France: Rhone Valley

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone

Answer 1

Continental

Question 2

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Question 3

What soils are found in the Nothern Rhone?

Answer 3

Granite and Schist

Question 4

Northern or Southern Rhone: known for its steep hillside vineyards.

Answer 4

Northern Rhone

Question 5

Northern or Southern Rhone: known for rolling hills.

Answer 5

Southern Rhone

Question 6

What soils do you find in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 6

GALETS, alluviums, and limestone

Question 7

What is the name of the fierce wind that pummels through the Northern Rhone?

Answer 7

The Mistral

Question 8

Northern or Southern Rhone: vines are usually bush-trained (gobelet) to provide shade and conserve water.

Answer 8

Southern Rhone

Question 9

Northern or Southern Rhone: vines are trained via stakes in the ground (echalas trellis).

Answer 9

Northern Rhone

Question 10

True or False: modern plantings in the Southern Rhone Valley are trellised instead of bush-trained.

Answer 10

True. Depending on economics.

Question 11

True or False: wines of the Southern Rhone are usually co-fermented.

Answer 11

False. Co-fermentation is more common in the Northern Rhone.

Question 12

True or False: wines of the Southern Rhone are often blends.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What are the three main white grapes of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 13

Viognier
Marsanne
Rousanne

Question 14

What is the primary red grape variety of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 14

Syrah

Question 15

What are the primary red grape varieties of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 15

Grenache
Mourvedre
Cinsault

Question 16

Name 3 main white grapes used in the Southern Rhone.

Answer 16

Grenache Blanc
Bourboulenc
Picpoul Blanc
Clairette Blanche

Question 17

Name the Cru AOCs of the Northern Rhone and what styles of wine do they produce?

Answer 17

Listed north to south:
Cote-Rotie
-Red
Condrieu
-White
Chateau-Grillet (within Condrieu)
-White
Saint-Joseph
-Red & White
Crozes-Hermitage
-Red and White
Hermitage (within Crozes-Hermitage)
-Red and White
Cornas
-Red (syrah only)
Saint-Peray
- white

Question 18

What is the primary grape of Condrieu AOC?

Answer 18

Viognier

Question 19

What is the primary grape of Cote-Rotie AOC?

Answer 19

Syrah

Question 20

What are the primary grapes of Saint-Joseph?

Answer 20

Syrah (red)

Marsanne (white)
Roussanne (white)

Question 21

Which Southern Rhone Cru AOC only produces rose?

Answer 21

Tavel AOC

Question 22

Which Southern Rhone AOCs produce Vin du Naturels?

Answer 22

Rasteau AOC and Baumes-de-Venise AOC

Question 23

Which Southern Rhone AOCs produce red blends based on Grenache?

Answer 23

Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Gigondas AOC
Vaqueyras AOC

Lesser knowns:
Vinsobres AOC
Cairanne AOC
Lirac AOC

Question 24

List the following from lowest elevation to highest elevation:
Cotes-du-Rhone Villages
Cru AOCs
Cotes-du-Rhone AOC

Answer 24

Cotes-du-Rhone AOC
Cotes-du-Rhone Villages
Cru AOCs

Question 25

What is the minimum % of Grenache allowed in Southern Rhone red wines?

Answer 25

30%

Question 26

What is the minimum alcohol % of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 26

12.5%

Question 27

What does it mean when the Papal Crest is embossed on a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 27

That the wine is estate-grown