France - Northern Rhône - Wine Regions Flashcards
What is the climate and rainfall?
- Moderate continental
- Adequate rainfall, mainly in autumn and winter
What influence does the cold Mistral wind have?
- Reduces fungal diseases
- Decreases vine vigor
- Lower yields and higher concentration
- Lower production
Where are the best vineyards located?
On steep slopes -> better sunlight interception and drainage
What are the appellations from north to south?
- Côte Rôtie
- Condrieu
- Saint-Joseph
- Hermitage
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Cornas
- Saint-Péray
How are wines from Northern Rhône outside of the appellations labeled?
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
Côte Rôtie
What type of wines does it produce?
Red only
Côte Rôtie
Describe the typical vineyard sites and its characteristics
- Steep slopes, often terraced
- East and south-east facing -> sunlight interception and shelter from winds
Côte Rôtie
What ensures ripening of grapes?
- High levels of sunlight and heat
- Rapid drainage
- Poor, stony soils
Côte Rôtie
What are problems with vineyards?
- Much of the work by hand
- Erosion is a constant problem
Côte Rôtie
How are the vines trained?
Single- or double-Guyot trained and tied to one or two poles (known locally as échalas)
Côte Rôtie
Who helped with the reputation and what is the typical quality and price of wines?
- Etienne Guigal with single-vineyard Côte-Rôties (initially La Mouline and La Landonne)
- Robert Parker’s high scores
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Premium and super-premium prices
Côte Rôtie
How much area under vine is there?
250 ha
Côte Rôtie
What is the typical planting density and max yield?
- 10,000 vines per ha
- Max yield: 40 hL/ha
Côte Rôtie
What are the grape varieties?
- Syrah
- Up to 20% Viognier (often no Viognier at all)
Côte Rôtie
What style is it known for and how is it compared to other appellations?
- Pronounced aromas
- Typically softer and less full-bodied than other appellations
Condrieu
What are the grape varieties and max yields?
- Viognier only
- Max yield: 41 hL/ha
Condrieu
Where are vineyards located, what is the soil, what is their aspect, and what does that mean?
- Steep, low fertility, rocky slopes
- Often terraced
- Challenges from erosion and wind
- Often south-facing
- Enhances fruit ripening
Condrieu
How much area under vine does the appellation have?
197 ha
Condrieu
Describe fermentation vessel, malo, and ageing
- Mostly stainless steel or large wooden vessels
- Some use small barrels
- Usually Malo conducted
- Aged on lees for 10–12 months, often with lees stirring
Condrieu
What is the typical quality and price?
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Premium to super-premium price
Saint-Joseph
What are two highly regarded producers?
- Jean-Louis Chave
- Domaine Gonon
Saint-Joseph
What is the historical heart of the region?
The lieu-dit “Saint-Joseph”
Saint-Joseph
What types of wines are produced?
Red (90%)
Saint-Joseph
What is the max yield?
40 hL/ha
Saint-Joseph
What can be added to the red wines?
- Marsanne and Roussanne are allowed in small proportions
- In practice: quite rare
Saint-Joseph
What is the typical quality and price?
- Good wines at mid-price
- Very good to outstanding at premium and super- premium prices
Hermitage
What is the area under vine?
Small (137 ha)
Hermitage
What type of wine is produced?
2/3 Red
1/3 White
Hermitage
Where is it situated? What is the topography and what are the soils?
- Hill on the left bank (river flows south)
- South-facing slope
- Sun + protection from cold winds
- Dry vineyards with thin, stony soils
Hermitage
What is the typical style? (intensity, tannins, ageing)
- Pronounced intensity
- High tannins
- Great longevity
Hermitage
What are the max yields for red and white wines?
- Red: 40 hL/ha
- White: 45 hL/ha
Hermitage
How are red wines fermented and aged?
- Stems often included
- Warm fermentation temperatures
- Lengthy oak ageing (12–18 months)
- Usually some new oak and medium to large wooden vessels
Hermitage
What grape varieties are used for white wines?
- Typically a majority of Marsanne with some Roussanne
- OR pure Marsanne
Hermitage
How are white wines fermented and aged?
- Fermentation in old wood, new or old oak barrels or in stainless steel
- Maturation in oak (minority new) or stainless steel
- Aged on lees for 10–12 months
Hermitage
Are the whites suitable for ageing?
- Yes
- Can develop rich, creamy, and nutty flavours with outstanding complexity
Hermitage
What can be produced in very ripe years?
A rare Vin de Paille is made (a sweet wine made by drying the grapes off the vine)
Hermitage
What are the most important négociants, co-operatives, and producers?
- Négociants: Chapoutier and Jaboulet
- Co-operatives: Cave de Tain
- Producers: Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage
What is the typical quality and price of red and white wines?
- Very good to outstanding quality
- Mostly super- premium in price
Hermitage
What is the appellation most known for?
The world’s most structured and long-lived Syrah wines
Crozes-Hermitage
Where is it located? What is the area under vine? How big is the appellation?
- Left bank (river flows from north to south), surrounding Hermitage
- 1,700 ha
- Largest appellation in the northern Rhône
Crozes-Hermitage
How is the climate in the north of the appellation?
- Continental climate
- Can be extremely cold in winter
- Strong influence from Mistral
- Long growing season
- High diurnal range
- Moderate sugar accumulation
- Retained acidity
Crozes-Hermitage
How is the climate in the south of the appellation?
- More temperate
- Risk of heavy rainfall in late autumn and through the winter
Crozes-Hermitage
How does the soil and resulting wines compare to Hermitage?
- Deeper soils
- More fertile
- Wines with lower concentration
Crozes-Hermitage
What is the max yield?
45 hL/ha
Crozes-Hermitage
What is the quality and price of wines?
- Mostly good to very good and mid-priced
- Some premium-priced, high-quality wines
Crozes-Hermitage
How are red wines made?
- Fermentation on skins
- Mainly in concrete tanks or stainless steel
- Maturation in these tanks or large oak vessels
Crozes-Hermitage
What is the typical style of red wine? (ageing, tannin)
- Early drinking
- Medium tannins
Crozes-Hermitage
How much white wine is produced, from what grapes, and in what vessels?
- 9%
- Marsanne, Roussanne
- Top example aged in wood and some new barrels
Crozes-Hermitage
What is the typical quality and price of white wines?
- Good to very good quality (some outstanding)
- Mid- to premium priced
Cornas
What is the climate, aspect and topography?
- Mediterranean
- South and east facing amphitheatre
- Protection from cold winds
Cornas
What type of wine is produced, from what varieties?
ONLY red from Syrah
Cornas
What is the max yield?
40 hL/ha
Cornas
What is the area under vine?
145 ha
Cornas
What are three top producers?
- Domaine Alain Voge
- Domaine Vincent Paris
- Domaine Auguste Clape
Cornas
What is the typical quality and price?
- Very good to outstanding
- Premium to super-premium price
Saint-Péray
Where is it located and what is the climate?
- Most southerly appellation
- Slightly cooler climate than neighbors
Saint-Péray
What are the varieties?
- Mostly Marsanne
- Some Roussanne
Saint-Péray
What is the max yield?
45 hL/ha
Saint-Péray
How are the wines produced?
- Stainless steel or in oak barrels
- Aged in the same or in large old oak vessels
- Higher quality wines, aged on the lees for 10–12 months
- Some lees stirring
Saint-Péray
What is the quality and price of wines?
- Good to very good quality
- Mid- to premium priced
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
What type of wines are produced?
- Red
- White
- Rosé
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
Where do the grapes come from?
Northern Rhône outside the appellations
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
What is the max yield?
80 hL/ha
Collines Rhodaniennes IGP
What are the requirements and price?
- Other grape varieties allowed
- Mid- to premium priced
