Rhone Flashcards
What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?
Continental with some Mediterranean influence
What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhône Valley.
True or False?
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.
The Tavel AOC only produces rosé wines. True or False?
True
What are “galets”?
Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Which Rhône appellation is a monopole?
Château-Grillet
Which two Southern Rhône crus are on the right bank of the Rhône River?
Tavel and Lirac
The entire Rhône Valley produces Côtes du Rhône AOC.
True or False?
FALSE.
There are Rhône Valley appellations outside the Côtes du Rhône 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
Which Rhône AOC’s name means “burned earth” in Celtic?
Cornas
In which 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.
Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Saint-Joseph – all using Marsanne and Roussanne.
Which three grape varieties 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
Southern Rhône white wines are typically aged in oak. True or False?
FALSE.
They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.
Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wines from Viognier grapes.
True or False?
True
Southern Rhône cru appellations mandate hand harvesting.
True or False?
FALSE.
Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting.
Which grape variety forms the backbone of most Côtes du Rhône white wines?
Grenache Blanc
The Northern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?
Vienne and Valence
The Southern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?
Montélimar and Nîmes
What is the Dentelles de Montmirail?
A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhône
Which Rhône appellation can make Vin de Paille?
Hermitage
Which 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
There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhône. True or False?
FALSE.
There is high vintage variation in Northern Rhône wines.
What is “loess”?
Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand.
What does “Méridionaux” mean?
Of the Southern Rhône (in nature, style or location)
- Which of Rhône’s grape varieties proved difficult to graft onto American rootstock?
a. Syrah
b. Mourvèdre
c. Cinsaut
d. Carignan
b. Mourvèdre
- Which of the following AOCs is not part of the Northern Rhône?
a. Cornas
b. Saint-Joseph
c. Côte Rôtie
d. Cairanne
d. Cairanne
- Where in the Rhône Valley will you find Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay and Aligoté?
a. Saint-Péray
b. Ventoux
c. Diois
d. Luberon
c. Diois
- Which of the following appellations crafts a Vin Doux Naturel?
a. Clairette de Die
b. Rasteau
c. Saint-Péray
d. Luberon
b. Rasteau
- Syrah is a natural cross between which two grape varieties?
a. Grenache Blanc and Mourvèdre
b. Clairette and Grenache Noir
c. Bouboulenc and Mourvèdre
d. Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza
d. Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza
- Which of the following Rhône AOCs produces more dry rosé than red or white wine?
a. Rasteau
b. Luberon
c. Gigondas
d. Vacqueyras
b. Luberon
- Which grape typically dominates the white Côtes du Rhône blend?
a. Roussanne
b. Marsanne
c. Grenache Blanc
d. Viognier
c. Grenache Blanc
- Which statement is false?
a. Condrieu can produce dry and sweet wines.
b. Saint-Péray can produce dry white and sparkling white wines.
c. Château-Grillet is located within the boundary of Condrieu.
d. Crozes-Hermitage can produce a rare Vin de Paille.
d. Crozes-Hermitage can produce a rare Vin de Paille.
- Which of the following AOCs is on the right bank of the Rhône?
a. Cairanne
b. Rasteau
c. Lirac
d. Gigondas
c. Lirac
- Which of the following pairings is correct?
a. Northern Rhône: chalk soils
b. Northern Rhône: granite soils
c. Southern Rhône: volcanic soils
d. Southern Rhône: slate soils
b. Northern Rhône: granite soils
- Which of the following AOCs is not allowed to co-ferment white grapes with their red grapes?
a. Côte Rôtie
b. Hermitage
c. Crozes-Hermitage
d. Cornas
d. Cornas
12, The Côtes du Rhône zone of production extends from…
a. Vienne to Valence
b. Montilimar to Nîmes
c. Vienne to Avignon
d. Vienne to Nîmes
c. Vienne to Avignon
- Which of the following Southern Rhône Crus crafts red wine only?
a. Vinsobres
b. Gigondas
c. Vacqueyras
d. Lirac
a. Vinsobres
- Which of the following appellations lies on the left bank of the Rhône?
a. Lirac
b. Tavel
c. Costierès de Nîmes
d. Ventoux
d. Ventoux
- What are échelas?
a. A teepee-like vine support of the Northern Rhône
b. Roman-built terraces of the Northern Rhône
c. Straw mats used to dry grapes for Vin de Paille
d. Salts from the Camargue
a. A teepee-like vine support of the Northern Rhône
