Rhone Flashcards
What does Rhône septentrionale refer to?
Another name for the vineyards Northern Rhone
What does Rhône méridionale refer to?
Another name for the vineyards of Southern Rhone
How long did Châteauneuf-du-Pape remained property of the papacy
1379 to 1791
Wine from these vineyards was not bottled as CdP until 19th century
What was the first region in France to be struck by phylloxera?
Southern Rhone in 1863
When did CdP become the first AOC/AOP in France?
1936
What are some moderating influences to Northern Rhone?
Mistral wind in winter & spring- very strong, but dries vineyards.
Heat retaining soils from granite and schist
What soils are present in the Condrieu?
thin topsoil is rich with powdery, decomposed mica, known locally as arzelle
Where are more clay based soils located in N Rhone?
southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray
Traditional vs modern aging in Rhone?
typically fermented and aged in large oak foudres, although some producers are now experimenting with new barriques.
Name the 5 appellations for Syrah in N Rhone and their blends?
Hermitage AOP *
Crozes-Hermitage AOP*
*up to 15% combined Mar&Rous
Cornas AOP - 100% Syrah. Red Wine only
Côte-Rôtie AOP up to 20% Viognier. Red Wine only
Saint-Joseph AOP up to 10% combined Mar&Rous
Who is the famous producer in the steep slopes of Côte-Rôtie AOP?
E. Guigal. The two slopes Côte Brune and Côte Blonde—are considered the heart of the appellation’s terroir
Which four major producers dominate in Hermitage?
the singular Jean-Louis Chave and the négociants Delas, M. Chapoutier, and Jaboulet
Name some of the important climats of Hermitage?
L’Hermite, le Méal, les Bessards, Gréffieux, Beaume, and Péléat
What is the warmest vineyard site in N Rhone? Why?
Cornas - shielded by the Mistral wind and sun’s warmth is magnified by the naked granite soil (gore) in the vineyards
What are Les Reynards, La Côte, Les Chaillot, and Les Mazards and where would you find them?
lieux-dits (generic geographical term) located in Cornas
Who prefers demi-muids (500L-650L barrels) in Cornas?
Auguste Clape
What styles does Saint-Péray AOP produce?
only Marsanne & Roussanne méthode traditionelle mousseux style. Often blended, more delicate Roussanne adds acidity and waxy minerality to Marsanne’s broader, oily texture and marzipan character.
Who revitalized vin de paille in the 1970s and 1990s and where is is made?
Gérard Chave in the 1970s and again by Chapoutier in 1990. In Hermitage, the traditional option of drying either grape for the rare dessert wine
What wine do Georges Vernay, Yves Cuilleron, and André Perret produce and where?
Viognier in Condrieu, a white wine only appellation.
Where could the white wine Clairette be produced?
Coteaux de Die AOP and the sparkling wine appellation Crémant de Die AOP and Clairette de Die AOP sparkling wines: méthode traditionnelle and méthode Dioise ancestrale
What are some of the differences between méthode traditionnelle and méthode Dioise ancestrale?
MT - 100% Clairette, max 15g RS
MD - 75% Muscat à Petit Grains. No dosage or liqueur d’expédition, min 35g RS
What is unqiue about Châtillon-en-Diois AOP
Located in Northern Rhone, an anomaly for Gamay-based reds and rosés and whites based on Aligoté and Chardonnay.
Soil structure for Southern Rhone?
Alluvial soils deposited over limestone subsoil. Sand, gravel, and clay with larger stones.
Which producer famously makes a wine from a blend of every authorized variety in Southern Rhone?
Chateau de Beaucastel
What is the highest min alcohol required in Franc for a dry red wine?
12.5% in CdP
Define le râpé
AOP regulations mandate that producers declassify or discard at least 2% of harvested grapes in CdP. This serves as a safeguard against underripeness.
Who released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape? When?
Château La Nerthe in 1785
List the accepted grape varieties for Châteauneuf-du-Pape (13)
Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
Mourvèdre
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Picpoul (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
Terret Noir
Bourboulenc
Clairette/Clairette Rosé
Roussanne
Vaccarèse
Picardan
Muscardin
What does Côtes du Rhône AOP cover?
Red, white, & rose. Southern Rhône’s largest appellation and the base designation for wines from the entire Rhône Valley
What is a superior designation for red, white, and rosé wine within the Southern Rhône?
Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOP
What was the first commune to be upgraded to AOP status and when? How many communes are there currently?
Gigondas, 1971 for red, white, rose
Currently 22 communes as of 2020
List other former communes now recognized as AOPs?
Vacqueyras AOP
Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
Vinsobres AOP
Lirac AOP
What is the most recent AOP in Southern Rhone?
Cairanne in 2016
Where is one of the only communal appellations in France exclusively dedicated to rosé wines?
Tavel AOP. Grenache based and made in a dry style.
What appellations in Southern Rhone permit VDN wine?
Rasteau AOP and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
What does ambré and tuilé indicate on a wine label?
White & red Rasteau VDN wines displaying more oxidative character, min 3 years of aging prior to release
What does blanc and grenat indicate on a wine label?
Fresher versions of white and red Rasteau VDN wines
When may producers may affix the term Hors d’age to wine labels?
In Rasteau to VDN wines that have matured for min 5 years prior to release
Define rancio
a deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature. May appear in Rasteau VDN wines
What is the Southern Rhone’s most northern appellation?
Grignan-les-Adhémar AOP
*does not want to be known by former name Côtes du Tricastin, due to nuclear power plant
What AOP was formerly considered an appellation of Languedoc, but since 2004 is now Southern Rhone?
Costières de Nîmes AOP - red, white, and rose.
What AOP produces white wines from the Clairette grape?
Clairette de Bellegarde AOP, a single-commune appellation within Costières de Nîmes,
