Northern Rhone

Question 1

Who established viticulture in the Northern Rhone, and in what century, building the terraces into the hillsides?

Answer 1

The Romans by the 1st century

Question 2

Among the most famous in France during the 18th and 19th century, the wines of Hermitage were also blended into what other region’s wines to fatten them up?

Answer 2

Bordeaux

Question 3

How does the climate of the N. Rhone differ from the South?

Answer 3

Its a continental climate, meaning more rain, less sunshine, and greater seasonal temperature change.

Question 4

What is the bedrock of N. Rhone soils?

Answer 4

Granite and Schist

Question 5

What special soil is Condrieu known for?

Answer 5

Arzelle, a powdery mica

Question 6

What soil type is more prevalent in Cornas and Southern Saint Joseph?

Answer 6

Clay over Granite

Question 7

How much Viogner may you blend into Hermitage and Crozes Hermitage rouge?

Answer 7

None. However you may blend up to 15% combined Marsanne/Roussanne.

Question 8

Cote Rotie allows up to 20% of what grape to be cofermented with Syrah?

Answer 8

Viogner

Question 9

How much Marsanne and Roussanne may I blend into Saint Joseph rouge?

Answer 9

Up to 10% combined

Question 10

How much Marsanne and Roussanne may I blend into Cornas?

Answer 10

None. 100% Syrah

Question 11

What IGP may producers utilize in the Northern Rhone? What colors may be produced?

Answer 11

Collines Rhodannienes

White, red, and rose

Question 12

What 2 things are achieved by cofermenting white grapes with red grapes?

Answer 12

Color stabilization and moderation of tannin extraction

Question 13

Name the 2 famous slopes of Cote Rotie.

Answer 13

Blonde and Brune

Question 14

What monopole sits in the heart of Condrieu and who currently owns it?

Answer 14

Chateau Grillet AOC,
Pinault Group (Latour)

Question 15

The 4 lieu dits of Les Reynards, La Cote, Les Chaillot, and Les Mazards are found in what AOC?

Answer 15

Cornas

Question 16

What color and styles of wine are produced in Saint Peray? From what grapes?

Answer 16

White wines from Marsanne and Roussanne. Traditional Method sparkling is also made.

Question 17

What is the traditional method of production in Northern Rhone for red wine?

Answer 17

Long fermentations in large format old oak, whole cluster. Co-fermentation between white and red is largely a Cote Rotie thing.

Question 18

Whats the split in production between white and red in Hermitage?

Answer 18

About 1/3 white, 2/3 red

Question 19

What specialty wine is made in Hermitage in a warm vintage?

Answer 19

Vin de Paille

Question 20

What hermit lived at the top of Hermitage hill?

Answer 20

Gaspard de Sterimberg

Question 21

What are the 4 most important climats of Hermitage?

Answer 21

L’Hermite
Le Meal
Les Bessards
Les Greffieux

Question 22

Of the 4 important climats of Hermitage, match the following descriptions.

a) granite, clay, limestone, aromatic and less tannic
b) fresh and high acid
c) solid granite slab, most tannic
d) warm site, ripe rich fruit

Answer 22

A) Les Greffieux
B) L’Hermite
C) Les Bessards
D) Le Meal

Question 23

What are the 4 marquee vintages for the Northern Rhone since 2010?

Answer 23

2010, 2015, 2016, 2019

Question 24

What 2 vintages were toughest in the Northern Rhone since 2010?

Answer 24

2021 and 2014

Question 25

What 2 vintages from N. Rhone recieved highest praise from 1999-2009?

Name 2 more awesome vintages, maybe just a small notch behind.

Answer 25

1999, 2005

2001, 2009

Question 26

What vintage was most difficult from 1999-2009 in the N. Rhone? Why?

Answer 26

2002-very wet cool year. fruit never really ripened.

04 and 08 were below avg for similar reasons

Question 27

Cremant de Die AOC must be what 2 grapes (min%), and produced by what method?

Answer 27

min 55% Clairette
min 10% Aligote

traditional method

Question 28

Coteaux de Die AOC is what kind of wine made from which grapes?

Answer 28

still white, 100% Clairette

Question 29

Clairette de Die AOC is what kind of wine (%?)

What if I make it “Dioise”?

Answer 29

100% Clairette traditional method sparkler

Method Ancestrale, min 75% Muscat Bl.a.p.g w/ clairette

Question 30

Chatillon en Diois AOC makes what kinds of wines?

Answer 30

Reds/roses based on Gamay (min 60%)
Whites made with Aligote and/or Chard

Question 31

All the “Die” and “Dioise” AOCs sit along what river?

Answer 31

Drome river

Question 32

The Guigal La La wines…
a) name them
b) what slope do they come from
c) typical blend %

Answer 32

La Mouline: Blonde, 89/11 syrah/viogner
La Turque: Brune, 93/7 syrah/viogner
La Landonne: Brune, 100 syrah

Question 33

Cote Rotie:

What icon producer from the 50’s until the early 90’s served as mentor to its current standard bearers, his nephew, and his next door neighbors? Name all 3.

Answer 33

Marius Gentaz
Rene Rostaing
Jamet brothers

Question 34

What are excellent N. Rhone vintages from the 90’s? (4)

Answer 34

‘90 ‘95 ‘98 ‘99

Question 35

Who produces Cuvee Cathelin?

How about L’Hermite?

Answer 35

J. L. Chave

Michel Chapoutier

Question 36

Who produces La Chapelle?

How about Domaine des Tourettes?

Answer 36

Paul Jaboulet

Delas

Question 37

Can Condrieu have R.S.? What might appear on a label to indicate a sweet wine?

Answer 37

Yes

Selection des Grains Nobles

Question 38

Who makes the following Condrieu wines?

a) La Doriane
b) Coteaux de Chery (x2)
c) Coteau de Vernon
d) Clos Chanson
e) Chaillees de l’Enfer

Answer 38

a) E. Guigal
b) M. Chapoutier, Andre Perret
c) Georges Vernay
d) Andre Perret
e) Georges Vernay

Question 39

Who makes Hermitage “Ex Voto”

How about Le Pavillon and de l’Oree?

Answer 39

E Guigal

M Chapoutier

Question 40

Thierry Allemand, August Clape, and Jean Luc Colombo are current star producers from what AOC?

Answer 40

Cornas