Northern Rhône Flashcards
Learn the grape varieties, climate, soil, wine styles, and producers of the Northern Rhône.
What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?
Moderate continental
Which 2 cities delimit the Northern Rhône Valley?
Vienne
- in the north
Valence
- in the south
Name the 7 AOPs of the Northern Rhône Valley from north to south.
From north to south:
- Côte-Rôtie
- Condrieu
- Château-Grillet
- Saint-Joseph
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Hermitage
- Cornas
Château-Grillet AOP is a single property appellation within Condrieu AOP.
Where are the prime vineyards of the Northern Rhône situated: on the valley floor or on steep slopes?
Northern Rhône’s prime vineyards are planted on steep slopes.
How do winemakers work on the steep slopes of the Northern Rhône?
Most of the work is done by hand as tractors cannot go over the small terrasses. Horses are sometimes used in Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie.
Romans built stone terraces which are still used today and require hand harvesting.
What is the only red grape allowed in the Northern Rhône?
Syrah
Name the white grapes grown in the Northern Rhône and in which white wine appellations you’ll find them.
Viognier
- Condrieu
- Côte-Rôtie
Roussanne
- Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph
Marsanne
- Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph
What are the flavors and characteristics of Viognier?
- Full body
- High alcohol
- Low acidity
- Apricot, stone fruits + blossom aromas
What are the flavors and characteristics of Roussanne and Marsanne?
Roussanne
- Medium-to-full body
- Medium acidity
- Perfumed (stone) fruits
Marsanne
- Medium-to-full body
- Rich, weighted texture
- Slightly bitter; develops hazelnut notes as it ages
Neither is as aromatic as Viognier
Name a white wine-only appellation in the Northern Rhône.
Condrieu AOP: 100% Viognier
Northern Rhône appellations that are allowed to make both still red and still white wines include:
- Saint-Joseph
- Hermitage
- Crozes-Hermitage
Is Condrieu more likely to be dry or sweet?
What about oak usage in Condrieu?
Today Condrieu is famous for being dry and aged in oak barrels.
However, back in the 1940s, Condrieu was known for its sweet wine production. A few young winemakers today are experimenting with late harvest Viognier from the slopes of Condrieu.
What is the single vineyard appellation within Condrieu that makes a wine similar in style to Condrieu?
Château-Grillet
On p.100 of the WSET textbook, it is specified that Château-Grillet is its own AOP. It lies within the boundaries of Condrieu.
In terms of volume, what is the largest appellation of the Northern Rhône?
Crozes-Hermitage AOP
Name the grape varieties used in the production of Crozes-Hermitage AOP.
Red:
- Syrah
- Can be blended with a max 15% combined Marsanne and Roussanne.
White:
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
Are new oak barrels largely used in Crozes-Hermitage AOP?
Generally, no – either large or neutral demi-muids are used to soften the tannins of the Syrah in Crozes-Hermitage.
Lots of new oak usage is rare as Crozes-Hermitage as it is an appellation meant for early consumption, but there are some expensive Crozes-Hermitage that are aged in oak.
What is the difference between Crozes-Hermitage AOP and Hermitage AOP?
Crozes-Hermitage AOP
- vineyards are located mostly on flat land with varied soils (with lots of clay) where mechanical harvesting is common;
- roughly 1,200ha in size.
Hermitage AOP
- Hermitage is a steep granite hill roughly 120ha in size;
- produces some of France’s most prestigious wines, the majority of them reds. All vineyard work is done by hand.
Both AOPs allow for up to 15% combined Marsanne and Roussanne to be blended into the reds.
Is St-Joseph a homogeneous appellation in terms of quality and style of wine?
No, St-Joseph is not homogeneous. The vineyards stretch over a long distance, covering wide variations in climate and soil.
Think of it like a sandwich: the northern and southern portions of St-Joseph make the best wines, while the middle part of St-Joseph makes large volumes of lighter-bodied, inexpensive wine.
St-Joseph lies on the left or right bank of the Rhône River?
What city marks the southern end of St-Joseph?
- Right bank
- Tournon
Remember that the banks of a river are named “left” or “right” according to the directional flow of that river. The Rhône River flows from north to south and so, drifting downstream, St-Joseph will appear on your right. Ergo, it is located on the right bank.
Name the grape varieties used in the production of Saint-Joseph AOP.
Red
- Syrah
White
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
In the Northern Rhône, red wines from (1) tend to have more elegance while in (2) they are bolder and more powerful; in (3) they are full bodied and earthy.
- Côte-Rôtie
- Cornas
- Hermitage
What is the warmest appellation in the Northern Rhône?
Cornas AOP
Which appellation in the Northern Rhône makes red wine only made from 100% Syrah?
Cornas AOP
What are some of the factors that contribute to wines from Cornas being so full and powerful?
Some of the factors that contribute to Cornas’s full and powerful wines are its location and the terroir:
- Situated in the southern part of the Northern Rhône, this tiny AOP is south-facing, so it has long ripening days;
- Vineyards are planted on granite soil, which retains heat;
- Vineyards are on very steep, sheltered, sun-baked slopes, enhancing the amount of sunshine the grapes receive.
Cornas is essentially a natural, south-facing amphitheater: https://www.aoc-cornas.fr/EN/terroir.html
