France - Rhone Valley Flashcards
Which are the 2 main regions of the Rhone Valley?
Northern Rhone
Southern Rhone
Describe the climate and what influences it
(In the Northern Rhone)
Continental climate, with less sunshine than southern regions.
Cold Mistral winds are not as strong as in the south, but helps drying grapes and avoid molds, fungal diseases and mildew.
What is the defining soil of the Northern Rhone?
Granite
Schist
List the main 9 regions of the Northern Rhone, from north to south
Cote Rotie
Condrieu
Saint-Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Cornas
Saint-Peray
Clairette de Die
Chatillon-en-Diois
Describe geographically the Cote Rotie
Steepest slopes in the north of the Northern Rhone.
South facing and protected from cold winds
Which are the 2 main regions of the Cote Rotie?
Cote Brune (South)
Cote Blonde (South)
Which soil can we find in the Cote Brune?
High clay content, rich in ironstone and dark in color
Which soil can we find in the Cote Blonde?
Granite and high limestone content
Which are the permitted grapes in Cote Rotie?
Syrah
max 20% Viognier
What does Viognier impart in the blend with Syrah of the Cote Rotie?
Helps stabilizing the color of Syrah.
In bad vintages it acts as a natural chaptalization.
Name a top producer in the Cote Rotie
Guigal
Which is the grape of Condrieu?
Viognier
What can we expect from Condrieu’s wines?
Highly concentrated fruit flavor.
Peach, apricot, gold color, dry and spicy
Name a TOP estate of Condrieu?
Chateau-Grillet
Describe Saint-Joseph wines
Syrah and 10% Roussanne/Marsanne.
Wines don’t have body and concentration of Cote Rotie and Hermitage
Where is Hermitage situated?
South facing granite slopes, on the east bank of the river Rhone
Why is it called ‘Hermitage’?
Because of the Chevalier de Sterimberg, that after the crusades retired as a ‘hermit’ in a Chapelle on the hill
Which grape are used in Hermitage?
Syrah
max 15% Roussanne/Marsanne
Which sweet wine is produced in Hermitage?
Vin de Paille
sold under Hermitage Vin de Paille AOC
Name a TOP Hermitage producer
Charpoutier
Which wines are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?
Primarily reds from Syrah with max 15% Marsanna/Roussanne
Describe Cornas wines
100% Syrah
Very concentrated
Unapproachable young
Which wines are produced in Saint Peray?
Still and sparkling whites from Marsanne/Roussanne
Which wines can we find in Clairette de Die?
Light dry sparkling wines from 100% Clairette grape.
Methode Traditionelle
Methode Dioise Ancestrale
Which wines are produced in Chatillon-en-Diois?
Red, rose from Gamay
Whites from Aligote/Chardonnay
Describe the climate and what influences it in the Northern Rhone
Mediterranean climate
Mistral winds is the major aspect.
Powerful cold winds that blows from North to South
How does the Mistral wind affects the grapes?
Reduces humidity, avoid molds, fungal diseases, mildew, insects, dries the soil quickly after the rain.
Breaks shoots during spring, increasing quality but reducing yields.
Dry grapes during ripening, reducing yields but increasing concentration of flavor
Which are the predominant grapes of the Southern Rhone blend?
Grenache (predominant)
Syrah
Mourvedre
Which wines can we find in Beaume-de-Venise?
Table wines min. 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC are sweet VDN wines from Muscat a petit grains noir et blanc
100g/L residual sugar and min. 15%abv
What does VDN means?
Vin Doux Naturel
addition of grape spirit (brandy) to arrest fermentation.
Which wines can we find in Cairanne?
Good reds from min. 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah and/or Mourvedre
What is the main characteristic of the soil in Chateauneuf-de-Pape?
‘Galets’
Large smooth rounded pebbles that help drain the ground, prevent the soil to dry out and store heat to release it at night
Which are the 5 most important grapes for Chatoneuf-de-Pape blend?
Grenache
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Mourvedre
Name some TOP producers of Chateauneuf-de-Pape
Chateau Beaucastel
Chateau Rayas
Vieux Telegraph
Domaine du Pegau
Clos des Papes
Which wines are produced in Cote de Luberon?
Reds and rose with 60% Grenache and Syrah.
Some whites
Wich wines are produced in Costieres de Nimes?
Reds from min. 60% Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
Whites from min. 50% Grenache Blanc
Which wines can we find in Cotes de Vivarais?
Red, white, rose
Mainly from Syrah and Grenache
Which wines are produced in Cotes du Ventoux?
Lighter reds from Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
with Cinsault and Carignan
Describe the soil in Gigondas
Some sedimentary with limestone and pebbles.
Some with higher % of clay
Which grapes are used for Gigondas wines?
80% Grenache
15% Syrah and Mourvedre
Which wines are produced in Grignan-Les-Adhemar?
Very good reds from Syrah/Grenache
Good rose from the Saignee methode
What is the ‘Saignee’ method?
It’s the removal (bleeding off) of a portion of the juice from a tank of crushed grapes.
Increases skin amount relative to juice.
Which wines can we find in Lirac?
Deep colored reds with min. 40% Grenache, min.25% Mourvedre and Syrah.
Rose similar to Tavel AOC
Small quantity of whites
Which are the characteristic wines of Rasteau?
VDN from 90% Old Vines Grenache Noir grapes.
Rose and amber colored are done with saignee method
min. 252 g/L residual sugar
min. 15%abv
What is a Rancio in Rasteau?
When the VDN from Rasteau AOC mature and maderize, it’s called Rancio
What is the famous aspect of the soil in Tavel AOC?
Flat white stones called ‘Lauzes’
Describe the wines of Tavel AOC
Deep colored rose that can mature 5 to 10 years.
From Grenache and Cinsault, followed by Mourvedre and Picpoul.
Describe the wines of Vacqueyras
Similar wines to Gigondas
min. 50% Grenache
Describe the wines of Vinsobres
Reds with min. 50% Grenache, min. 25% Mourvedre or Syrah
Some rose produced
How many villages can have their name on the label as a Cote du Rhone AOC?
21
How would you pair Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Northern Rhone reds?
Roasts and dark meat dishes.
CDP and Gigondas also with game and stronger flavored stews
What is Coteaux de Pierrevert?
Appellation in the middle between Rhone and Provence.
High altitude (450mt) and very small.
Produces reds, whites and rose.
Rose are the best
