Rhone Flashcards
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Continental with Mediterranean influence
What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean
Which AOCs in the Rhone can make sparkling wine?
Saint-Peray (Northern Rhone)
Clairette de Die
Cremant de Die
What is the Mistral?
A strong, cold wind that blows from the north through the Rhone Valley
What are galets?
Rounded river stones
Most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Which Rhone appellation is a monopole?
Chateau-Grillet
Which two Southern Rhone crus are on the right bank of the Rhone river?
Tavel
Lirac
Is the entire Rhone Valley inside the Cotes du Rhone zone of production?
No
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
They blanket the vines with cool air at night
What is VDN? Where are these wines produced?
Vins Doux Naturels
These are sweet fortified wines
Rasteau
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhone Valley?
Costieres de Nimes
Which Rhone AOC’s name means “burned earth” in Celtic?
Cornas
In which century did the Papacy move to Avignon?
14th century
Which 2 “Other AOCs of Rhone Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?
Ventoux
Luberon
Which Northern Rhone appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?
Cote Rotie - Viognier
Hermitage - Marsanne & Roussanne
Crozes-Hermitage - Marsanne & Roussanne
Saint-Joseph - Marsanne & Roussanne
Which 3 grape varieties dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhone?
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
What is the northernmost cru in the Northern Rhone?
Cote Rotie
What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhone?
Granite
Schist
Which 2 Southern Rhone cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rose, and red wines?
Lirac
Vacqueyras
Which AOC in the Southern Rhone mandates hand harvesting?
Beaumes de Venise AOC
Which grape variety forms the backbone of most Cotes du Rhone white wines?
Grenache Blanc
The Northern Rhone is bookended by which 2 cities?
Vienne
Valence
The Southern Rhone is bookended by which 2 cities?
Montelimar
Nimes
What is the Dentelles de Montmirail?
A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhone
What is Vin de Paille, and which appellation makes it?
Marsanne and/or Roussanne grapes are harvested and dried on straw mats for at least 45 days
The process dries the grapes and concentrates the sugars
Hermitage
Which appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?
Clairette de Die
What are the 5 soil types of the Southern Rhone?
Galets
Garrigue
Sandstone
Clay
Loess/molasse
What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhone?
Gobelet
Which 3 Southern Rhone crus surround hilltop towns?
Vinsobres
Rasteau
Cairanne
How consistant are the vintages wines in the Rhone Valley?
Northern Rhone has high vintage variation.
However, the Rhone is more consistent than Beaujolais and Bourgogne.
Southern Rhone has low vintage variation.
What is loess?
Fine wind-blown soil deposits that are usually comprised of silt and sand
What does Meridionaux mean?
“Of the Southern Rhone”
(in nature, style, or location)
Describe the Cote Rotie AOC.
Red wine only
Grapes: Syrah, Viognier
Up to 20% Viognier can be added to Syrah to make the red wine.
In practice this number is typically 5%, if used at all
Viognier is co-planted, co-harvested, and co-fermented
Describe the Condrieu AOC.
White wine only
Mostly dry, but also some sweet
Grape: Viognier
Most Condrieu AOC wine used to be sweet, but now the preferred style is dry
Describe the Chateau-Grillet AOC.
Dry white wine only
Grape: Viognier
Tiny AOC located within the boundary of Condrieu AOC
Monopole (single-owner AOC)
Wine is aged 2 years in oak barrels or tanks
Can continue to age for 10+ years
Describe the Saint-Joseph AOC.
Dry white and red wine
White grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne
Red grape: Syrah
In general, the wines mature more quickly than other N. Rhone crus
Production is mainly red
Syrah can be made by co-fermenting up to 10% of Marsanne/Roussanne
Describe the Cornas AOC.
Red wine only
Grape: Syrah
Name is Celtic for “burned earth”, signifying the warm conditions
Describe the Saint-Peray AOC.
Dry white and sparkling white
Grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne
Temperatures are cooler so production focuses on white wine
Can make traditional-method sparkling, but production is rare
Describe the Hermitage AOC.
Dry white, red, Vin de Paille
White grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne
Red grape: Syrah
Production is mainly red
Both red and white wines are long-lived and need a few years to bottle mature
Syrah can be made by co-fermenting up to 15% of Marsanne/Roussanne
Describe the Crozes-Hermitage AOC.
Dry white and red wine
White grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne
Red grape: Syrah
Largest of the N. Rhone crus
Syrah can be made by co-fermenting up to 15% of Marsanne/Roussanne
Describe the Northern Rhone sub-region.
Temperature drops earlier than the Southern Rhone, which shortens the ripening window
Syrah and Viognier are early ripeners
Vines are tied to stakes to counteract Mistral
Contains 8 AOCs
Each is considered a cru
Cornas and Hermitage are more powerfully structured
Saint-Joseph and Cote Rotie are generally more elegant
Small, new oak in not common
Describe the Diois sub-region.
Considered part of the Northern Rhone, but cannot produce Cotes du Rhone wine
Lies to the southeast of Cornas at the base of the Alpines
One of France’s highest wine regions
Most of the wines are white sparkling wines made in the ancestral method or traditional method
(“Dee-wah”)
Describe the Clairette de Die AOC.
Sparkling white and sparkling rose
Two wines are made under this AOC
- Clairette de Die is traditional method sparkling wine made from 100% Clairette
- Clairette de Die Methode Dioise Ancestrale is a sweet sparkling blend of Muscat and Clairette (white or rose)
Describe the Southern Rhone sub-region.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Tavel, and Lirac and are on flat valley floor, by the Rhone river
Vinsobres, Raseau, and Cairanne are on hilltops, away from the Rhone river
Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Beaumes de Venise are in the foothills, away from the Rhone river
Contains 9 AOCs
Each is considered a cru
Small, new oak is not common
Describe the Cotes du Rhone AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wine
North of Montelimar:
- At least 1 of the principal grapes must comprise as least 60% of blend
South of the Montelimar:
- At least 2 of the principal grapes must comprise at least 60% of blend
- Grenache is required
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viogner
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre
All of the Northern Rhone is permitted to make Cotes du Rhone AOC wine.
However, this is rare.
All of the Southern Rhone, except for 7 AOCs, can make Cotes du Rhone AOC wine.
Diois is not included in the zone of production.
Describe the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wine
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Production rules are more stringent than Cotes du Rhone AOC
All of the eligible villages are in the Southern Rhone
Describe the Vinsobres AOC.
Red wine only
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Wine is Grenache-based and must contain at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
Vineyards are terraced at elevation, and are cooled by night winds
(“Van-so-bo”)
Describe the Rasteau AOC.
Red and fortified wine
White grape: Grenache Blanc
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Reds are predominantly GSM blends.
Vineyards face south and create an amphitheater that traps sunlight and blocks the Mistral wind
(“Ras-two”)
Describe the Cairanne AOC.
Dry white and red wines
White grapes: Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne
Red grape: Grenache
White wines are typically Clairette and suplemented with Grenache Blanc and/or Roussanne
Red wines are Grenache-based with Syrah and/or Mourvedre as primary blending partners
(“Keh-rahn”)
Describe the Gigondas AOC.
Rose and red wines
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Red and rose wine must be made from Grenache and at least one of Syrah or Mourvedre
Wines are fresh
Rose production is small
Describe the Vacqueyras AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wines
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut
Generally warmer than Gigondas
Red wines are fleshier, meatier
Red wines are predominantly GSM blends
Rose wines are mostly Grenache with Mourvedre and Cinsaut as blending partners
White wines are any of the white grapes
Describe the Beaumes de Venise AOC.
Red wine only
Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Grenache is mandatory in the blend
At least 60% of the blend must be Grenache, Syrah, or Mourvedre
Dentelles de Montmirail serve as a windbreak, sheltering the vines from the Mistral
(“Boom-du-vah-knees”)
Describe the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC.
Dry white and red wines
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Picardan, Piquipoul Blanc
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Brun Aregente, Counoise, Muscardin, Piquipoul Noir, Terret Noir
Most famous and largest of the Southern Rhone crus
Wine can be varietal or a blend of any of the grapes above
Red wines are powerfully full-bodied, fleshy, ripe tannins, and jammy fruit
White wines are similarly full-bodied
Describe the Lirac AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wines
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut
Hot, sunny, and dry
Vineyards have poor soil, resulting in low yields of top-quality fruit
White wines are usually Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc
Red wines are usually GSM + Cinsaut blends
Rose are made from the same grapes as red
Describe the Tavel AOC.
Only dry rose wine
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Piquepoul Noir
Grenache must be in the wine blend and no one variety ca be over 60% of blend
Travel has a reputation for roses with concentration, structure, and depth of color
Describe the fortified wine made in the Rasteau AOC.
This is the same AOC as the Rasteau AOC that also makes red wines
VDN production is tiny
Made in white, rose and red styles
White can be Blanc (reductive style) or Ambre (oxidative style)
If reductive, main grape is Grenache Blanc/Gris
If oxidative, can also include Grenache Noir
Red can be Grenat (reductive style) or Tuile (oxidative style)
Main grape is Grenache Noir
Rose has no ageing requirements
Main grape is Grenache Noir
Wines labelled Hors D’Age underwent 5 years of oxidative ageing
Wines labelled Rancio are fully oxidized
Describe the fortified wine made in the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC.
This is a different AOC than Beaumes-de-Venise AOC, which makes red wine
This AOC makes VDN wine from Muscat grapes, in the same area
Majority is white, followed by rose and then red
All wines are made in a fresh, reductive style
Describe the Ventoux AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wines
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsaut, Carignan
Majority of production is red, followed by rose.
All wines must be blends from at least 2 primary grapes
One of the “Other AOCs of Rhone Valley”
(“Vaan-two”)
Describe the Luberon AOC.
Dry white, rose, and red wines
White grapes: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
More than half of production is rose
One of the “Other AOCs of Rhone Valley”
(“Loo-be-ran”)
Describe the Costieres de Nimes AOC.
Dry white, rose, red wines
White grapes: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne
Red grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Syrah is predominant grape
90% of production is red and rose
Has some of the hottest temperatures in France, from June to August
Cold air cools the nights
One of the “Other AOCs of Rhone Valley”
(“Co-sti-air-de-neem”)
What is a special cuvee?
Wines made from either
- particularly good parcels of fruit within a vineyard, or
- a small lot of wine that was vinified in a different manner from the estate’s regular wine
Labels can read “cuvee speciale”, “cuvee exceptionnelle”, “cuvee du XXX”, etc.
Describe the Cotes du Rhone zone of production and quality levels.
171 villages can make Cotes du Rhone AOC
95 villages can make Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
22 villages can make Cotes du Rhone Villages + named village DGC
There are also 17 cru that sit at the top of the quality pyramid
The crus are from both Nothern and Southern Rhone
