December
4 to 17, 2002By Dr. Bruce Zoecklein
Associate Professor and Enology Specialist
Head, Enology-Grape Chemistry Group
Department of Food Science and Technology
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061
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December
4 to 17, 2002
By Dr. Bruce Zoecklein
Associate Professor and Enology Specialist
Head, Enology-Grape Chemistry Group
Department of Food Science and Technology
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA 24061
There are several vineyards producing Appellation of Origine – AOC wines in the South of France. These areas have grown local varieties particularly well adapted to local soil and climate for centuries. With the apparition of major Vitis vinifera cultivars, as Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, or Chardonnay, the disappearance of such local grapes has been significant.
I - THE TOUR
For twelve days, the group toured these regions, walking in the vineyards and tasting at the cellars with selected producers and specialists. It was an unique chance to see Vinifera varieties such as Fer Servadou, Gros et Petit Mensing, Courbu, Tannat, Folle Blanche, Auxerrois-Malbec, Negrette, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Viognier, Muscat à petits grains, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, Marsanne, Roussanne, Terret, Muscardin, Vaccarese, Picardan, Leu de l'El, Ondec, Mauzac, Duras, Braucol, Semillon, Bouchy, Pineuc, Arrufiant, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
After leaving Bordeaux and its famous Chateaux, we traveled to Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains, then traveled along Gascogne to the Southern foothills of the Central Massif and to the fortified city of Carcassone, then traveled across the world’s largest vineyard area of Languedoc to the Papal City of Avignon, and finally traveled along the river Rhône to end the tour at the city of Lyon, capital of gastronomy.
II - THE GUIDES
Our two tour coordinators were Pascal Durand and Leslie Weston.
Pascal is a former director of research in viticulture and enology at the University of Burgundy, a wine economics professor and owner of a family vineyard in Beaujolais. He currently directs research and international exchange opportunities for viticulture research at ENESAD, the agricultural college of the campus at the University of Burgundy.
Leslie is a professor of Horticulture at Cornell University and is involved in research with natural products, developing them as alternatives to pesticides and nutriceuticals. She has worked in international programs for 8 years, organizing exchanges with the University of Burgundy and ENESAD, and also spent a sabbatical studying gene expression of resveratrol in grapes at the University of Burgundy. Leslie is fluent in French.
Bruce Zoecklein assigned two people to take detailed notes each day. This served as documentation of the trip in order to help accomplish our goal of providing the industry with a detailed review of what was learned.
III - TAKE HOME POINTS
Some of the take home messages for the Virginia industry include the following:
Importance of:
Some interesting opinions also included:
Jump Directly to the day that interests you or start on the first day and follow through using the link found at the bottom right of each page.
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