Chapter Nine: The Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the location of the Rhone Valley?
Begins 20 miles/32km south of the city of Lyon, extends to the city of Avignon, and straddles the Rhone River
What is the cold, strong wind that affects the Rhone Valley?
Mistral (also affects other areas, including Languedoc and Provence)
What is the approximate length, north to south, of the Rhone Valley?
120 miles/193km (with a 30-mile/48-km gap between the North and the South)
What are the grapes (1 red, 3 white) allowed for use in Northern Rhone AOCs?
Syrah
Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
What is the terroir of the Northern Rhone?
Steep-sided, terraced vineyards planted along the river as it passes between the Massif Central and the Alps
Mostly continental climate (hot summers/cold winters)
What are the 5 red wine appellations of the Northern Rhone?
Cote-Rotie
Cornas
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Saint-Joseph
What is the typical assemblage of Northern Rhone red wines?
Based on Syrah; most allow for a small percentage of white grapes
What is the required assemblage of Cornas AOC?
100% Syrah
What are the white wine appellations of the Northern Rhone?
Condrieu
Chateau-Grillet
Saint-Peray
(Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, and Crozes-Hermitage produce both white and red)
What is the grape variety of Condrieu?
100% Viognier
What are the styles of wine produced in Saint-Peray?
Still and sparkling wines, using a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne
What is the terroir of the Southern Rhone?
Broad lowlands
Mostly Mediterranean climate (warm summers, abundant sunshine, minimal reciprocation during growing season)
What is the well-known component of Southern Rhone topsoils?
Galets (rounded river stones)
What is the most widely planted red grape of the Southern Rhone?
Grenache
What is the typical assemblage of Southern Rhone reds?
Typically blends; many are Grenahce-focused and may also contain Syrah, Carignan, Mourvedre, and Cinsault (among others)
What is the typical assemblage of Southern Rhone whites?
Typically dry blends based on Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier, Ugni Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Muscat, and others
What Southern Rhone AOC produces rose exclusively?
Tavel AOC
What is the Muscat-based vin doux naturel of the Southern Rhone?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is the Grenache-based vin doux naturel of the Southern Rhone?
Rasteau
What is the famous wine of the Southern Rhone produced just north of Avignon?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What are the grapes allowed for use in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Grenache (Noir, Gris, and Blanc), Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Brun Argente (Vaccarese), Clairette, Clairette Rose, Muscardin, Picardin, Piquepoul (Noir, Gris, and Blanc), and Terret Noir
What are the appellations of the Diois?
Chatillon-en-Diois
Clairette de Die
Coteaux de Die
Cremant de Die
What is the Northern-most appellation of the Southern Rhone?
Grignan-les-Adhemar AOC
What are the two appellations (known mainly for red wines) located adjacent to Beaumes-de-Venise?
Gigondas AOC
Vacqueyras AOC
