France - Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the latitude range of the Rhone Valley?
43.6 in Avignon, to 45.3 in Vienne
What two cities bookmark the southern rhone?
Montélimar & Avignon
What two cities bookend the northern rhone?
Vienne to the north, & Valence to the south
Where does the rhone valley rank in terms of total AOC production?
37 million cases annually make it second in volume only to Bordeaux
What geographic features define the Northern Rhone?
The 45mi of Rhone River, the massif central to the west, the french alps to the east; the cotes along the river with the steepest wine-growing slopes in France (55 degrees!)
What is the climate of the Rhone Valley?
Moderate continental in north, moderate mediterranean in South, approaching warm mediterranean as we move toward coast.
Describe the topography & soil of the Southern Rhone
mountains break into rolling hills and planes, covered in scattered galets, large, round stones forming the Southern Rhone’s topsoil & retaining beautiful heat.
What is the biggest threat to grapes in the Rhone?
The Mistral wind; it can dry vines & help prevent mildew, but it can also cause couleur when it disrupts spring flowering, or damage the vines if strong enough.
Draught is also a big problem moving into more mediterranean climate.
What % of Rhone wine is produced in the North?
Only 5%
Compare & contrast wine styles in N & S Rhone
Both produce primarily red wine
The north makes varietal syrah
The south is famous for red blends
Both allow cofermenting & blending of red & white
South tends to be lower tannin, lower acid, higher alcohol
What other river defines the Rhone?
The Drôme river to the east of the rhone defines the Diois appellations.
Can you tell me anything about the Regional Appellations of the Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone & Cotes du Rhone Villages account for more than half the production. 90 villages can use the Village label, & 22 can add their village name. The village wines have slightly more strict production standards.
What can you tell me about Muscat de Beaumes de Venice?
It’s sweet & fortified: 10% minimum residual sugar, 15% alcohol.
White’s most common but rosé & red versions can be made with red muscat.
What can you tell me about Rasteau
It’s a grenache based VDN, though white, rosé, & tawny versions exist as well. `
What can you tell me about the Drôme department?
4 AOCs:
Clairette de Die: ancestral or traditional method clairette
Cremant de Die: traditional method from clairette, muscat, & aligoté
Coteaux de Die: still whites from clairette
Chattion-en-Diois: still whites from chard & aligoté; reds & rosés from pinot, gamay, & syrah
