Rhone Flashcards
Major varieties of Northern Rhone (1 red, 3 white)
Syrah
Viognier
Marsanne
Rousanne
Northern Rhone location
The northern Rhône valley is attached to the southern base of Beaujolais.
It is just southwest of Lyon and begins at the town of Vienne and ends at Valence
Climate of Northern Rhone
Continental with Mediterranean influences
What is the wind that blows down through Northern Rhone from the Massif Central
Mistral
Soils of Northern Rhone
Arzelle near Condrieu (decomposed mica), granite, schist, clay
How is Syrah typically aged in Northern Rhone
Large Oak Foudre
White wine winemaking techniques in Northern Rhone (3)
Oak aging, lees stirring, and MLF
Cote Rotie wine laws
red only from Syrah with up to 20% Viognier
Condrieu wine laws
whites only from 100% Viognier
Cornas Wine Law
red only, 100% Syrah
Château Grillet AOP wine laws
whites only from 100% Viognier
St. Joseph AOP wine laws (2)
whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
reds from Syrah with up to 10%Marsanne and Roussane
Crozes-Hermitage Wine Styles (2)
whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
reds from Syrah with up to15% Marsanne and Roussane
Hermitage Wine Styles (3)
whites from Marsanne and Roussanne
Vin de Paille (dried sweet wine) from Marsanne and Roussanne
reds from Syrah with up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane
Saint-Péray AOP wine styles (2)
Sparkling and still wines from Marsanne and Roussanne
Sparkling must be aged 12 months from tirage before release
Coteau de Die, Crémant de Die wine styles
Traditional sparkling wines from Clairette.
Clairette de Die wine styles (2)
Traditional sparkling
methode ancestrale
Major villages Northern Rhone (7)
Vienne
Ampuis
Condrieu
Tain l’Hermitage
Cornas
St. Peray
Valence
Major vineyards/producers Cote Rotie (3)
Côte Brune
Côte Blonde
La Landonne
Most important lieu-dits Hermitage AOC (7)
Chapelle
L’Hermite
le Méal
les Bessards
Gréffieux
Beaume
Péléat
Most important lieu-dits Cornas (4)
Les Reynards
La Côte
Les Chaillot
Les Mazards
Main reds of Southern Rhone (5)
Grenache
Mouvrèdre
Syrah
Cinsault
Carignan
Main whites of Southern Rhone (6)
Bourboulenc
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier
Clairette
Grenache Blanc
Location of Southern Rhone
Montélimar to Avignon. Avignon is 37 miles from the ocean and 175 miles west of Monaco and the Italian border
Climate of Southern Rhone
Mediterranean
Soils of Southern Rhone
patchwork of limestone subsoils with alluvial fans, sand, gravel, clay, and large stones
What year did Châteauneuf-du-Pape become the first AOC
1936
Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes-du-Rhône Villages AOP styles (3)
red, white, and rosé
wines from any blend of grapes, but Grenache tends to dominate.
22 villages can append their name to their bottles, this is like a stepping stone to AOP status.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP wine styles (2)
white or red, can be a blend of 18 different varieties.
Highest minimum abv in France at 12.5%
Carianne AOP wine styles (2)
red and white from southern Rhône approved varieties
Gigondas AOP wine styles (2)
red and rose
Vacqueras AOP wine styles (3)
white, red, and rose
Southern Rhône approved varietals
Beaumes-de-Venise AOP wine style
red only
Vinsobres AOP wine styles (1)
red only
Lirac AOP wine styles (3)
red, white, and rosé.
This is where phylloxera first hit France.
Tavel AOP wine style
Rose only
Rasteau AOP wine styles (2)
dry reds
sweet, fortified Vin Doux Naturels in all colors
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venice AOP wine styles (3)
Vin Doux Naturels
white, rosé and red
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains
Major villages of Southern Rhone (3)
Avignon, Orange, Nimes
Why do CDP have the crest
Because the Pope moved to Avignon and planted vines
What is a VDN
Port style fortified wines in France (Muscat de Beaumes du Venise, Rasteau)
