Northern Rhone

Question 1

Northern Rhone Grapes

Answer 1

Red: Syrah

White: Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne

Question 2

Location of Northern Rhone

Answer 2

just southwest of Lyon and begins at the town of Vienne and ends at Valence. Soils are more of a continuation of southern Beaujolais than anything else

Question 3

Geography of Northern Rhone

Answer 3

Characterized by the deep gorge carved by the river, this region has steep slopes and winding roads. There is very little topsoil and most vineyards are terraced.

Question 4

Northern Rhone Climate

Answer 4

Continental with Mediterranean
influences. Dry summers, cold winters, with
very little humidity.

Question 5

Northern Rhone Terroir

Answer 5

Vineyards here are dry with the mistral
wind (extremely cold and dry) blows from the massif central through the valley. The region has more rainfall than the southern Rhône but does not experience very much humidity

Question 6

Effect of the Mistral

Answer 6

Thick-skinned grapes do better in the wind and it is so powerful the northern Rhône
has its own teepee-like trellising system to keep the vines from blowing over.

Question 7

Northern Rhone soils

Answer 7

Arzelle near Condrieu (decomposed mica), granite, schist, clay.

Question 8

When did winemaking begin in Northern Rhone

Answer 8

100 BCE: Romans bring winemaking to the northern Rhône.

Question 9

How did Hermitage get its name

Answer 9

12th Century: The crusader, Gaspard de Stérimberg, retires alone on a massive hill to repent where he spends the rest of his days. This becomes the single hillside AOP of Hermitage.

Question 10

Winemaker preferences- Syrah

Answer 10

Syrah here gains deep concentration and will be normally aged in large oak foudre

Question 11

Co-fermentation with white wine

Answer 11

In many appellations, small amounts of white grapes can be co-fermented with Syrah to add lift and actually fix the color. This varies by AOP and is a winemaker choice.

Question 12

Winemaker Preferences- White Wine

Answer 12

White wines tend to be made with oak aging, lees stirring, and malolactic
fermentation. This created a richness in the wines while maintaining the floral and fruit
characteristics.

Question 13

Côte Rôtie AOP

Answer 13

red only from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier

Question 14

Condrieu AOP

Answer 14

whites only from 100% Viognier

Question 15

Cornas AOP

Answer 15

red only, 100% Syrah.

Question 16

Château Grillet AOP

Answer 16

whites only from 100% Viognier

Question 17

St. Joseph AOP

Answer 17

whites from Marsanne and Roussanne, reds from Syrah with up to 10%
Marsanne and Roussane.

Question 18

Crozes-Hermitage AOP

Answer 18

whites from Marsanne and Roussanne, reds from Syrah with up to
15% Marsanne and Roussane.

Question 19

Hermitage AOP

Answer 19

whites and Vin de Paille (dried sweet wine) from Marsanne and Roussanne,
reds from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane.

Question 20

Saint-Péray AOP

Answer 20

Sparkling and still wines from Marsanne and Roussanne. Sparkling must be
aged 12 months from tirage before release.

Question 21

Coteau de Die, Crémant de Die

Answer 21

make traditional sparkling wines from Clairette.
Clairette de Die makes traditional sparkling as well as methode ancestrale

Question 22

Major Villages of Northern Rhone

Answer 22

Vienne, Ampuis, Condrieu, Tain l’Hermitage, Cornas, St. Peray, Valence

Question 23

Cote Rotie Major Vineyards

Answer 23

Côte Brune, Côte Blonde, La Landonne

Question 24

Hermitage AOP Major Vineyards

Answer 24

Most important lieu-dits are La Chapelle, L’Hermite, le Méal, les Bessards,
Gréffieux, Beaume, and Péléat.

Question 25

Cornas AOP Major Vineyards

Answer 25

The 4 lieu-dits: Les Reynards, La Côte, Les Chaillot, and Les Mazards.