logical extension of the southern Rhone region. The varietal blend is very close with enlarged plantings of Carignan. The Vin de Pays legislation opened the door for plantings of monovarietals, successful in other wine regions, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot etc. The climate is Mediterranean with long hot and dry summers, so topography, especially altitude, is an importnat differentiating factor on a local scale. There is a vast range of soils, and yields are a key element on quality. In Provence some of the oldest vineyards in France were discovered and produces mainly rose wines with two styles full and rich or light and fresh. The main AOC are Cotes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Bandol (a hilly area with terraced vineyards making reds and rose from Mourvedre commanding high prices), Palette, Cassis, and Bellet. Jancis Robinson describes Provence as a “region with considerable potential in the far south east of France whose associations with tourism and hedonism have perhaps focused too much attention on its relatively expensive rosés.” Corsica http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica_wine is closer to Italy in style and most vineyards are closer to the coast making reds and roses: Niellucio, Sciacarello http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sciacarello, Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah Carignan for reds and Vermentino, Ugni Blanc and Malvoise de Corse for whites. In Corsica there is the famous village of Cargese http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargèse founded by Greeks from Mani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greeks_in_France#The_Greeks_of_Corsica in the 17th century, the famous “Greeks of Corsica” http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/Work/cargese.talk.mell.pdf . Languedoc-Rousillon has a lot of land under vine and produces 25% of all French wine (only 10% of AOC wine). The main AOC are Costieres de Nimes, Coteaux de Languedoc, Faugeres, Saint-Chinian, Minervois, Blanquette de Limoux, Corbieres, Fitou, Collioure, Cotes de Rousillon, and Cotes de Rousillon villages. 66% of the local VdP are exported as opposed to 25% elsewhere. A wine region that combines mass production with some hidden gems.
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dirtysock: Cim del Canigó on Flickr.
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Boule de pétanque abandonnée by bleumarie (peu présente) on Flickr.
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120826-DSCF0377 on Flickr.
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120826-DSCF0321 on Flickr.
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120826-DSCF0328 on Flickr.
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fictive-and-more: Mediathèque Perpignan, France
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La Sardane by Diegojack on Flickr.
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Vue sur Port-Vendres avec la statue de Maillol et l’église (explore 23/10/2012) by bleumarie on Flickr.
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arrivée du Belem à Port-Vendres pour 3 jours by Claudie K on Flickr.
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molitg les bains, entrée thermes by thierry llansades on Flickr.