7. The Rhone Valley Flashcards
1
Q
What is the climate of the northern Rhone?
A
Continental
2
Q
What is the climate of the southern Rhone?
A
Mediterranean
3
Q
How much land is under vine in the northern and southern Rhone respectively?
A
1) 4,200 ha
2) 65,000
4
Q
What is Syrah decline/disorder and how is it caused?
A
1) Leaves turn red and the grape point breaks
2) Produced by pathogens including viruses.
5
Q
What are the five key black grape varieties of the Rhone?
A
1) Grenache
2) Syrah
3) Mourvedre
4) Cinsault
5) Carignan
6
Q
What are the five leading white platings?
A
1) Grenache Blanc
2) Viognier
3) Clairette
4) Roussanne
5) Marsanne
7
Q
What is the red, white, rose percentage split in production terms across the Rhone?
A
1) 76% red
2) 14% rose
3) 10% white
8
Q
When does Grenache ripen?
A
Late
9
Q
What is a rising trend in Rhone viticulture?
A
Organics
10
Q
Cotes du Rhone AOC and Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC account for approximately what percent of all Rhone wine production?
A
60%
11
Q
What two viticultural hazards is Syrah vulnerable to?
A
1) Mites
2) Botrytis
12
Q
What four disease pressures is Grenache vulnerable to?
A
1) Coulure
2) Downy
3) Phomopsis
4) Botrytis
13
Q
When does Mourvedre bud and ripen?
A
Late
14
Q
Is Mourvedre drought tolerant?
A
No
15
Q
How is Mourvèdre best grown in the vineyard? (3)
A
1) Deep calcareous soils with small but steady water supplies
2) Best pruned short
3) Suited to cordon training or bush vines
16
Q
What three disease pressures is Mourvedre prone to?
A
1) Mites
2) Leafhoppers
3) Sour rot
17
Q
What is sour rot?
A
A disease that affects ripening bunches due to insect or bird damage to grapes, which then become prone to bacteria and fungi
18
Q
Why must care be taken in the winery to ensure Mourvedre has adequate access to oxygen?
A
It is prone to reduction
19
Q
How is Mourvedre typically aged?
A
In old oak
20
Q
What are two positive attributes of Cinsault in the vineyard?
A
1) Drought tolerant
2) Heat tolerant
21
Q
Cinsault is vulnerable to what five things?
A
1) Chlorosis
2) Esca
3) Eutypa
4) Mites
5) Grape moths
22
Q
Why is Cinsault highly suitable for early drinking reds and roses?
A
The lifted aromas of the variety are most prominent in the first year after the wine is made
23
Q
When does Viognier bud?
A
Early
24
Q
Why are Viognier and Roussanne yields often low and unpredictable?
A
Due to poor flowering and fruit set (coulure) exacerbated by the Mistral
25
When do Roussanne and Marsanne bud?
Late
26
Where do Roussanne, Marsanne and Clairette grow best?
On stone, low fertility soils (low fertility prevents vigour)
27
Marsanne and Roussane vulnerable to what three things?
1) Powdery
2) Mites
3) Botrytis
28
Why is Grenache Blanc's early budding nature not considered an issue?
It is mostly planted in the southern Rhone where spring frost is less common
29
What does Grenache Blanc contribute to a blend?
Low intensity ripe green fruit and some floral notes, high alcohol and low acidity
30
What is Clairette prone to?
Autumn rains as it is late ripening
31
How much Clairette be treated in the winery?
Gently as it oxidises easily
32
What does Clairette contribute to a wine? (3)
1) Freshness and fruit - flower, fennel, apple, grapefruit
2) High alcohol
3) Low to medium (–) acidity.
33
When does Bourboulenc ripen?
Late
34
What does Bourboulenc contribute to a wine?
Lemon flavour, medium (+) acidity
and medium alcohol
35
Explain the winemaking style required for Grenache and why (2)
1) Prone to oxidation and premature loss of colour if it is exposed to too much oxygen
2) Fermented and aged in concrete vats or stainless steel tanks.
36
What are two positive attributes of Bourboulenc in the vineyard? Why?
1) Late ripening
2) Loose bunches
3) Resistant to botrytis
37
Explain the winemaking style required for Syrah and why
Syrah is prone to reduction and therefore has to be pumped over more often and is often aged in oak to provide gentle oxidation, adding to cost.
38
What vessel type can be said to be traditional in the Rhone of a) fermentation and b) maturation?
1) Concrete
2) Small/large wood
39
What are five production differences between cru and high volume red wines?
1) Hand vs machine
2) Cold soak vs flash detente/thermovinification
3) Warm vs mid-range fermentation temperatures
4) Intense, prolonged vs short maceration
5) Maturation vs quick release
40
Why is the incidence of fungal disease lowered in the northern Rhone?
The cool Mistral wind from the north
41
How long is the northern Rhone from north to south?
65km
42
By what method is most Rhone rose made? Example?
1) Short maceration (saignee), but with the intention of creating rose rather than concentrating a red wine
2) Tavel
43
What is another consequence of the Mistral wind?
It decreases vine vigour and leads to lower yields of higher concentration
44
Four common winemaking decisions for white wine?
1) Mid-range temperatures
2) MLC sometimes avoided
3) Lees stirring avoided in most cases
4) Oak for premium
45
What are the two red-only AOCs of the northern Rhone?
1) Cote-Rotie
2) Cornas
46
What are the three AOCs of the northern Rhone that can be red or white?
1) Saint-Hoseph
2) Crozes Hermitage
3) Hermitage
47
What are the three white only AOCs of the northern Rhone?
1) Condrieu
2) Chateau Grillet
3) Saint-Peray
48
What is the red, white and rose IGP of the northern Rhone?
Collines Rhodaniennes
49
Describe a Cote Rotie vineyard
Steep terraces facing east and south-east
50
How are vines in Cote-Rotie trained?
Single- or double-Guyot and tied to one or two poles offering good sunlight interception and protection from northerly winds
51
What are echalas?
The poles to which Cote-Rotie's vines are tied due to the strength of the Mistral
52
What per cent of Viognier is permitted in Cote-Rotie?
20%
53
What is the preferred rootstock in Cote-Rotie?
3309
54
What is the typical planting density in Cote-Rotie?
10,000 vines per ha
55
What is the maximum yield in Cote-Rotie, Hermitage Rouge, Saint-Joseph and Cornas?
40 hL/ha
56
If Viognier is used in Cote-Rotie, how must it be fermented?
Co-fermented with Syrah
57
What are two common maturation vessel sizes in Cote-Rotie?
1) 225l barrique
2) 500-600l demi-muids
58
What are four common winemaking steps for Cote-Rotie?
1) Destem
2) Cold soak
3) Warm fermentation
4) Ambient yeasts
59
What famous trio of wines uses 225l barrique for maturation?
Guigal's La Mouline, La Landonne, La Turque
60
What is the maximum yield of Condrieu?
41 hL/ha
61
Condrieu must be 100% of what variety?
Viognier
62
Describe the terroir of Condrieu
South-facing vineyards on steep, low fertility, rocky terraced slopes
63
What two vessel materials are most common for Condrieu?
Stainless steel and old oak
64
Besides oak and MLC, what other winemaking technique is up to the winemaker but commonly employed in Condrieu?
10-12 months lees maturation and stirring
65
Name two highly regarded producers in Saint-Joseph
Jean-Louis Chave
Domaine Gonon
66
What two white grapes are permitted in Saint-Joseph's red wines but rarely used?
Marsanne and Roussanne
67
What are the two common maturation vessel types for Saint-Joseph?
Stainless steel and large oak
68
In which direction do the vineyards of Hermitage face?
South
69
What is a famous lieu-dit of Hermitage at the western end of the hill that records the highest temperatures?
Le Meal
70
Hermitage whites are mostly which variety?
Marsanne, sometimes with Roussanne
71
What is a key difference between Chapoutier and Chave?
Chapoutier focuses on individual parcels whereas Chave blends across the appellation
72
What is the leading co-operative of Hermitage?
Cave de Tain
73
Crozes-Hermitage is the northern Rhone's largest appellation. What are the differences in climate between north and south?
It is continental in the north with strong Alpine and Mistral influences, whereas it is more temperature in the south.
74
What is unique about the climate of Cornas?
Mediterranean rather than continental
75
Name three significant producers of Cornas
Alain Voge
Vincent Paris
Auguste Clape
76
What are the soils types of Saint-Peray?
Limestone and granite
77
What is the maximum yield of Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage Blanc and Saint-Peray?
45 hL/ha
78
What is the principal variety planted in Saint Peray?
Marsanne with some Roussanne
79
Why is Saint-Peray cooler than Cornas despite being further south?
It sits within a valley through which flows a cool wind (Bise)
80
Why is there less protection from the Mistral in the southern Rhone compared with the north?
It is flatter
81
How are Grenache vines trained to protect from the Mistral?
Low bush-trained vines are common for Grenache
82
What is the appellation hierarchy of the southern Rhone?
1) Cotes du Rhone AOC
2) Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
3) Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC + named village i.e. Seguret
4) Individual top village appellations i.e. Gigondas
83
How many named villages are there as part of the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC?
22
84
What is the maximum yield for red, white and rose Cotes du Rhone AOC?
51 hL/ha
85
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre must account for what per cent of the final blend of Cotes du Rhone AOC?
60%
86
What six varieties must account for 80% of the final blend of a Cotes du Rhone AOC blanc?
1) Bourboulenc
2) Clairette
3) Grenache Blanc
4) Marsanne
5) Roussanne
6) Viognier
87
What is the maximum yield for Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC?
44 hL/ha
88
What is the maximum yield for Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC + named village?
41 hL/ha
89
What is the maximum yield for Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
35 hL/ha
90
Gigondas's vineyards extend how far above sea level?
600m
91
What helps reduce the morning temperatures of Gigondas?
The Dentelles de Montmirail montains
92
Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Vinsobres, Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau must be at least what per cent Grenache Noir?
50%
93
From 2023 white wine based on what variety will be allowed in Gigondas?
Clairette (minimum 70%)
94
Vacqueyras's vineyards extend how far above sea level?
440m
95
Can Gigondas, Vinsobres, Rasteau and Vacqueyras be 100% Grenache Noir?
No. They must feature at least some Syrah or Mourvedre
96
What is the most northerly southern Rhone cru?
Vinsobres
97
At what elevation range are the vineyards of Vinsobres?
200-500m
98
What are the nine crus of the southern Rhone?
1) Chateauneuf-du-Pape
2) Gigondas
3) Vacqueyras
4) Rasteau
5) Vinsobres
6) Cairanne
7) Tavel
8) Beaumes-de-Venise
9) Lirac
99
How must Cheateauneuf-du-Pape be harvested?
By hand
100
What is unique about Chateaneuf-du-Pape when compared with the other eight crus with respect to the final blend?
There is no stipulation of principal varieties and minimum percentages. It is possible to make varietal wines
101
What are galets roules and where are they common?
Large pebbles in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
102
What is the effect of galets roules?
They absorb heat during the day and reflect it at night
103
What soil types are common in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
Limestone, clay, sandstone and sand
104
Chateauneuf--du-Pape can be a blend of 13 varieties. Which two white varieties common in the northern Rhone cannot be included?
1) Viognier
2) Marsanne
105
The final blend of Lirac must be made from 90% of which four varieties?
Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault
106
Name a significant producer of Lirac
Chateau Mont Redon
107
Tavel is dedicated to which style of wine?
Rose
108
Tavel may include 12 varieties, but must include which?
Grenache Noir up to 60%
109
What is the maximum yield of Tavel?
46 hL/ha
110
What are the four key (of seven) 'satellite' appellations of the southern Rhone?
1) Costieres de Nimes AOC
2) Grignan-les-Adhemar AOC
3) Ventoux AOC
4) Luberon AOC
111
What is the maximum yield of Costieres de Nimes & Ventoux?
60 hL/ha
112
What production trend has been seen in Costieres de Nimes?
From co-ops to privately-owned estates
113
Describe the terroir of Costieres de Nimes
South-west facing vineyards with good sunlight interception and Mediterranean breezes
114
What geological feature is an important cooling aspect of Ventoux?
Mount Ventoux from which descends cool air and into which vines are planted up to 450m
115
What is the maximum yield of Luberon?
55 hL/ha
116
What are two benefits of Mourvedre's late ripening from a winery and labour perspective?
1) Can remain on the vine while Syrah and Grenache are being fermented
2) Can be harvested once temperatures are in decline, which could save on expensive labour and/or energy to keep fruit cool
117
When do Carignan and Cinsault bud?
Late
118
What are the primary soils of Saint-Joseph?
Predominantly granite
119
What is the aspect of Saint-Joseph?
East-facing running north-south along the Rhone River
120
Why is there the increasing potential for Saint-Joseph to improve in quality and international recognition?
Climate change means that temperatures are rising and potentially increasing Saint-Joseph's east-facing vineyards the ability to produce higher quality fruit
121
What two varieties are commonly planted in the Gard IGP?
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
122
What are three requirements for irrigation of Rhone vineyards?
1) Proof of water stress
2) No irrigation after veraison
3) Cannot irrigate to exceed max yields
