Rhone Flashcards
Where is the Northern Rhone located?
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
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Continental
Where does the Rhone river originate?
Switzerland
What effect does the Rhone river have on the Northern Rhone’s climate?
The Rhone acts as a climate moderator. It can keep the slopes from getting too cold and can reflect sunlight into the vineyards
What is the Mistral? How does it affect the Northern Rhone?
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
What is the topography of the Northern Rhone?
Steep hillside vineyards.
Some slopes as steep as 55 degrees, requiring terraced vineyards
What is the soil of the Northern Rhone?
Granite & Schist
What grape varieties are grown in the Northern Rhone?
Red: Syrah
White: Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne
What viticultural practies take place in the Northern Rhone?
Vineyards are planted on steep sloped, often terraced
Vines are often staked to the ground
Why are vines heavily-staked in the Northern Rhone?
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
When were the terraces of the Northern Rhone built?
During Roman times
Are blends or single-varietal wines more common in the Northern Rhone?
Single Varietal are more common. There is some blending but fewer blends than other French regions
What material is used to ferment both white and red wines of the Northern Rhone?
Both white and red are typically fermented in oak
What material is used to age white and red wines of the Northern Rhone?
Both white and red are typically aged in oak, often in large oak foudres
Is stainless steel fermentation allowed in the Northern Rhone?
Yes, many producers ferment in stainless
What kind of oak is used for aging of Northern Rhone wines?
Both used and new oak vessels are used for aging
What is co-fermentation?
Blending of white grapes with syrah before fermentation and fermenting the two grapes together
What effect does co-fermentation give?
Increases aromatic complexity, lessens the prominence of tannin, and deepens the color of the finished red wine
What are the main appellations of the Northern Rhone?`
Cote-Rotie
Condrieu
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
What is the largest producing region of the Northern Rhone?
Crozes-Hermitage
What kinds of wines are produced in Cote-Rotie?
Red wines only
Syrah with up to 20% viognier
What kinds of wines are produced in Condrieu?
White wines only
100% viognier
What kinds of wines are produced in Saint-Joseph?
Red wines: Syrah with up to 10% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends
What kinds of wines are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?
Red wines: Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends
What kinds of wines are produced in Hermitage?
Red wines: Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne & Rousanne
White wines: Marsanne & Rousanne blends
What kinds of wines are produced in Cornas?
Red wines only
100% Syrah
Do Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage have the same rules about allowable grapes in their blends?
Yes
What other appellations are in the Northern Rhone?
Chateau Grillet
Saint Peray
Where is the Southern Rhone located?
The Southern Rhone begins 30 miles south of the southern tip of the Northern Rhone
What major cities are in the Southern Rhone?
Montelimar in the north
Avignon in the south
What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean
What effect does the Mistral have on the Southern Rhone?
The Mistral cools and dries the area
Is a diurnal shift present in the Southern Rhone, and if so what does it do?
Yes, there is a significant diurnal shift between the hot days and cool nights. It helps slow the ripening of grapes.
What moderating devices are present in the Southern Rhone?
The Mistral and the Rhone river
What is the topography of the Southern Rhone?
Flatter plains, scrubland, broader low lands descending towards the Mediterranean Sea
Is the topography of the Southern and Northern Rhone similar?
No, the north has very steep hillsides, the south is much gentler without severe slopes
What kinds of soil are in the Southern Rhone?
Alluvial clays
Large river rocks (galets)
How large is the Southern Rhone in terms of production to other areas of France?
The Southern Rhone is the second largest area of vineyards in France, behind #1 Bordeaux
What kinds of grapes are produced in the Southern Rhone?
Red: GSM
White: Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc
What percent of production in the Southern Rhone is red wines?
90%
What percent of production of the entire Rhone region is in the Southern Rhone?
90-95%
What viticultural practices are in place in the Southern Rhone?
Vines are trained low, in the gobelet (bush) style
What is the topography of most vineyard land in the Southern Rhone?
Flat valley floor
What vinification methods are used in the Southern Rhone?
Blends dominate, few single-varietal wines
Oak is common but not required, usually large oak casks rather than barriques
No chapitalization is allowed
What effect do the galets have on the vines?
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
What is the AOC system for the Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Villages
Single Village AOCs
What are the main appellations of the Southern Rhone?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Tavel
What are the minor appellations of the Southern Rhone?
Lirac
Rasteau
Beaumes des Venise
What kinds of wines are produced in CDP?
Red: grenache-based blends, 14 grapes + variations allowed
White: Blends of local varieties
What kinds of wines are produced in Gigondas?
Reds only: grenache-based blends
What kinds of wines are produced in Vacqueyras?
Red: Grenache-based blends
Rose: Grenache-based blends
White: Blends of local varieties
What kinds of wines are produced in Tavel?
Rose only: grenache-based
How close are the vineyards to the Rhone in both the Northern and Southern regions?
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
In the Northern Rhone, what appellations typically use more oak than others?
Cote-Rotie
Hermitage
What are the characteristics of Cote-Rotie syrah?
elegent, refined syrah. Similar characteristics to burgundy, but obviously different aromatics
What does alluvial mean?
Moved by, created by, or deposited by river flow
How many villages are allowed to put their name on the label of a Cotes du Rhone Villages?
21 villages
What are the main grapes for the following regions:
- Cote Rotie
- Condrieu
- CDP
- Hermitage blanc
- Tavel
- Gigondas
- Cornas
- Cote Rotie - Syrah
- Condrieu - Viognier
- CDP - Grenache
- Hermitage blanc - Marsanne/roussane
- Tavel - Grenache
- Gigondas - Grenache
- Cornas - Syrah
What are the main white grapes of the Southern Rhone?
Grenache blanc, clairette, roussanne
What is the main red grape of the Southern Rhone?
Grenache
What is the main white grape of the northern rhone?
Viognier
What is the main red grape of the northern rhone?
Syrah