Rhone

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 1

Continental with some Mediterranean influence

Question 2

What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Question 3

T or F: There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhône Valley.

Answer 3

FALSE. Saint-Péray in the Northern Rhône and Clairette de Die and Crémant de Die in the Diois all make sparkling wines.

Question 4

What is the Mistral?

Answer 4

A strong, cold, north wind that blows through the Rhône Valley

Question 5

T or F: The Tavel AOC only produces rosé wines.

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

Define “galets”

Answer 6

Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 7

Which Rhône appellation is a monopole?

Answer 7

Château-Grillet

Question 8

Which two cru appellations in Southern Rhône lie on the right bank of the Rhône River?

Answer 8

Tavel and Lirac

Question 9

T or F: The entire Rhône Valley produces wine under the Côtes du Rhône AOC designation?

Answer 9

FALSE. There are Rhône Valley appellations outside the CdR zone of production.

Question 10

How do vines benefit from being located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail?

Answer 10

The Dentelles act as a wind block and sun trap and blanket the vines with cool air at night.

Question 11

Which Rhône AOCs produce VDN wines?

Answer 11

Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Question 12

What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 12

Costières de Nimes

Question 13

What Rhône AOC means “burned earth” in Celtic?

Answer 13

Cornas

Question 14

In what century did the Papacy move to Avignon?

Answer 14

14th century

Question 15

Which two “Other Rhône Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?

Answer 15

Ventoux and Luberon

Question 16

Which Northern Rhône appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?

Answer 16

Côte Rôtie, using Viognier, and Saint-Joseph, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, using Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 17

What three grapes dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 17

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (GSM) blends

Question 18

What is the northernmost cru in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 18

Côte Rôtie

Question 19

What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 19

Granite and schist

Question 20

Which two Southern Rhône cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rosé and red wines?

Answer 20

Lirac and Vacqueyras

Question 21

T or F: Southern Rhône white wines are typically aged in oak

Answer 21

FALSE. They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.

Question 22

T or F: Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wine from Viognier

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

T or F: All Southern Rhône cru appellations mandate hand harvesting

Answer 23

FALSE. Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting

Question 24

Which grape forms the backbone in most Côtes du Rhône white wines?

Answer 24

Grenache Blanc

Question 25

The Northern Rhône is bookended by what two cities?

Answer 25

Vienne and Valence

Question 26

The Southern Rhône is bookended by what two cities?

Answer 26

Montélimar and Nîmes

Question 27

The Dentelles de Montmirail is…

Answer 27

A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhône

Question 28

Which Rhône appellation can make Vin de Paille?

Answer 28

Hermitage

Question 29

What appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?

Answer 29

Clairette de Die

Question 30

What are the five soil types of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 30

Galets, garrigue, sandstone, clay and loess/molasse

Question 31

What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhône?

Answer 31

Gobelet

Question 32

Which three Southern Rhône Crus surround hilltop towns?

Answer 32

Vinsobres, Rasteau, Cairanne

Question 33

T or F: There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhône.

Answer 33

FALSE. There is high vintage variation in Northern Rhône wines

Question 34

Define “loess”

Answer 34

Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand

Question 35

Define “Méridionaux”

Answer 35

Of the Southern Rhône (in nature, style or location)