Rhone Flashcards
What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?
Continental with some Mediterranean influence
What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
T or F: There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhône Valley.
FALSE. Saint-Péray in the Northern Rhône and Clairette de Die and Crémant de Die in the Diois all make sparkling wines.
What is the Mistral?
A strong, cold, north wind that blows through the Rhône Valley
T or F: The Tavel AOC only produces rosé wines.
TRUE
Define “galets”
Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Which Rhône appellation is a monopole?
Château-Grillet
Which two cru appellations in Southern Rhône lie on the right bank of the Rhône River?
Tavel and Lirac
T or F: The entire Rhône Valley produces wine under the Côtes du Rhône AOC designation?
FALSE. There are Rhône Valley appellations outside the CdR zone of production.
How do vines benefit from being located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail?
The Dentelles act as a wind block and sun trap and blanket the vines with cool air at night.
Which Rhône AOCs produce VDN wines?
Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhône Valley?
Costières de Nimes
What Rhône AOC means “burned earth” in Celtic?
Cornas
In what century did the Papacy move to Avignon?
14th century
Which two “Other Rhône Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?
Ventoux and Luberon
Which Northern Rhône appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?
Côte Rôtie, using Viognier, and Saint-Joseph, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, using Marsanne and Roussanne.
What three grapes dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhône?
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (GSM) blends
What is the northernmost cru in the Northern Rhône?
Côte Rôtie
What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhône?
Granite and schist
Which two Southern Rhône cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rosé and red wines?
Lirac and Vacqueyras
T or F: Southern Rhône white wines are typically aged in oak
FALSE. They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.
T or F: Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wine from Viognier
TRUE
T or F: All Southern Rhône cru appellations mandate hand harvesting
FALSE. Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting
Which grape forms the backbone in most Côtes du Rhône white wines?
Grenache Blanc
The Northern Rhône is bookended by what two cities?
Vienne and Valence
The Southern Rhône is bookended by what two cities?
Montélimar and Nîmes
The Dentelles de Montmirail is…
A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhône
Which Rhône appellation can make Vin de Paille?
Hermitage
What appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?
Clairette de Die
What are the five soil types of the Southern Rhône?
Galets, garrigue, sandstone, clay and loess/molasse
What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhône?
Gobelet
Which three Southern Rhône Crus surround hilltop towns?
Vinsobres, Rasteau, Cairanne
T or F: There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhône.
FALSE. There is high vintage variation in Northern Rhône wines
Define “loess”
Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand
Define “Méridionaux”
Of the Southern Rhône (in nature, style or location)
