Grapes and wines of the Southern Rhone

Question 1

Describe the climate and weather features of the Southern Rhône

Answer 1

Mediterranean: mild winters and warm dry summers - drought can be a problem
Mistral winds gain speed and can cause damage to vines

Question 2

Describe typical vineyard practices in the Southern Rhône

Answer 2

Mostly to mitigate damaging effects of the mistral from the north, and also to benefit from warmth.
Grenache is typically bush-trained: protection from winds, maximise heat absorption from soil
Syrah: trellised to offer support

Wind breaks are also planted to protect from the mistral, because there are fewer slopes to offer protection

Question 3

Describe the soil landscape of the Southern Rhône

Answer 3

Much flatter terrain, with many of the best sites being composed of very stony soil that absorb sun’s heat and warm vineyard, aiding ripening.
In some sites e.g. Châteauneuf-du-Pape these round stones, otherwise known as galets, cover the surface of the soil

Question 4

What is the composition of a typical Southern Rhône wine?

Answer 4

Often a complex blend, sometimes with a dozen or more varieties

Question 5

List the key red varieties and their roles in a blend

Answer 5

Grenache: dominates, produces wines with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours (but can become jammy and baked in very hot years)
Syrah: supporting role to Grenache, extra colour and tannin (struggles in hottest sites)
Mourvèdre: at northern limit. Adds colour, tannin, dense black fruit flavours, gamey and meaty aromas (highly prized in Chateauneuf-du-Pape)
Cinsault: provides red fruit flavours (not tannin or colour), also best known as blending partner to Grenache in fresh and fruity rosés

Question 6

List the challenges faced by Southern Rhone winemakers, and methods used to manage them

Answer 6

Managing potentially high tannins and high alcohol levels to produce a balanced wine
Cold pre-fermentation maceration and storage in stainless steel
Warm extractive fermentation in traditional open fermenters, maturation in large old oak vessels
Typically make up a wine from blends produced from different fermentation techniques.
New oak is used by some, but some traditional producers believe it can overwhelm the flavours of Grenache

Question 7

Describe the range of wine styles

Answer 7

Light to medium bodied
Fresh and fruity wines
Low tannins to high tannin and full-bodied
Flavours of spice, meat, and/or earth

Question 8

What white grapes can be found in Southern Rhone?

Answer 8

Clairette
Bourboulenc
Grenache Blanc

Viognier
Marsanne
Roussanne

Question 9

Describe a good white Southern Rhone wine

Answer 9

Richly textured
Full-bodied
High in alcohol
Low to medium acidity
Subtle fruity aromas
Rarely use new oak

Question 10

Describe the generic appellations of the Southern Rhone with corresponding rules

Answer 10

Côtes du Rhône: over half total production, mostly red wine

Côtes du Rhône Villages: more stringent minimum alcohol levels and maximum yields with greater percentage of blend from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre. If 100% of grapes come from named village, some villages are permitted to add their name e.g. Côtes du Rhône Cairanne

All villages named under the Côtes du Rhône Villages system can apply for cru status

Question 11

Compare a typical Côtes du Rhône Villages wine with a Côtes du Rhône wine

Answer 11

Best wines outside cru level, have more body, structure and spiced red fruit flavours than a generic Côtes du Rhône wine.

Question 12

Describe the vineyard area of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and impacts on grape varieties. How many varieties are used?

Answer 12

Notably flat, with small variations in aspect which can impact on performance of Syrah and Mourvèdre
13 grape varieties available to choose from
Diverse soil types (most famous is the galets stones)
Contributes to wide diversity of red wines

Question 13

Describe a Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine

Answer 13

Can be 100% Grenache (some of the most successful for example)
Can be blended with the gamey/meaty Mourvèdre
Best examples are full-bodied and richly textured with concentrated spiced red fruit flavours, balanced with high alcohol
NOTE a lot of mediocre Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made which is dilute and unbalanced with high alcohol.

A small amount of white examples are made

Question 14

Describe a typical Tavel and Lirac wine

Answer 14

Tavel is ONLY rosé, often made from Grenache blended with Cinsault
Lirac can make rosé AND reds and whites in the style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Full-bodied compared to Provence rosés, intensely flavoured and capable of developing greater complexity when aged in bottle

Question 15

List all the existing cru villages

Answer 15

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tavel
Lirac
Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Beaumes de Venise

Question 16

Describe a typical Gigondas and Vacqueras wine

Answer 16

Red wine: usually Grenache-led blend

Similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape: full-bodied, spicy style, can even be as good in quality

Question 17

Name the best known fortified wine of the Southern Rhone

Answer 17

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise