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SOUTHERN FRANCE - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Climate:
        Mediterranean, high level of sunshine, rainfall below 600mm per year and very warm summers. Low moisture level and the cool, dry Tramontane north-west wind means that here is low diseases pressure, reducing spraying and cost. Also enabled the growth of certified organic wine production (1/3 France) In dry years low rainfall can reduce production where irrigation is not installed.
      - Grape varieties:
        Most black: Carignan, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Merlot, Cab.S., Cinsaut
        
        Carignan: Buds late (avoiding spring frost) ripens late (need warm climate and long growing season) Produce high yields (200hL/ha) Frequently low flavour intensity. Prone to powdery mildew and grape moths. Not suited for mechanical harvesting as bunches are firmly attached to the vine. High acidity and tannins. Often seek to soften those, example by carbonic maceration or by blending with other varieties. Wine: unoaked, medium ruby, simple blackberry, high acidity and tannins. Accettable/good, inexpensive. Very good/outstanding have intense black fruit with spice and earthy notes and premium/super premium prices
      - Vineyard management:
        Historically bush vines, well adapted to climate (shade) Most work by hand so in recent years new vineyard have been planted with trellises, enabling mechanisation reducing costs. IGP tend to be machine harvest.
  - - - IGP Pays d'Oc: biggest in France. Half red, 1/4 white, 1/4 rose.
        Wines fresh, fruity expression of the variety with little or no use of oak for maturation. Good/very good, inexpensive/mid.
        Top 4 varieties mainly as single varietal: Merlot, Cab.S., Charodnnay, Syrah. After Grenache Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cinsault. Below those: Pinot Noir, ,Viognier, Marselon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Blanc, Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, Carignan, Colombard, Vermentino and Malbec.
        Hal production sold in France, mainly in supermarket followed by hospitality. Top export: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium.
  - - - Minervois La Liviniere AOC: Only red. On limestone terrace of gentle slope up to 400m altitude, giving very good drainage, exposure to sun and some cooling influence from altiturde. Higher acidity. Syrah , Mourvedre, Grenache Noir must make at least 40% and plus Carignan and Cinsaut at least 80% of blend.
    - - Malepere AOC: protected from Mediterranean influences by mountains. Blend of at least two varieties and 40% Merlot
      - Cabardes AOC: Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. Must be a blend of 40% each of Bordeaux varieties (two Cabs, Merlot) and Grenache Noir and/or Syrah
      - Limoux: devoted to sparklings
- - - - Advantages:
        
        Less stress of grapes during harvesting
        
        Fruit sorted in vineyard
        
        Whole bunch pressing is gentler, extracting few solid and phenolics
        
        More juice produced at lower pressure due presence of stems which create channel for juice
      - Disadvantage:
        
        Require large, well trained, picking teams
        
        Difficult to find and retain such labour
        
        Labour may not available in early morning
        
        More expensive and slower
        
        Whole bunch pressing more time consumer as few bunches can be loaded into press
    - - Advantages (Harvest):
        
        Fast
        
        Cheaper.
        
        not require large picking teams, grapes can be picked at nigh for cooler temperatures
        
        shortes delay between picking and refrigerations and/or pressing
      - Disadvantage (Harvest):
        
        Require up-to-date, well-maintained machine and a skillfull driver
        
        Grapes destemmed by shaking mechanism of the machine so whole bunch not possible
        
        Destemmed grapes require higher pressure to extract same amout of juice as whole bunch pressing