Northern Rhone Flashcards
What are the two major cities either side of the northern Rhone?
Vienna in the North
Valence In the south
What are the permitted grape varietals in the Northern Rhone?
(R) Syrah
(W) Viognier. Roussanne. Marsanne.
What Appellations in the Northern Rhone only produce red wine?
Cote Rotie
Cornas
What appellations in the Northern Rhone only produce white wine?
Condrieu
Chateau Grillet
Saint-Peray
What appellations in Northern Rhone Produce both Red and White wine?
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
St-Joseph
What is the climate in the Northern Rhone?
Warm continental climate
What is the most northerly appellation of the Rhone valley?
Cote Rotie
What is the Maximum blend of white grapes into a cote rotie? And what white grape is permitted?
maximum of 20% viognier (although most producers will be well below, usually up to 5%)
What are the rules with blending viognier into cote rotie?
Maximum of 20% can be used.
Grapes MUST be co-fermented.
What are the benefits of co-fermenting Viognier in cote rotie?
In poor years the over ripe viognier acts as a natural chaptalization within the wines when added to Syrah.
When co-fermented together, viognier helps to stabilize the colour of Syrah?
How long does a Cote rotie take to reach maturity?
Upwards of 10yrs
Tell me about the slopes in cote rotie?
The vines in cote rotie are planted of some of the steepest slopes in France.
They are south facing for maximum sun exposure and protection from the cool northerly winds.
The soil is schist and each vine has its own stake.
What does Cote rotie translate to?
Roasted slopes
What is Chateau-Grillet?
Chateau Grillet is a single vineyard appellation (monopole) and one of the smallest AOC’s in France, (3.5ha).
It produces wine made from 100% Viognier.
What is Condrieu AOC?
Condrieu is an appellation which only produces white wines made from 100% Viognier.
The best wines from Condrieu come from a monopole called Chateau Grillet.