France Flashcards
France - Overview Map
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France - Wine Law - AOC
*Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) *Appellation System (AOC) was created to ensure authenticity of place and typicity of style. This model became the paradigm many other countries in the European Union
France - Wine Law - Wines Without Geographic Indication - Vin de France
*Vin de France = 20% of all French Wine -The least restrictive designation -High yields permitted -No specific place of origin allowed -Variety/vindate allowed on label -Oak chips allowed
France - Wine Law - Wines With Geographic Indication - IGP/Vin de pays
*IGP/Vin de Pays = 30% of all French Wine -74 delimited regions -Divided into: Regional area, Departmental areas, Zones -Fewer restrictions than AOC/AOP -Hybrids allowed -Can be varietally labeled -85% of fruit must originate from stated geographic region
France - Wine Law - Wines With Geographic Indication - AOC/AOP
*AOC/AOP = 50% of all French Wine -The highest and most exacting designation for French wines -Boundaries precisely defined and regulated -Grape or grape varieties planted are strictly regulated -Viticultural practices are regulated: what is planted and where, Yield per hectare, Type of vine training used, Irrigation, Degree of alcohol minimum and maximum -Vinification or winemaking technique is also regulated: Aging requirements, Residual sugar allowance, 100% of grapes must come from stated AOC/AOP
France - Burgundy - Location/Geography
*Chablis
*Cote d’Or
- Cote de Nuits
- Cote de Beaune
*Cote Chalonnaise
*Maconnais
*Beaujolais
France - Burgundy - Burgundy AOP Pyramid
*33 Grands Crus 2%
*550~600 Premiers Crus 12%
*Vilage Wines 30%
*Regional Appellations 56%
France - Burgundy - Domaine
*These are grower/producers that own the vineyards they are producing wine from.
*The entire process from growing the grapes to aging and bottling the wine is done by the Domaine itself.
France - Burgundy - Negociant
*Negociants are wine merchants who buy grapes and/or finished wines for blending and bottling under their own labels.
France - Burgundy - Clos
*This word designates a plot of vineyard land traditionally surrounded with dry-stone walls.
*Close Vougeot, a Grand Cru vineyard next to the tiny village of Vougeot, is the most famous example.
France - Burgundy - Monopole
*Parcels of vineyard land with single owenership, momopoles are less common than you might think.
France - Burgundy - Chablis Overview
*Climate: cool continental
*Soil: Kimmeridgian clay / limestone
*Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
*Vitidulture: Picking time is critical beacuse of late season frosts
*Vinification
- No oak is used with lower-tier wines but is often used with upper-tier wines
- Malolactic fermentation is common
France - Burgundy - Chblis AOPs
*Chablis AOP
*Petit Chablis AOP
*Chablis Premier Cru AOP
-40 vineyards
*Chablis Grand Cru AOP
- Most have a south/southwest exposure to maximize sunshine
- 7 vineyard designations
–Les Preuses
–Bougros
–Grenouilles
–Vaudesir
–Valmur
–Les Clos
–Blanchot
France - Burgundy - Cote de Nuits Overview
- Topography/Aspect
- Hillsides and ridges
- Top vineyard sites are often int he middle section of the hillside
- Climate: Continental
- Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir
- Soil: Marl, Limestone
- Viticulture
- Threats of frost, summer hail, and excessive rain in the fall
- Vinification
- Use of French oak, often new
- Some producers ferment with whole grape clusters, others completely de-stem
France - Burgundy - Cote de Nuits AOP
- Cote de Nuits-Villages AOP
- 5 small communes in the Cote de Nuits
- Red (Pinot Noir) only appellation
- Village AOP
- 100% of the grapes from village
- 9 villages
- Marsannay
- Fixin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- Morey-St. Denis
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Vougeot
- Vosne-Romanee
- Flagey-Echezeaus
- Nuits-Sint-Georges
- Premier or 1er Cru AOP
- 100% of the grapes from vineyard
- If no vineyard name is on the label, the wine can be a blend of grapes from any of the premier cru vineyards in tht village
- There are more than 130 premier cru vineyeards in the Cote de Nuits
- Grand Cru AOP
- 100% of the grapes from grand cru sites
- 24 of the 33 grands crus vineyards in Burgundy are in the Cote de Nuits
France - Burgundy - Cote de Beaune Overview
- Climate
- Continental, with a wide range of microclimates from village to village and even vineyard to vineyard
- Soil
- Marl, Limestone
- Grape Varieties
- White: Chardonnay
- Red: Pinot Noir
- Vinification
- Oak, often new, is used for both red and whites
France - Burgundy - Cote de Beaune AOP
- Bourgogne AOP
- Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from anywhere in the entire Burgundy region
- Village AOP
- 100% grapes from village
- Best known billages
- Aloxe-Corton
- Beaune
- Pommard
- Volnay
- Meursault
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Chassagne-Montrachet
- Premier or 1er Cru AOP
- 100% grapes from vineyard
- If no vineyard name is on the label, the wine can be a blend of grapes from any of the premiers crus vineyards in that village
- Grand Cru AOP
- 100% grapes from site
- 8 Grand Crus
- Corton
- Corton-Charlemagne
- Montrachet
- Batard-Montrachet
France - Burgundy - Cote Chalonnaise Overview
- Location / Geography
- No hillside escarpments to protect the vineyards from east winds
- Climate: Continental
- Soil: Limestone
- Grape Varieties
- White: Chardonnay, Aligote
- Red: Pinot Noir
- Vinification
- Little to no new oak used for whites and reds
France - Burgundy - Cote Chalonnaise AOP
- 5 main villages with many premiers crus but no grands crus
- Bouzeron AOP
- White wine only: 100% Aligote
- Rully AOP
- White Wines: Chardonnay
- Red Wines: Pinot Noir
- Sparkling Wines: Cremant de Bourgogne
- Mercurey AOP
- White Wines: Chardonnay
- Red Wines: Pinot Noir
- Givry AOP
- White Wines: Chardonnay
- Red Wines: Pinot Noir
- Montagny AOP
- White wine only: Chardonnay
- Bouzeron AOP
France - Burgundy - Cote Maconnais Overview
- Climate
- Contnental but slightly warmer and drier than the more northern burgundy regions
- Topography
- This is relatively large area with low lying hills and fairly flat farmland
- Grape Varieties
- White: Chardonnay
- Red: Pino noir, Gamay
- Vinification
- Mainly white wine production
- Little use of new oak aside from the wines of Pouilly-Fuisse
France - Burgundy - Cote Maconnais AOP
- No grands or premiers crus vineyards
- Macon AOP
- Mainly white wines only: Chardonnay
- Saint-Veran AOP
- White wine only: Chardonnay
- some use of new oak
- Pouilly-Fuisse AOP
- White wine only: Chardonnay
- some use of new oak
- generally more expensive than other wines of region
France - Burgundy - Beaujolais Overview
- Location/Geography
- South of, and slightly overlapping, the Maconnais
- 35 mils long from north to south
- Climate
- Semi-continental; warmer than rest of Burgandy
- Soils
- Schist and granite (for the northern Beaujolais Cru villages)
- Sandstone and clay (in the south)
- Grape Varieties
- White: chardonnay (in small volume)
- Red: Gamay
- Viticulture
- Hillside vineyards with low yields in northern Beaujolais Crus and Flatter plains in the south
- Vinification
- Carbonic maceration
- Stainless steel
- Used or older French oak barrels
France - Burgundy - Beaujolais AOP
- Beaujolais AOP: made from grapes grown anywhere in the region
- Beaujolais Nouveau: THese easy driking red wines are released on the third Thursday in November following the harvest. They should be drunk soon afterward.
- Beaujolais-Village AOP: there are 38 designated villages. The wines do not have individual village names on the labels, but are simply designated as villages.
- Beaujolais Crus
- Only red wines made from Gamay
- 10 named villages, each with its own AOP
- They come from hillside vineyards with granite in the soil
France - Burgundy - Whiis ithe main grape of the Morgon AOP?
- Gamay
France - Burgundy - How are the very best vineyards in the Cote d’Or designated?
- Grands Crus
France - Burgundy - Which of the following is not a classic region or village for Chardonnay in Burgundy?
- Pommard
- Chablis
- Macon
- Pouilly-Fuisse
France - Burgundy - Which of the following is an example of a designated Chablis Grand Cru?
- Les Clos
- Montrachet
- Musigny
- Romanee
France - Burgundy - Which of the following is not in the Cote Chalonnais?
- Chassagne-Montrachet
- Mercurey
- Givry
- Rully
France - Burgundy - What were the Cistercian monks in Burgundy responsible for the first doing?
- Planting vine
France - Burgundy - How did Napoleon’s Code of Inheritance affect the vineyards of Burgundy?
- divide vineyard into pieces
France - Burgundy - Describe the difference between Negociant and Domaine bottling.
- Negociant: buy grapes
- Domaine: grow grapes
France - Bordeaux - Climate
- Maritime
- Bordeaux is located on the 45th parallel. The climate is moderated by its waterways and its proximity to the Atlantic Coast. The Gulf Stream current brings warm waters up from the Caribbean, keeping the weather mild yet humid
- The region can suffer from rain and frost
France - Bordeaux - Soil
- Medoc and Graves on the Left Bank
- Gravel
- Sint-Emilion on the Right Bank
- Gravel, limestone, sand
- Pomerol on the Right Bank
- Iron pan under sand and clay
France - Bordeaux - Vinification
- Red Wines from Medoc communes (left bank)
- 70% Cabernet Sauvingnon
- 30% Melot
- Plus… Cabernet Frac and Petit Verdot
- These wines are usually aged in new French oak barrels
- Red Wines from Saint Emilion and Pomerol (right bank)
- 70% Melot
- 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
- These wines also spend some time in French oak barrels
- Dry White Wines mainly from Graves (Pessac-Leognan) on the left back and Entre-Deux-Mers
- 80% Sauvignon Blanc
- 20% Semillon
- Sweet Wines mainly form Sauternes and nearby communes
- 80% Semillon
- 20% Sauvignon Blanc
- Muscadelle (small percentage)
France - Bordeaux - Medoc
- Soil
- Gravel, with great moisture draining properties. Perfect for Cabernet Sauvingnon.
- Medoc AOPs
- Sub-Regions
- Medoc AOP
- Haut-Medoc AOP
- Commune
- Saint-Estephe AOP
- Pauilac AOP
- Saint-Julien AOP
- Margaux AOP
- Sub-Regions
France - Bordeaux - Frist Growth Chateaux of the 1855 Classification
- Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
- Chateau Latour
- ChateauMouton-Rothschild (elevated to 1st growth status in 1973)
- Chateau Margaux
- Chateau Haut-Brion (Graves)
France - Bordeaux - Graves
- Soil: Gravel
- Sub-Regions
- Pessac-Leognan AOP
- Northernmost part of Graves including the most highly-regarded chateaux
- Sauternes AOP
- Sothernmost portion of Graves, bordered by the Garonne and Ciron Rivers
- Botrytis-affected sweet wines
- Oak aged (often new, French barrique)
- Pessac-Leognan AOP
France - Bordeaux - Entre Deux Mers
- Soil: very fertile silt
- Vinification
- Dry white wines only
- Little to no oak, stainless steel
- Red wines made in this area fall under the Bordeaus AOP appellation
France - Bordeaux - Saint Emilion
- Soils
- Large bed of silt, clay and gravel
- Limestone plateau
- Sand
- Appellations
- Saint-Emilion AOP
- Saint-Emilion Grand Cru AOP
- An appellation, not a classification
- Wines have an additional +0.5% alcohol and must undergo a longer aging than wines labeled Saint-Emilion AOP
- Classification System
- Instituted in 1955, with a goal of revision every 10 years (The last revision was in 2012)
France - Bordeaux - Saint Emilion Classification 2012
- Premiers Grands Crus Classe A
- Chateau Ausone
- Chateau Angelus
- Chateau Pavie
- Chateau Cheval-Blanc
- Premiers Grands Crus Classe B
- 14 chateaux
- Grand Crus Classe
- 64 chateaux
France - Bordeaux - Pomerol
- Location/Geography
- A very small appellation (only 3 square miles)
- Soils
- Sand, Clay, Gravel, Subsil of iron pan and rich clay
France - Bordeaux - Which of the following is considered the most important grape variety in the Medoc?
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Franc
- Malbec
- Sauvingnon Blanc
France - Bordeaux - What soil in Bordeaux is most suitable for Cabernet Sauvingnon?
- Gravel
- Graninte
- Sandy/Slit
- Clay
France - Bordeaux - In what year were the wines of the Medoc first classified?
- 1855
- 2012
- 1959
- 1953
France - Bordeaux - Where is Chateau Haut-Brion is located?
- Pessac-Leognan
- Medoc
- Pomerol
- Saint-Emilion
France - Bordeaux - Which of the following regions prouces only dry, white AOP wines?
- Entre-Deux-Mers
- Pomerol
- Margaux
- Sauternes
France - Bordeaux - What grape typically dominates the wines of Pomerol?
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Semillon
- Petit Verdot
France - Bordeaux - Which area of Bordeaux is best known for not having a classification of its chateaux?
- Pomerol
France - Bordeaux - Why were the iwnes of Bordeaux better known internationally than most other French wines?
- England / Napoleon
France - Bordeaux - Descrive the difference between how the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy are classified.
- Bordeaux = Chateaux
- Burgundy = Vineyard
France - Champagne - Overview Climate
- Cool continental
- Champagne hovers at the northern-most limit of vine growing
- Located at the 49th parallel, Champagne has no natural protection from the Atlantic
- With often cloudy, unpredictable weather, it is one of the coolest, most northerly wine growing regions it the world
France - Champagne - Overview Soil
- Limestone and chalk
- Vine roots can dig deep iin these soils, which provide good drainage while also retaining moisture
- The soils maintain a relatively constant temperature throughout the year
France - Champagne - Overview Grape Varieties
- White: Chardonnay
- Red: Pinot Noir, Meunier
- Vinification
- Blends! (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier)
France - Champagne - Methode Champenoise
- The traditional method of making sparkling wine
- Making the Base Still Wine
- Assemblage of the “Cuvee” (Assembling the Blend)
- Secondary Fermentation (Creating Bubbles)
- The wine is bottled witha syrupy mixture of yeast and sugar, called ‘liqueur de tirage’.
- The bottle is sealed with a crown cap and over time the yeast metabolizes the sugar, creating alcohol and CO2
- Sur Lie Aging
- After the 2nd fermentation, the yeast cells gradually break down to Sur Lie.
- By law, all champagne must spend at least 12 months on the lees as part of the minimum 15 months of total aging required.
- Sur lie aging imparts aromas and flavors of freshly baked bread.
- Riddling (Remuage), Removal of Sediment Part1
- After aging, the lees must be removed from the bottle for clarity.
- Each bottle is gently turned to move the lees into the neck by hand or machine.
- Disgorging (Degorgement), Removal of Sediment Part2
- Each bottle’s neck is frozen in an ice bath, and collected yeast can be ejected by hand or machine
- Dosage
- A mixture of wine and sugar (liqueur d’expedition) is added to the bottle.
France - Champagne - Champagne Sweetness Levels
- The amount of sugar added determines the weetness level and, therefore, the style of the champagne.
- Brut Nature = Bone Dry
- Extra Brut = Very Dry
- Brut = Dry
- Extra Dry = Off Dry
- Sec = Semi Sweet
- Demi Sec = Sweet
- Doux = Very sweet
France - Champagne - Champagne Appellations
- Champagne AOP
- Sparkling wine made via the methode champenoise
- Champagne Sub-Regions
- Vallee de la Marne
- Cote des Blancs
- Montagne de Reims
France - Champagne - Champagne Age Designations
- Non Vintage (NV) Champagne
- Aged for a minimum of 15 months, with at least 12 months spent on the lees
- Many producers far exceed these minimums
- Vintage Champagne
- Aged for a minimum of 36 months
- Many producers far exceed these minimums
France - Champagne - Champagne Styles
- Rose: A pink-colored champagne
- Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay champagne
- Blanc de Noirs: Champagne made with only the dark grapes (Pinot Noir and Meunier)
France - Champagne - Champagne Special Cuvess and Other Bottllings
- Single Vineyard: a noted single vineyard on the label
- Clos or Mono Parcel: a noted single parcel in a vineyard under a single ownership
- Cuvee Prestige or Tete de Cuvee: the top-end bottling of a particular champagne house or producer
France - Champagne - Other Methods of Making Sparkling Wine
- Methode Champenois
- Based wine is bottled > Sugar and yeast added > Second fermentation > Yeast autolysis > Doisgorgement > Dosage
- Advantages: Extended lees contact, Intense lees flavor
- Examples: Champagne, Cremant, Cava, Franciacorta
- Thank Method (Charmat Process / Cuve Close
- Base wine is bottled > Sugar and yeast added > Second fermentation > Yeast autolysis > Bottles emptied in to large tanks under pressure > Filtered > Dosage > Rebottled
- Advantages: Lees contact Eliminates riddling
- Examples: Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti, Lambrusco
- Trasfer Method
- Base wine is sealed in pressurized tank > Sugar and yeast added > Second fermentation in tank > Filtered under pressure > Dosage under pressure
- Advantages: Save time! Fermentation finished in 4-5 days. No costly riddling or disgorging. Best process for aromatic varieties.
- Examples: Used for large and small format bottling of Champagne and other sparkling wines
France - World Sparkling Wines
- French Sparkling Wines
- Cremant de Bourgogne
- Cremant d’Alsace
- Cremant de Loire
- Italina Sparkling Wines
- Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont)
- Prosecco (Veneto)
- Lambrusco (Emilia-Romagna)
- Franciacorta (Lombardy)
- Made by the methode classique
- Spanish Sparkling Wines
- Cava (Catalonia)
France - Champagne - Which of the following is not a grape grown in Champagne?
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir
- Meunier
- Chardonnay
France - Champagne - Sur lie aging refers to…
- Aging wines on broken down yeast cells
France - Champagne - How does sur lie aging affect the flavor of Champagne?
- Gives the wine a yeasty, fresh baked bread aroma and flavor
France - Champagne - If a Champagne is labeled Blanc de Blancs, which grape variety has been used?
- Chardonnay
France - Champagne - Champagne vineyards are best known for which soil type?
- Chalk!!!
France - Champagne - Prosecco is made by which method of sparkling wine production?
- Tank Method / Charmat Method
France - Loire Valley - Pays Nantais
- Climate
- Coll and wet maritime
- Affected by proximity to the Atlantic Ocean
- Soils
- Gravel and sand over shist and granite
- Grape Varieties
- Melon de Bourgogne
- Vinification
- Sur Lie: This term referes to the technique of aging wines on the remains of post-fermentation yeast cells (or ‘lees’) to add complexity and richness th the finished wine
- Pays Natais Appellations
- Muscadet AOP
- Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOP
France - Loire Valley - Anjou Saumur
- Climate
- Maritime / Continental (shifting as vineyard move inland toward the east)
- Humid
- Grape Varieties
- White: Chenin Blanc
- Red: Cabernet Franc
- Anjou-Saumur AOP
- Vinification: Cabernet Franc, Dry red wine
- Saumur AOP
- Vinification: well known for Chenin Blanc based sparkling wines
- Savenniere AOP
- Vinification: Chinin Blanc, Dry white wine
- Bonnezeaux AOP
- Vinification: Chinin Banc, Late harvest, botrytis-affected grapes, Sweet wine
- Quart-de-Chaume AOP
- Vinification: Chinin Banc, Late harvest, botrytis-affected grapes, Sweet wine
France - Loire Valley - Touraine
- Climate: Continental
- Soils: Tuffeau (soft, limestone)
- Chinon AOP
- Vinification: Cabernet Frac, Dry red wine
- Bourgueil AOP
- Vinification: Cabernet Frac, Dry red wine
- Vouvray AOP
- Vinification: Chenin Blanc, Sparkling, Dry, Off-dry, Sweet wines (Moelleux)
France - Loire Valley - Central Vineyards
- Climate: Continental
- Soils: Silex (flint), limestone, kimmeridgian clay
- Grape Varieties
- White: Sauvingnon Blanc
- Red: Pinot Noir
- Sancerre AOP
- Vinification: Pinot Noir, dry red wine / Sauvignon Blnc, dry white wine
- Pouilly-Fume AOP
- Vinification: Sauvingnon Blanc, dry white wine only
France - Loire Valley - Which of the following is not a style of Vouvray AOP?
- Dry red
- Sparkling
- Dry white
- Sweet
France - Loire Valley - What does sur lie aging refer to?
- Aging wines in one the lees
France - Loire Valley - How does sur lie aging affect a finished wine?
- Gives a wine addintional expressiveness and richness
France - Loire Valley - Which of the following is a sweet wine appellation of Anjou-Saumur?
- Quarts-de-Chaume
France - Loire Valley - Tuffeau is an important soil type of which area ?
- Touraine
France - Alsace - Overview
- Location/Geography
- The Vosges Mt create a rain shadow protecting the region from the harsh, rainy weather
- Bas-Rhin is to the north, has lower elevation and less protection from the Vosges
- Haut-Rhin is to the south, has higher elevation and is the location of the best vineyards sites
- Climate: Cool continental (Rain shadow from Vosges)
- Drier climate
- Sunnier climate (not necessarily warmer)
- Long growing season
- Riper grapes
- Higher alcohol potential
- Fuller-bodied wines
- Soil
- There is tremendous diversity across the region. Marl, limestone, gneiss, schist, sandstone, granite, clay and vocanic soils.
- Grape Varieties (90% white)
- White: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner
- Red: Pinot Noir
- Vinification
- Neutral casks, no new oak
- All Alsace AOP wines must be bottled in the traditional ‘Flute d’Alsace’ shaped bottle
France - Alsace - Alasce Apellations
- Alsace Grand Cru AOP
- 51 Grands Crus vineyards
- 4 grape varieties are matched with the specific soil type and terroir of the specific vineyard site.
- Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pino Gris
- Cremant d’Alsace AOP
- Methode Traditionnelle Sparkling Wines
- Late Harvested Wines
- Vendange Tardive (VT): Late-harvested (may also be affected by botrytis), Rich, full-bodied, but not always sweet.
- Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN): These wines are always affected by botrytis, made in very small quantities, only in vintages when growing conditions are conducive to their production.
France - Alsace - Late Harvested Wines
- Vendange Tardive (VT): Late-harvested (may also be affected by botrytis), Rich, full-bodied, but not always sweet.
- Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN): These wines are always affected by botrytis, made in very small quantities, only in vintages when growing conditions are conducive to their production.
France - Alsace - What is the name of the mountain range that protects Alsace?
- Vosges
France - Alsace - What is the name of the river that flows to the east of Alsace?
- Rhein
France - Alsace - What does a rain shadow provide?
- Protection from harsh weather
France - Alsace - Which of the following grapes is not allowed in Alsace Grand Cru?
- Pinot Noir
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat
- Pinot Gris
France - Alsace - What type of wine is ‘SGN’ or Selection de Grains Nobles?
- Botrytis-affected sweet wine
France - Alsace - What type of wine is Cremant d’Alsace?
- Sparkling wine
France - Alsace - If a wine from Alsace is labeled by reference to a grape variety, it must be made ???% from that variety.
- 100%
France - Rhone Valley - The Northern Rhone Valley Overview
- Climate
- Continental
- The Rhone River acts as a climate moderator for the Northern Rhone’s vineyards, warming the adjacent slopes and reflecting sunlight up to the vines
- Mistral winds are a prominent airflow that slightly warms the area and dries the climate helping prevent mildew and other molds.
- Soil
- Granite, Schist
- Grape Varieties
- White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
- Red: Syrah
- Viticulture
- Vineyards are planted on Steep slopes (staked to ther ground) overlooking the river from Roman times
- Vinification
- Single-variety wines predominate
- Co-fermentation: some red wines are blending small percentages of white grapes with Syrah, increasing aromatic complexity and lessening the prominence of tannin
France - Rhone Valley - The Northern Rhone Valley AOP
- Cote-Rotie
- Red wines only
- Syrah with a maximum of 20% Viognier
- Condrieu
- White wines only
- 100% Viognier
- Saint-Joseph
- Red wines: Syrah with maximum 10% Roussanne and Marsanne
- White wines: Roussanne and Marsanne
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Red wines: Syrah with maximum 15% Roussanne and Marsanne
- White wines: Roussanne and Marsanne
- Hermitage
- Red wines: Syrah with maximum 15% Roussanne and Marsanne
- White wines: Roussanne and Marsanne
- Cornas
- Red wines only
- 100% Syrah
France - Rhone Valley - The Southern Rhone Valley Overview
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Mistral winds serve to cool the area
- Hot summers moderated by significant diurnal temp swings
- The Rhone river moderates and cools temp
- Soil
- Alluvial clays
- Alluvial deposits and river rock stones (galets)
- Grape Varieties
- White: Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc
- Red (90% production): Grenach, Syrah, Mourvedre
- Viticulture
- Bush (Gobelet) vine training
- Many vineyards planted on flat valley floor
- Vinification
- Blends predominate
- Usually large oak casks rather than barriques
France - Rhone Valley - The Southern Rhone Valley AOP
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- White: Blend of local varieties
- Red: Grenache based blends (14 kinds authorized)
- Gigondas
- Red: Grenache based blends
- Vacqueyras
- White: Blend of local varieties
- Red and Rose: Grenache based blends
- Tavel
- Rose only: Grenache based
