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France - Other Regions > Rhone > Flashcards

Rhone Flashcards

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1
Q

Where is the Northern Rhone located?

A

The Northern Rhone begins 15 miles south of Lyon and extendeds southward for 50 miles, along the Rhone River.
The Northern Rhone is bookended by Vienne in the north and Valence in the south

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2
Q

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

A

Continental

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3
Q

Where does the Rhone river originate?

A

Switzerland

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4
Q

What effect does the Rhone river have on the Northern Rhone’s climate?

A

The Rhone acts as a climate moderator. It can keep the slopes from getting too cold and can reflect sunlight into the vineyards

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5
Q

What is the Mistral? How does it affect the Northern Rhone?

A

Strong winds originating in Switzerland that go down the Rhone valley.
The Mistral helps to warm the Northern Rhone and dries the vines, preventing mildew and other molds

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6
Q

What is the topography of the Northern Rhone?

A

Steep hillside vineyards.
Some slopes as steep as 55 degrees, requiring terraced vineyards

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7
Q

What is the soil of the Northern Rhone?

A

Granite & Schist

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8
Q

What grape varieties are grown in the Northern Rhone?

A

Red: Syrah
White: Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne

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9
Q

What viticultural practies take place in the Northern Rhone?

A

Vineyards are planted on steep sloped, often terraced
Vines are often staked to the ground

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10
Q

Why are vines heavily-staked in the Northern Rhone?

A

To protect the vines from the Mistral, which can easily blow over or break vines that aren’t protected.
Staking also helps protect the vines from erosion

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11
Q

When were the terraces of the Northern Rhone built?

A

During Roman times

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12
Q

Are blends or single-varietal wines more common in the Northern Rhone?

A

Single Varietal are more common. There is some blending but fewer blends than other French regions

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13
Q

What material is used to ferment both white and red wines of the Northern Rhone?

A

Both white and red are typically fermented in oak

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14
Q

What material is used to age white and red wines of the Northern Rhone?

A

Both white and red are typically aged in oak, often in large oak foudres

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15
Q

Is stainless steel fermentation allowed in the Northern Rhone?

A

Yes, many producers ferment in stainless

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16
Q

What kind of oak is used for aging of Northern Rhone wines?

A

Both used and new oak vessels are used for aging

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17
Q

What is co-fermentation?

A

Blending of white grapes with syrah before fermentation and fermenting the two grapes together

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18
Q

What effect does co-fermentation give?

A

Increases aromatic complexity, lessens the prominence of tannin, and deepens the color of the finished red wine

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19
Q

What are the main appellations of the Northern Rhone?`

A

Cote-Rotie
Condrieu
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas

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20
Q

What is the largest producing region of the Northern Rhone?

A

Crozes-Hermitage

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21
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Cote-Rotie?

A

Red wines only
Syrah with up to 20% viognier

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22
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Condrieu?

A

White wines only
100% viognier

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23
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Saint-Joseph?

A

Red wines: Syrah with up to 10% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends

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24
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Red wines: Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends

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25
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Hermitage?

A

Red wines: Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends

26
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Cornas?

A

Red wines only
100% Syrah

27
Q

Do Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage have the same rules about allowable grapes in their blends?

A

Yes

28
Q

What other appellations are in the Northern Rhone?

A

Chateau Grillet
Saint Peray

29
Q

Where is the Southern Rhone located?

A

The Southern Rhone begins 30 miles south of the southern tip of the Northern Rhone

30
Q

What major cities are in the Southern Rhone?

A

Montelimar in the north
Avignon in the south

31
Q

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?

A

Mediterranean

32
Q

What effect does the Mistral have on the Southern Rhone?

A

The Mistral cools and dries the area

33
Q

Is a diurnal shift present in the Southern Rhone, and if so what does it do?

A

Yes, there is a significant diurnal shift between the hot days and cool nights. It helps slow the ripening of grapes.

34
Q

What moderating devices are present in the Southern Rhone?

A

The Mistral and the Rhone river

35
Q

What is the topography of the Southern Rhone?

A

Flatter plains, scrubland, broader low lands descending towards the Mediterranean Sea

36
Q

Is the topography of the Southern and Northern Rhone similar?

A

No, the north has very steep hillsides, the south is much gentler without severe slopes

37
Q

What kinds of soil are in the Southern Rhone?

A

Alluvial clays
Large river rocks (galets)

38
Q

How large is the Southern Rhone in terms of production to other areas of France?

A

The Southern Rhone is the second largest area of vineyards in France, behind #1 Bordeaux

39
Q

What kinds of grapes are produced in the Southern Rhone?

A

Red: GSM
White: Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc

40
Q

What percent of production in the Southern Rhone is red wines?

A

90%

41
Q

What percent of production of the entire Rhone region is in the Southern Rhone?

A

90-95%

42
Q

What viticultural practices are in place in the Southern Rhone?

A

Vines are trained low, in the gobelet (bush) style

43
Q

What is the topography of most vineyard land in the Southern Rhone?

A

Flat valley floor

44
Q

What vinification methods are used in the Southern Rhone?

A

Blends dominate, few single-varietal wines
Oak is common but not required, usually large oak casks rather than barriques
No chapitalization is allowed

45
Q

What effect do the galets have on the vines?

A

The galets absorb heat during the day and keep the vines warm at night. This is especially good for grapes like grenache that need to fully ripen

46
Q

What is the AOC system for the Rhone?

A

Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages
Single Village AOCs

47
Q

What are the main appellations of the Southern Rhone?

A

Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Tavel

48
Q

What are the minor appellations of the Southern Rhone?

A

Lirac
Rasteau
Beaumes des Venise

49
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in CDP?

A

Red: grenache-based blends, 14 grapes + variations allowed
White: Blends of local varieties

50
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Gigondas?

A

Reds only: grenache-based blends

51
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Vacqueyras?

A

Red: Grenache-based blends
Rose: Grenache-based blends
White: Blends of local varieties

52
Q

What kinds of wines are produced in Tavel?

A

Rose only: grenache-based

53
Q

How close are the vineyards to the Rhone in both the Northern and Southern regions?

A

The vineyards in the Northern Rhone are generally very close to the Rhone, on slopes that go right up to the river’s banks
The vineyards in the Southern Rhone spread out away from the river, reflecting the flatter topography of that region

54
Q

In the Northern Rhone, what appellations typically use more oak than others?

A

Cote-Rotie
Hermitage

55
Q

What are the characteristics of Cote-Rotie syrah?

A

elegent, refined syrah. Similar characteristics to burgundy, but obviously different aromatics

56
Q

What does alluvial mean?

A

Moved by, created by, or deposited by river flow

57
Q

How many villages are allowed to put their name on the label of a Cotes du Rhone Villages?

A

21 villages

58
Q

What are the main grapes for the following regions:

  • Cote Rotie
  • Condrieu
  • CDP
  • Hermitage blanc
  • Tavel
  • Gigondas
  • Cornas
A
  • Cote Rotie - Syrah
  • Condrieu - Viognier
  • CDP - Grenache
  • Hermitage blanc - Marsanne/roussane
  • Tavel - Grenache
  • Gigondas - Grenache
  • Cornas - Syrah
59
Q

What are the main white grapes of the Southern Rhone?

A

Grenache blanc, clairette, roussanne

60
Q

What is the main red grape of the Southern Rhone?

A

Grenache

61
Q

What is the main white grape of the northern rhone?

A

Viognier

62
Q

What is the main red grape of the northern rhone?

A

Syrah

France - Other Regions (3 decks)

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