Rhône Flashcards
When did the seven French popes rule in Avignon?
1309-1376
Which pope built his summer home in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, giving it its name?
Pope John XXII
Which King issued the edict to brand wine barrels with “CDR” in order to control quality and prevent fraud?
King Louis XV
What event changed Rhône’s agricultural focus?
Winter freeze of 1956
Olive and fruit trees died, grape vines survived
Who originally planted the vineyards of the Northern Rhône?
Romans
What are the permitted grapes of the Northern Rhône?
White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Red: Syrah
How many grapes are planted in the Rhône Valley?
34
(23 may be incorporated into wines of Côtes du Rhône AOC)
What is the primary grape of the southern Rhône?
Grenache
What does Mourvèdre add to the GSM blend?
Alcohol, tannin, acid, pigment
What does Syrah add to the GSM blends?
High acidity, more tannic structure
Reductive nature
What does Grenache add to the GSM blends?
High alcohol
Oxidative tendencies
What are the non-GSM red grapes planted in the Southern Rhône?
Cinsault
Carignan
Counoise
Marselan
What are the Gris grapes of the southern Rhône?
Clairette Rose
Grenache Gris
Piquepoul Gris
What are the 6 white grapes of the southern Rhône and what do they contribute to the blend?
Grenache Blanc: extract (flavor concentration)
Bourboulenc: mod alcohol, high acidity
Clairette: large leaves protect from sunburn
Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
What benefit does Viognier give when co-fermented with Syrah?
Helps with the wine’s color
Adds aroma
What makes Clairette a good variety for the southern Rhône?
Large vine leaves protect grapes from sunburn
What are the soils of the Northern Rhône?
Granite with a fine topsoil of decomposed mica schist and granitic sands
(Pockets of limestone)
What are the common aging vessels of the northern Rhône?
Béton: concrete vats
Inox: stainless steel vats
Demi-Muids: 600 liter oak barrels
Foudrés: large oak barrels of various sizes
What are the principal soil types of the Southern Rhône?
Galets: rounded river stone
Garrigue: limestone
Sandstone
Clay
Loess/molasse (windblown silts and sands)
What is the most common vine training technique in the Southern Rhône?
Gobelet (protects the vines from the Mistral)
How many cru AOCs are in the Côtes du Rhône?
17
8 in the north
9 in the south
How many villages can add their name to Côtes du Rhône Villages?
22
How many villages are in the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC?
95
What are the blending rules for red and rosé wines produced south of Montélimar?
Minimum of 60% of the blend must consist of at least 2 principal grapes (GSM) - one is required to be Grenache
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
Which grape variety is usually dominant in white Côtes du Rhône blends from Southern Rhône?
Grenache Blanc