Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Lindsay: French wine Scholar > Rhône > Flashcards

Rhône Flashcards

1
Q

When did the seven French popes rule in Avignon?

A

1309-1376

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

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

A

Pope John XXII

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What event changed Rhône’s agricultural focus?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who originally planted the vineyards of the Northern Rhône?

A

Romans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the permitted grapes of the Northern Rhône?

A

White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Red: Syrah

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How many grapes are planted in the Rhône Valley?

A

34

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the primary grape of the southern Rhône?

A

Grenache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does Mourvèdre add to the GSM blend?

A

Alcohol, tannin, acid, pigment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does Syrah add to the GSM blends?

A

High acidity, more tannic structure
Reductive nature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does Grenache add to the GSM blends?

A

High alcohol
Oxidative tendencies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

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

A

Cinsault
Carignan
Counoise
Marselan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the Gris grapes of the southern Rhône?

A

Clairette Rose
Grenache Gris
Piquepoul Gris

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

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

A

Helps with the wine’s color
Adds aroma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What makes Clairette a good variety for the southern Rhône?

A

Large vine leaves protect grapes from sunburn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

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

A

Gobelet (protects the vines from the Mistral)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How many cru AOCs are in the Côtes du Rhône?

A

17

8 in the north
9 in the south

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

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

A

22

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

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

A

95

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are the blending rules for reds in Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC?

A

A minimum of 66% of the blend must be 2 principal grapes (GSM) and one MUST be Grenache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Which grape variety is usually dominant in white Côtes du Rhône blends from Southern Rhône?

A

Grenache Blanc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

How much of the Rhône Valley’s wine production comes from the Northern Rhône?

28
Q

Name the 8 Northern cru from north to south

A

Côte Rôtie
Condrieu
Château-Grillet
Saint-Joseph
Hermitage (left bank)
Croze-Hermitage (left bank)
Cornas
Saint-Péray

29
Q

What are the production rules for Côte Rôtie?

A

Red only
Syrah + up to 20% Viognier
Grapes are co-planted, co-harvested, and co-fermented

30
Q

Which AOCs lie on the southern Rhône valley floor and therefore are exposed to the Mistral?

A

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Tavel
Lirac

31
Q

Which Southern Rhône cru are on the hilltops?

A

Vinsobres
Rasteau
Cairanne

32
Q

Which Southern Rhône cru lie on the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains?

A

Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Beaumes de Venise

33
Q

What is the largest cru of the southern Rhône?

A

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

34
Q

What is the minimum alcohol level of a Rasteau VDN and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wine?

35
Q

Describe the 2 styles of white VDNs from Rasteau

A

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
Q

Describe the 2 styles of red VDNs from Rasteau

A

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
Q

What is Hors d’Âge?

A

5 years oxidative aging for a Rasteau AOC VDN

38
Q

What AOC makes up 96% of the Dios wine production?

A

Clairette de Die

39
Q

What two wines are made in the Clairette de Die AOC?

A

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
Q

What is the Mistral?

A

A northerly cooling wind

41
Q

What style of wine is produced in Hermitage?

A

Dry white, red, Vin de Paille

Marsanne
Roussanne
Syrah

42
Q

What is the southernmost AOC in the Rhône valley?

A

Costières de Nîmes

43
Q

What are the soil types in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

A

Galets
Sandstone
Limestone

44
Q

What style of wine is produced in Condrieu?

A

White only; 100% Viognier
Dry to sweet

45
Q

Why style of wine is produced in Château-Grillet?

A

Dry white from 100% Viognier

46
Q

What style of wine is produced in Saint-Joseph?

A

Dry white, red

Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne
(These can be co-fermented)

47
Q

What style of wine is produced in Cornas?

A

100% Syrah red wine

48
Q

What style of wine is produced in Saint-Péray?

A

Dry and sparkling white wine from Marsanne and Roussanne

49
Q

What is the primary grape of Clairette de Die Méthode Dioise Ancestrale?

A

Muscat à Petits Grains

50
Q

What 2 southern Rhône cru only make red wine?

A

Vinsobres
Beaumes de Venise

51
Q

Which southern Rhône cru makes red and rosé wine?

52
Q

Which 5 southern Rhône AOCs make red, rosé, and dry white wine?

A

Vacqueyras
Lirac
Ventoux
Luberon
Costières de Nîmes

53
Q

Which 2 southern Rhône cru make dry white and red wine?

A

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Cairanne

54
Q

What style of wine is produced in Rasteau?

A

Red wine

VDN (red, rosé, white)
- reductive and oxidative

55
Q

What are the blending rules for Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

A

The blends can be made from just one of the approved grapes, or all of them!

56
Q

Of the seven Southern Rhône AOCs outside the Côtes du Rhône AOC area, which has the largest production?

57
Q

Which Northern Rhône Crus allow the use of Viognier?

A

Cote Rotie, Chateau-Grillet, Condrieu

58
Q

Which Northern Rhône Cru is known for Sparkling Wine?

A

Saint Peray

59
Q

What is the minimum residual sugar level for Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?

60
Q

What is the climate of the southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean

61
Q

Which 2 southern crus are on the right bank of the Rhône River?

A

Lirac
Tavel

62
Q

Which two “other Rhône valley” AOCs have UNESCO recognition?

A

Ventoux
Luberon

63
Q

Which northern Rhône appellations allow white grapes to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?

A

Côte rotie (Viognier)
Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Saint-Joseph (Marsanne, Roussanne)

64
Q

What are the main soil types in the northern Rhône?

A

Granite and schist

65
Q

The northern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?

A

Vienne and Valence

66
Q

What does “Meridionaux” mean?

A

Of the southern Rhône (in nature, style, or location)

Lindsay: French wine Scholar (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions