France- Southern Rhone

Question 1

Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP

Answer 1

• Est. 1936
• Vaucluse dept.
• Blanc, Rouge
• Mediterranean climate
• Château La Nerthe released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1785.
• Communes of CDP:
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Orange, Bédarrides, Courthézon, Sorgues
• Permitted Grapes: Grenache (Noir, Gris and Blanc), Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Brun Argenté (Vaccarèse), Clairette, Clairette Rosé, Muscardin, Picardan, Piquepoul (Noir, Gris and Blanc), Terret Noir
• Marsanne not allowed
• Minimum alcohol: 12.5% (HIghest in France)
• Viticulture:
  En Ligne is a lined formation of planting vines. 3,000 vines/ha.
  Au Carre is a squared planting formation which typically corresponds to 2,500 vines/ha.
• Vinification:
• Newer methods like carbonic maceration, barrique aging are being used.
• Red-Concrete tanks making a comeback, including egg-shaped fermenters and alternate options such as amphorae. Tapered (truncated conical) wooden vats are also becoming popular. A wider base helps to capture the cap of grape skins at the top, assisting the maceration process. Tannic structure and oak aromas are enhanced.
• White- Fermented slowly at lower temperatures, either in stainless steel or oak barrels. Ageing is relatively short, around three to six months.
  Sometimes different grape varieties are vinified and aged separately, either in vats, or on their lees in barrels. Malolactic fermentation is normally blocked to preserve freshness; this can also aid longivity.
• Soil: Sand, gravel, clay Principal soil types include clay (argillaceous), sand (siliceous), limestone (calcareous), and marl (molasse). Topsoils are diverse, and include several sizes and types of stones
• Vine training: Goblet
• Additional req.-
• • Hand-harvesting is required
• A min. 2% of the harvested grapes must be used for table wine or discarded (râpé)
• Flash-pasteurization is permitted for wine
• Chaptalization prohibited for reds
• Producers:
• Cht Rayas
• Cht Beaucastel
• Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe
• Domaine du Pegau
• Paul Avril Clos des Papes

Question 2

Gigondas AOP

Answer 2

• Blanc-Rose-Rouge
• Rouge- Min 50% Grenache- Minimum 90% GSM w/ min 15% Syrah and Mourvedre.
• Blanc - Min 70% Clairette Blanc
• Min alcohol:
  Blanc: 12%
  Rosé and Rouge: 12.5%
• Soil: Red alluvial clay
• The appellation occupies an area covering the base and slopes of the first Dentelles de Montmirail foothills
• Producers:
  Chateau de Saint Cosme
  Famille Perrin
  Guigal

Question 3

Vacqueyras AOP

Answer 3

• Blanc, rouge, rose
• Red- Must include at least 50% Grenache and at least one complementary variety (Carignan is now permitted)
• White- Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier
• Minimum Alcohol:
  Rouge: 12.5%
  Blanc/Rosé: 12%
• Base of Dentelles de Montmirail foothills. Many vineyard sites here are on the steep, southwest-facing limestone slopes.
• Producers- Cht St Cosme, Guigal,
  Domaine Saint Damien

Question 4

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Answer 4

• Communes:Beaumes-de-Venise, Aubignan
• Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains (Both colors of Muscat are allowed in the blend for rose)
• Grape spirit (min 96% pure) is added to the partially fermented grape must. This kills the yeasts and stops the fermentation. It in turn results in a high level of residual sugar
• Min Alcohol- 21.5%
• Min RS - 100 g/l
• Soil- Clay-limestone and Miocene sand
• Producers-
  Domaine des Bernardins
  Domaine de Durban
  Paul Jaboulet

Question 5

CDP communes of production

Answer 5

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Orange
• Bédarrides
• Courthézon
• Sorgues

Question 6

Lirac AOP

Answer 6

• Fairly large area spread over four communes
• Blanc-Rose-Rouge
• Grenache Noir/Grenache Blanc
• Chateau de Segries

Question 7

Tavel AOP

Answer 7

• Rose only
• Mainly Grenache/Syrah/Clairette
• Lauses is a white calcareous stone found here

Question 8

Rasteau AOP

Answer 8

• Communes of Production:
  VDN: Cairanne, Rasteau, Sablet
  Unfortified Reds: Rasteau only
• VDN wines may be white, rosé, or red
• Grenache: Blanc, Gris, and Noir
• Rouge: Min 50% Grenache Min 20% Syrah/Mourvedre
• VDN Blanc: Grenache Blanc / Grenache Gris
• VDN Ambré (Rose,Tawny Blanc): Grenache, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc
• VDN Grenat and Tuilé (Rouge): Min. 75% Grenache, plus Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris
• VDN”Rancio”: Must show oxidative characteristics
• Min alcohol:
  Rouge: 12.5%
  VDN: 21.5% (15% actual alcohol)
• Residual sugar:
  Rouge: Max. 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)
  Vin Doux Naturel: Min. 45 g/l
• Chaptalization illegal
• Soil: Clay and limestone

Question 9

Grignan-les-Adhemar

Answer 9

Blanc-Rose-Rouge
Blanc is mostly Viognier
Rouge is combined 70% Grenache and Syrah.
Tricastan nuclear power plant- Formerly Coteaux du Tricastin.