Northern Rhône Flashcards
The Northern Rhône stretches between which 2 communes?
From Vienne (N) to Valence (S)
How does the Northern Rhône’s climate differs from that of the Southern Rhône?
While the Southern Rhône’s climate is firmly Mediterranean, the Northern Rhône is more continental. It benefits from its southerly position but experiences greater seasonal temperature shifts, more rainfall, and fewer annual hours of sunshine than the southern appellations.
The cold, dry Mistral wind blows down from the where and affects the Northern Rhône during which seasons?
The Massif Central and it affects the Northern Rhône in winter and spring.
Why is it that many trees in the Northern Rhône valley grow leaning southward?
Because they are bent by the Mistral wind
What is one of the advantage of the Mistral when it comes to viticulture?
it dries the vineyards, preventing mold and mildew from taking hold.
The steeply sloped vineyards of which 3 Northern Rhône AOPs are carved out of this heat-retaining granitic and schistous bedrock?
Côte-Rôtie
Condrieu
Hermitage
What is the topsoil like throughout the Northern Rhône and what threat does it poses?
Fine sand and loess topsoil is found throughout the Northern Rhône and is prone to erosion (a threat partially mitigated by terrace construction).
Near the commune of Condrieu, what is the local name of the thin topsoil that is rich with powdery, decomposed mica?
Arzelle
How are the soils in the more southern sectors of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray, compared to those from the steep vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage which are generally directly carved out from the heat-retaining granitic and schistous bedrock?
The soils become heavier with clay in the southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray.
Syrah-based wines from the Northern Rhône are typically fermented and aged in what type of vessel?
The wines are typically fermented and aged in large oak foudres, although some producers are now experimenting with new barriques.
What are the 5 appellations for Syrah in the Northern Rhône?
Hermitage AOP
Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Cornas AOP
Côte-Rôtie AOP
Saint-Joseph AOP
Which of the 5 appellations for Syrah in the Northern Rhône is always bottled as 100% Syrah?
Cornas
Côte-Rôtie wines may add up to which percentage of Viognier in their blend?
20%
Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage producers have the option of adding a combined total of up to which percentage of Marsanne and Roussanne into their blend?
15%
Saint-Joseph producers have the option of adding a combined total of up to which percentage of Marsanne and Roussanne into their blend?
10%
What are 2 of the perceived advantages of co-fermenting white and red grapes?
Co-fermentation offers the almost counterintuitive advantage of stabilizing red wine color and moderating tannin extraction.
Côte-Rôtie, the “roasted slope,” rises up a southeasterly aspect behind the riverside town of…?
Ampuis
Ampuis, home to which producer, which is also the largest producer in the Côte-Rôtie appellation?
E. Guigal
Simply put, how do the wines from Côte Blonde differ from those of Côte Brune?
Côte Blonde yields softer, alluring wines, whereas the wines of Côte Brune are stronger and more assertive.
Which 4 major producers dominate the terraced hill of Hermitage?
Jean-Louis Chave
Delas (négociant)
M. Chapoutier (négociant)
Jaboulet (négociant)
“La Chapelle,” Jaboulet’s premier wine, is named for a small hillside chapel that stands in commemoration of which legendary Crusader-turned-hermit who lived a life of asceticism atop the hill?
Gaspard de Stérimberg
The small hillside chapel of Hermitage is located within which climat?
L’Hermite
Name 5 important climates of Hermitage except L’Hermite.
Méal
Les Bessards
Gréffieux
Beaume
Péléat
The sun’s warmth is magnified in Cornas by the naked granite soil in the vineyards, referred to as…?
Gore
Does the Mistral wind affects the vineyards of Cornas?
No, the appellation is shielded from the Mistral wind.
Which is the smallest of the smallest red wine appellation of the Northern Rhône?
At just over 100 hectares of planted land, Cornas is physically the smallest red wine appellation of the Northern Rhône, although Hermitage is not far behind.
Which producer has long been considered the standard-bearer for the traditional wines of the Cornas appellation, eschewing destemming for whole-cluster fermentation and new oak barriques for the old demi-muids of the region?
Auguste Clape
The Saint-Joseph’s appellation borders have been greatly enlarged from the original delimited area. Where is the original delimited area of Saint-Joseph?
Near the commune of Tournon-sur-Rhône, opposite the hill of Hermitage.
What wines are produced in the Saint-Péray AOP?
It exclusively produces Marsanne and Roussanne wines, which may be made in méthode traditionelle mousseux style.
What does Marsanne and Roussanne each contribute to the typical blend of the 2 varieties in white Northern Rhône blends?
Often but not always blended, the more delicate Roussanne adds acidity and waxy minerality to Marsanne’s broader, oily texture and marzipan character.
In Hermitage, which 2 producers revived the traditional and rare style of dessert wine vin de paille (drying either grape) first in the 70s and then in the 90s?
Gérard Chave in the 1970s and again by Chapoutier in 1990.
Viognier wines of Condrieu tend toward honeyed lushness, intriguing floral aromas, and rich texture; however, regarding winemaking, is it typical for producers to put their wines through malolactic conversion and into new oak?
Important stylistic decisions, such as the use of oak and the desirability of malolactic fermentation, vary widely by producer.
What is so special about Château Grillet AOP?
It is a monopole within Condrieu.
Southeast of Valence, which 4 minor appellations of the Northern Rhône lie on the Drôme River, a tributary of the Rhône?
Coteaux de Die AOP
Crémant de Die AOP
Clairette de Die AOP
Châtillon-en-Diois AOP
What type of wines are produced in Coteaux de Die AOP?
Still white wines made entirely from the Clairette grape
What type of wines are produced in Crémant de Die AOP?
Dry (max 15 g/L RS) traditional method sparkling white wines made from:
min. of 55% Clairette
min. 10% Aligoté
5-10% (max) Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
What typeS of wines are produced in Clairette de Die AOP?
2 styles of sparkling wines:
- Traditional method based solely on Clairette (essentially brut w/ max. 15 g/L RS)
- rustic Méthode Dioise ancestrale containing a min. of 75% Muscat à Petit Grains with min. 35 g/L RS (implying demi-sec)
Describe the Méthode Dioise ancestrale.
The méthode ancestrale is an old technique of sparkling wine production in which the wine is bottled without dosage before fermentation has concluded. The wines are disgorged into pressurized tanks and rebottled without liqueur d’expédition.
Summary:
Ancestrale (left to continue alcoholic fermentation in bottle)
Disgorged in pressurized tanks
No dosage/liqueur d’expédition
What typeS of wines are produced in Châtillon-en-Diois AOP?
Gamay-based reds (+ add. PN & Syrah allowed)
Gamay-based rosés (+ add. PN & Syrah allowed)
Aligoté- and Chardonnay-based whites
Av. annual rainfall in the Northern Rhône VS in the Southern Rhône?
Northern Rhône: 915mm (Valence)
Southern Rhône 660mm (Avignon)
Name 7 famous Cornas producers.
Thiérry Allemand
Auguste Clape
Domaine Courbis
Domaine Durand
Guillaume Gilles
Vincent Paris
Domaine du Tunnel
Alain Voge
Where have new vineyards been planted in Cornas beyond the original east-facing amphitheatre of terraces?
On old pastures above the original east-facing amphitheatre on colder sites where grapes may take an extra fortnight to ripen.
Which city marks the break between the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône?
Montélimar
Wine production percentage split between the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône?
Northern Rhône: 5%
Southern Rhône: 95%
Which are the 6 naturally favoured communes that once made up the St-Joseph appellation before its famous expansion?
From N to S:
1. Lemps
2. Vion
3. St-Jean-de-Muzols
4. Tournon-sur-Rhône
5. Mauves
6. Glun
St-Joseph has expanded from 6 to how many communes?
26 communes
Wines labeled as IGP Collines Rhodaniennes tend to come from which area?
On the promising mica-schist slopes opposite Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu, on the left bank of the river to the north around Seyssuel between Lyon and Vienne.
