France - Rhone Flashcards
How many districts are there in the Rhone Valley?
2- The north
and the south
Rhone Valley produces how many cases per year?
37 Million cases annually
2nd largest AOC behind Bordeaux
one of the oldest wine growing regions
Geography of the Rhone valley?
120 miles long
starting 20 miles south of Lyon (north) to Avignon (south)
on both sides of Rhone river
N & S is separated by a 30 mile gap
Describe geography of Northern Rhone?
45miles along both banks
steep sided on much of the river (Cote Rote 55d)
Passes divided between the Massif Central and French Alps
more Continental climate than Med
describe geography and climate in Southern Rhone?
starts a point below mountains, open broad lowlands
- Med climate, sunshine, warm temps, min precipitation
- hazard sudden, violent rainstorms, & the Mistral
Rocks found in CDP?
Galets
Mistral
intense strong, cold wine from the north
can be damaging
Grapes typically found in Northern Rhone?
Red- Syrah
White- Viognier, Marsanne, Roussane
Grapes many found in Southern Rhone?
over 2 dozen varieties of both red and white
Important red grapes found in Southern Rhone?
Grenache- accounts for 2/3 Syrah Carignan Mouvedre Cinsault
Important white grapes found in Southern Rhone?
Grenache Blanc- mutation of Grenache Noir Clairette- aromatic white Viognier Ugni Blanc (colombard) Roussanne Marsanne Muscat
Often seen blending grapes Grenache and Syrah. What do each bring to the blend?
Grenache- less tannins, high in Alcohol, lower in acidity
Syrah- deeply color, tannic, powerful, long lived
Describe Rose from Rhone?
9% of production
Grenache is key component
hearty, deeply colored, full flavored
Describe white wine from Rhone?
5% of production
produced dry, sweet fortified, or sparking
Viognier world benchmark in northern Rhone for full-bodied, viscous, and very aromatic
Also found Marsanne & Roussanne produced in white or blended with red
number of AOCs in Northern Rhone?
8
Standout, commune size AOC in Northern Rhone?
Cote -Rotie- Syrah mixed with a little Viognier
Hermitage-
Cornas- requires 100% Syrah
White wine AOCs found in Northern Rhone?
Condrieu AOC & Chateau-Grillet AOC made 100% Viognier
Saint-Peray AOC -still & sparking from Marsanne and Roussanne
Cotes du Rhone appellation covers?
Covers most of the area, including Northern Rhone
accounts for more than half of the Valley’s output
approved for red, white, rose
most is produced by cooperative
Southern Rhone production volume vs. Northern?
South produces 95% of volume
South covers more ground
Number of villages in Cotes du Rhone?
90- all in the south
of these 21 are permitted to append their name as official subzone
-these subzone required stricter production standards for yield, density, ABV, and other factors
Well known Southern Rhone communes that have AOC status?
CDP- know for red blends of 13 (or 18 depending on how you count)
Gigondas, LIrac, Rasteau, Cairanne, Vacqueyras- known for red blends, & small amounts of white and rose
Main grape used in fortified sweet wine production in Southern Rhone?
Muscat de Beaumes-de Venise
makes mainly white wine
there is a red and white Muscat
name of fortified wine in Southern Rhone and characteristics of wine?
Vin doux natural made from Muscat
ABV above 15%, min RS is 10%
mainly white produced, rose and red exist
Rasteau AOC produces?
Vin doux naturel based on Grenache (noir, blanc, and gris version)
generally red, but also produced are white, tawny, rose
AOC exclusively for rose in Rhone?
Tavel.
made from Grenache and Cinsault mainly
dry
Name the sparkling AOCs in Rhone?
Clairette de Die- traditional and ancestral
Cremant de Die- dry traditional
Coteaux de Die
Chatillon den Diois
grapes used in making sparkling wine in Southern Rhone?
Clairette, Muscat, and Aligote
AOCs outside Cotes du Rhone?
Ventoux AOC- white, red, rose Costieres de Nimes - white, red, rose Luberon- white, red, rose Duche d'Uzes -white, red, rose Cotes de Vivarais - white, red, rose Clairette de Bellegarde- 100% Clairette
What city lies to the north of the Rhone Valley?
Lyon (20 miles north)
What city lies at the south of the Rhone Valley?
Avignon
How many miles from north to south is the Rhone Valley?
120 miles
How many miles are in the gap between the Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone?
30 miles
How does the mistral help the Southern rhone grapes?
Cools down the vines so the grapes retain their acidity, and works as a blow-dryer to keep humidity & mold off the grapes at harvest time.
Because of the mistral, the best vineyards are located where?
In sheltered areas.
Because of the mistral, how are the vines pruned?
Low to the ground.
What are the soils in the Southern Rhome?
clay, sandy limestone, gravel, or stones
Why does Southern Rhone blend it’s wine?
The hot dry climate can make classic Syrah lose it’s focus & intensity so blending can create a whole wine that’s more than a sum of it’s parts.
What Southern Rhone AOCs are known for hearty red blends?
C du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac & Rasteau
What is the alcohol level and minimum % of sugar in a Muscat de B-de-V?
15% alcohol and 10% residual sugar
What is another vin doux natural from Southern Rhone is based on Grenache and is mostly red but can be white, tawny and rose versions?
Rasteau vin doux naturel
Where is Clairette de Die AOC and what style wine is produced there?
Apart from the Rhone Valley. Produces a sweet sparkling wine using the Method Ancestrale Dioise.
List the AOC’s in the Southern Rhone clockwise
Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, one at the top, Vinsoble, Rasteau, Gigondas, Vaqueyres, Beaumes de Venise, large app starts with a V, Luberon, Chat. du Pape, Cost. de Nimes, Tavel, Lirac
The vineyards are steep and must be terraced in what part of the Rhone Valley
Northern
What Northern Rhone AOC is 100% syrah?
Cornas
What Northern Rhone AOCs are dry whites from 100% viognier?
Condrieu and Chateau Grillet
List the Northern Rhone AOCs north to south
Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Chateaux Grillet, St. Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas, St. Peray
