France - Rhone Valley

Question 1

What is the soil type that’s famously from Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 1

Galets (Basalt cobblestones)

Question 2

What is Southern Rhône’s climate?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Question 3

What is Northern Rhône’s climate?

Answer 3

Continental

Question 4

What was the sub-region in Southern Rhone which became the first AOC in France?

Answer 4

1936 - Châteauneuf-du-Pape became the first AOC (now AOP) in France.

Question 5

What is the minumum alcohol requirement of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for red and white wines?

Answer 5

12.5%

Question 6

Which white grape is NOT permitted in the Hermitage AOC?
- Marsanne
- Roussane
- Viognier

Answer 6

Viognier

Question 7

What is one of the only communal appellations in France exclusively dedicated to rosé wines?

Answer 7

Tavel AOP is one of the only communal appellations in France exclusively dedicated to rosé wines. Tavel has long been regarded as the premier French rosé appellation, although its reputation for ageworthiness is often exaggerated. The wines are based on Grenache and made in a dry style.

Question 8

Which AOC do you find wines made in a “rancio” style? What does that mean?

Answer 8

Rasteau wines may also be rancio, a deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature.

Question 9

Fortified wines retain natural grape sugar through _____ where a pure grape spirit is added to arrest fermentation in a proportion of 5%-10%

Answer 9

MUTAGE

Vin doux naturel, a sweet fortified wine, is found in greater quantities in Languedoc-Roussillon, but two appellations exist for the style in the Southern Rhône: Rasteau AOP and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP. The white, red, and rosé wines retain natural grape sugar through mutage, wherein pure grape spirit is added to arrest fermentation in a proportion of 5 to 10%.