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Lindsay: French wine Scholar > Rhône > Flashcards

Rhône Flashcards

(66 cards)

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1
Q

When did the seven French popes rule in Avignon?

A

1309-1376

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2
Q

Which pope built his summer home in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, giving it its name?

A

Pope John XXII

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3
Q

Which King issued the edict to brand wine barrels with “CDR” in order to control quality and prevent fraud?

A

King Louis XV

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4
Q

What event changed Rhône’s agricultural focus?

A

Winter freeze of 1956
Olive and fruit trees died, grape vines survived

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5
Q

Who originally planted the vineyards of the Northern Rhône?

A

Romans

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6
Q

What are the permitted grapes of the Northern Rhône?

A

White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Red: Syrah

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7
Q

How many grapes are planted in the Rhône Valley?

A

34

(23 may be incorporated into wines of Côtes du Rhône AOC)

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8
Q

What is the primary grape of the southern Rhône?

A

Grenache

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9
Q

What does Mourvèdre add to the GSM blend?

A

Alcohol, tannin, acid, pigment

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10
Q

What does Syrah add to the GSM blends?

A

High acidity, more tannic structure
Reductive nature

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11
Q

What does Grenache add to the GSM blends?

A

High alcohol
Oxidative tendencies

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12
Q

What are the non-GSM red grapes planted in the Southern Rhône?

A

Cinsault
Carignan
Counoise
Marselan

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13
Q

What are the Gris grapes of the southern Rhône?

A

Clairette Rose
Grenache Gris
Piquepoul Gris

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14
Q

What are the 6 white grapes of the southern Rhône and what do they contribute to the blend?

A

Grenache Blanc: extract (flavor concentration)
Bourboulenc: mod alcohol, high acidity
Clairette: large leaves protect from sunburn
Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier

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15
Q

What benefit does Viognier give when co-fermented with Syrah?

A

Helps with the wine’s color
Adds aroma

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16
Q

What makes Clairette a good variety for the southern Rhône?

A

Large vine leaves protect grapes from sunburn

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17
Q

What are the soils of the Northern Rhône?

A

Granite with a fine topsoil of decomposed mica schist and granitic sands

(Pockets of limestone)

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18
Q

What are the common aging vessels of the northern Rhône?

A

Béton: concrete vats
Inox: stainless steel vats
Demi-Muids: 600 liter oak barrels
Foudrés: large oak barrels of various sizes

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19
Q

What are the principal soil types of the Southern Rhône?

A

Galets: rounded river stone
Garrigue: limestone
Sandstone
Clay
Loess/molasse (windblown silts and sands)

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20
Q

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

A

Gobelet (protects the vines from the Mistral)

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21
Q

How many cru AOCs are in the Côtes du Rhône?

A

17

8 in the north
9 in the south

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22
Q

How many villages can add their name to Côtes du Rhône Villages?

A

22

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23
Q

How many villages are in the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC?

A

95

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24
Q

What are the blending rules for red and rosé wines produced south of Montélimar?

A

Minimum of 60% of the blend must consist of at least 2 principal grapes (GSM) - one is required to be Grenache

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25
What are the blending rules for reds in Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC?
A minimum of 66% of the blend must be 2 principal grapes (GSM) and one MUST be Grenache
26
Which grape variety is usually dominant in white Côtes du Rhône blends from *Southern Rhône*?
Grenache Blanc
27
How much of the Rhône Valley’s wine production comes from the Northern Rhône?
4%
28
Name the 8 Northern cru from north to south
Côte Rôtie Condrieu Château-Grillet Saint-Joseph Hermitage (left bank) Croze-Hermitage (left bank) Cornas Saint-Péray
29
What are the production rules for Côte Rôtie?
Red only Syrah + up to 20% Viognier Grapes are co-planted, co-harvested, and co-fermented
30
Which AOCs lie on the southern Rhône valley floor and therefore are exposed to the Mistral?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tavel Lirac
31
Which Southern Rhône cru are on the hilltops?
Vinsobres Rasteau Cairanne
32
Which Southern Rhône cru lie on the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains?
Gigondas Vacqueyras Beaumes de Venise
33
What is the largest cru of the southern Rhône?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
34
What is the minimum alcohol level of a Rasteau VDN and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wine?
15%
35
Describe the 2 styles of white VDNs from Rasteau
BLANC: (reductive) at least 90% Grenache Blanc and/or Grenache Gris AMBRÉ: (oxidative) can include Grenache Noir and other Grenaches making up at least 90% of the blend. Aged until March 1st the 3rd year after harvest
36
Describe the 2 styles of red VDNs from Rasteau
GRENAT (reductive) TUILÉ (oxidative) Must be comprised of at least 75% Grenache Noir, and all 3 Grenaches must make up at least 90% of the blend
37
What is Hors d’Âge?
5 years oxidative aging for a Rasteau AOC VDN
38
What AOC makes up 96% of the Dios wine production?
Clairette de Die
39
What two wines are made in the **Clairette de Die** AOC?
**Clairette de Die**: traditional method sparkling from 100% Clairette **Clairette de Die Méthode Dioise Ancestrale**: *most of the production*, a sweet sparkling blend of Muscat and Clairette (white or rosé)
40
What is the Mistral?
A northerly cooling wind
41
What style of wine is produced in Hermitage?
Dry white, red, *Vin de Paille* Marsanne Roussanne Syrah
42
What is the southernmost AOC in the Rhône valley?
Costières de Nîmes
43
What are the soil types in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Galets Sandstone Limestone
44
What style of wine is produced in Condrieu?
White only; 100% Viognier Dry to sweet
45
Why style of wine is produced in Château-Grillet?
Dry white from 100% Viognier
46
What style of wine is produced in Saint-Joseph?
Dry white, red Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne (These can be co-fermented)
47
What style of wine is produced in Cornas?
100% Syrah red wine
48
What style of wine is produced in Saint-Péray?
Dry and sparkling white wine from Marsanne and Roussanne
49
What is the primary grape of Clairette de Die Méthode Dioise Ancestrale?
Muscat à Petits Grains
50
What 2 southern Rhône cru only make red wine?
Vinsobres Beaumes de Venise
51
Which southern Rhône cru makes red and rosé wine?
Gigondas
52
Which 5 southern Rhône AOCs make red, rosé, and dry white wine?
Vacqueyras Lirac Ventoux Luberon Costières de Nîmes
53
Which 2 southern Rhône cru make dry white and red wine?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cairanne
54
What style of wine is produced in Rasteau?
Red wine VDN (red, rosé, white) - reductive and oxidative
55
What are the blending rules for Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
The blends can be made from just one of the approved grapes, or all of them!
56
Of the seven Southern Rhône AOCs outside the Côtes du Rhône AOC area, which has the largest production?
Ventoux
57
Which Northern Rhône Crus allow the use of Viognier? 
Cote Rotie, Chateau-Grillet, Condrieu
58
Which Northern Rhône Cru is known for Sparkling Wine?
Saint Peray
59
What is the minimum residual sugar level for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?
10%
60
What is the climate of the southern Rhône?
Mediterranean
61
Which 2 southern crus are on the right bank of the Rhône River?
Lirac Tavel
62
Which two “other Rhône valley” AOCs have UNESCO recognition?
Ventoux Luberon
63
Which northern Rhône appellations allow white grapes to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?
Côte rotie (Viognier) Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Saint-Joseph (Marsanne, Roussanne)
64
What are the main soil types in the northern Rhône?
Granite and schist
65
The northern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?
Vienne and Valence
66
What does “*Meridionaux*” mean?
Of the southern Rhône (in nature, style, or location)

Lindsay: French wine Scholar (14 decks)

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