Rhône Flashcards
Describe the geographical features of the Northern Rhône Valley grape growing regions.
A steep sided narrow valley with a river in the centre.
Many vines are planted in lateral valleys that feed the Rhône river.
The best sites are on steep slopes with south facing aspects.
In Northern Rhône how are vines supported and tied up?
Tied to single stakes or by a teepee-like arrangement.
What is the climate in the Northern Rhône?
Moderate continental
What is the name for the cold north wind that blows through the Northern Rhône?
Mistral
What is the only permitted and dominant red grape variety in the Northern Rhône?
Syrah
Syrah is at its cool limit in Northern Rhône, as a consequence, which sites are most prized?
Steep, south facing slopes
What grape variety makes a deep coloured red wine from Northern Rhône with medium to high tannins, black fruits, black pepper and floral aromas with occasional new oak?
Syrah
Why would a producer co-ferment Viognier with Syrah in Northern Rhône?
Stabilise colour extraction.
Add aromatic intensity.
Which white grape variety has the most significant reputation for white wines in Northern Rhône?
Viognier
A French white wine with a full body, low acidity, high alcohol & aromas of blossom and stone fruit (apricot) is?
Viognier
Alsace Gewurztraminer is similar but with different aromas.
Viognier in Northern Rhône has a particular style. Give two winemaking techniques that may be used.
New oak
Making an off-dry style from late harvest fruit.
What are the only three white grape varieties permitted in Northern Rhône?
Viognier
Marsanne
Roussanne
In a Northern Rhône blend of Marsanne and Roussanne what does each grape variety give to the blend?
Marsanne: Richness & weight
Roussanne: Acidity & perfumed fruit
In Northern Rhône, which generic appellation can in theory be made?
Côtes du Rhône
Which Northern Rhône Cru is the most northerly & produces only red wines in which up to 20% Viognier can be added?
Côte Rôtie
Which Northern Rhône Cru produces only white wines from Viognier?
Condrieu
Which Northern Rhône Cru to the west of the Rhône River can make reds as intense and structured as Hermitage on its slopes, but also the lightest reds using carbonic maceration on the flatter valley bottom and the plateau above the slopes?
Saint Joseph
Which two Northern Rhône Crus can co-ferment up to 15% Roussanne & Marsanne with Syrah?
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Which Northern Rhône Cru can produce the most powerful red wines of Northern Rhône as well as a significant amount of white using Marsanne and Roussanne?
Hermitage
In Hermitage what does lieux-dits mean?
A named site that is not part of the appellation.
Some producers make wines from these sites and put the name of the site on the label.
Which Northern Rhône Cru makes structured and oaked reds on slopes to the north of Hermitage and lighter reds from higher yielding, flatter sites in the south?
Crozes-Hermitage
Which Northern Rhône Cru can only make reds from 100% Syrah?
Cornas
Which Northern Rhône Cru is the most southerly and has the warmest, sheltered, sun-baked south facing slopes producing a style similar to Hermitage?
Cornas
Compared to the steep slopes in the Northern Rhône, the Southern Rhone is much ________ .
Flatter
In the Southern Rhône the soils contain stones that do what?
Absorb the sun’s energy, warming the vineyard to aid ripening.
In Châteauneuf-du-Pape what is the name of the large stones that aid ripening in the vineyard?
Galets
What is the climate in Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
Which two climate-related risks are associated with Southern Rhône?
Drought
Mistral winds causing vineyard damage.
What are three ways of managing the mistral winds in Southern Rhône vineyards?
- Windbreaks
- Grenache is bush trained low to the ground (for both wind protection and warmth)
- Syrah is trellised to provide support to the vines.
Which red grape variety is the most important in Southern Rhône?
Grenache
What are the typical flavours of Grenache from the Rhône Valley in a normal vintage vs a hot vintage?
Normal years: Red spiced fruit.
Hot years: Baked, jammy.
What are the four main grapes in Southern Rhône and what do they bring to a blend?
Grenache: Spiced red fruit & Alcohol
Syrah: Colour & Tannin
Mourvèdre: Colour & Tannin, Black fruits flavour, Gamey/Meaty aromas
Cinsault: Red fruit flavours
Which two grapes in the Southern Rhône are commonly used to make fruity rosé wines?
Grenache
Cinsault
What can be said about the winemaking techniques and styles of wine produced in the Southern Rhône?
A number of techniques are used, creating a wide range of styles. Almost all are blends.
Where are Côtes du Rhône wines from?
Northern & Southern Rhône
There is very little, if any, Côtes du Rhône AOC made in Northern Rhône
Which colours of wine are permitted in Côtes du Rhône AOP?
Red
White
Rosé
What are the three levels of Côtes du Rhône AOP?
Côtes du Rhône AOP
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP
Côtes du Rhône Villages (with name of the village) AOP
The style of the best red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines can be described as?
Full bodied, high alcohol, richly textured with spiced red fruit.
Which colours of wine are permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC?
Red
White
Which Southern Rhône Cru has a reputation for producing only rosé wines that are intensely flavoured and capable of developing complexity with age?
Tavel
Which colours of wines does Lirac produce and give the Cru that is closest in style.
Red: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
White: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rosé: Tavel
Gigondas & Vacqueyras both produce red wines that are similar in style to which region?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Full bodied, high alcohol, richly textured with spiced red fruit.
In which wine region do all the highlighted sub-regions sit within?
Northern Rhône
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Côte Rôtie
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Condrieu
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
St Joseph
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Crozes Hermitage
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Hermitage
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Cornas
What is the name of the entire region that is below?
Southern Rhône
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Cote du Rhône
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Côtes du Rhône Villages
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Gigondas
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Vacqueyras
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Lirac
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Tavel
What is the name of the region that is highlighted?
Château neuf du Pape
