Rhone Flashcards
Where does the Rhone river begin?
Glacial melt from the Alps in SE Switzerland
Who initiated formal viticulture in the rhone?
Phocaeans, Greeks from Asia Minor: Brought Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc
What pope built CDP?
Pope John XXII
Why did Burgundy by wine from Rhone?
“Vins de Medecine” pigment tannin and ripeness
When did the La Cote du Rhone begin regulations?
1650s
When did “Les Cotes du Rhone” become a regional moniker covering what area?
1800s
From Vienne to Avignon
on both banks of the river
Who helped delineate the CDP zone?
Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie in 1924
What were the 3 first AOCs and when
May 15 1936
Arbois
Cassis
CDP
How does the Rhone begin?
Glacial melt water high up the Alps. Southeastern portion of Switzerland
What river joins the Rhone and where?
The Saone at Lyon
Which pope built his home in CDP?
John XXII
What grape is exceedingly challenging to graft?
Mouvedre
When did CDP delineate and set production standards? Led by whom?
Lead by Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie starting in 1924 but CDP became one of the first AOCs in 1936
What event in modern times moved farmers into viticulture?
1956 extreme winter temperatures for 3 weeks decimated olive and fruit trees but most vines survived.
What are the borders of the Rhone Valley?
Lyon and Beaujolais to the North
Languedoc and Provence to the Southwest and Southeast
The Pre -Alps to the East
The Massif Central to the West
What parallels constitute the Rhone Valley?
44th and 45th parallels
What causes the Mistral?
Masses of cold air lying atop the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean
Where are ideal vineyards facing in the Northern Rhone?
South-East facing slopes in order to minimize their exposure to the Mistral
What cities constitute the border of the the Northern Rhone?
Vienne and Valence
What are the soil types of the northern rhone?
Granite sub soils with a fine topsoil of decomposed crystalline mica-schist and granitic sands, pocket of calcareous soils mixed with galets and patches of shingle-clay (mostly in Crozes-Hermitage)
What is the downside of clay soils?
The do not reflect back any heat at day’s end
Where would you find sweet wines in the northern rhone?
Late harvest Condrieu
Hermitage Vins de Paille (Marsanne and Rousanne harvested and dried on stray mats for min. 45 days?)
Where is the Diois?
40km Southeast of Cronas
Southeastern edge of Massif du Vercors
What is the topography of the Diois?
France’s highest wine regions. Vineyards are located as high as 2700 ft.
What are the white grapes of the Diois?
Clairette
Muscat a Petit Grains Blanc
Chardonnay
Aligote
What are the red grapes of the Diois?
Gamay
Pinot Noir
Syrah
What term is used for traditional method sparkling wines from the Diois?
Clairette de Die (100% Clairette)or Cremant de Die (55% Clairette, 5-10% Muscat up to 10% Aligote)
What AOC in the Diois can be white red and rose?
Chatillon ed Diois (minimum 75% Gamay)
List the northern Rhone AOCs from N to S
Cote-Rotie Condrieu Chateau-Grillet St.-Joseph Hermitage Crozes-Hermitage COrnas St.-Peray Coteaux du Tricastin
What “La La(s)” lie on Cote Brune
La Landonne
La Turque
What other estates does Guigal own?
Chateau d’Ampuis
Vidal-Fleury
Name two other producers of Landonne
Jean-Michel Gerin
Rene Rostaing
Delas
What are the soil types of the Cote Blonde and Brune
Cote Blonde = Part of greater Massif Central therefor more granite with sandy/salty topsoil
Cote Brune = Schist and heavier clay are darkened by iron.
How long are the “La La” wines aged in oak?
42 months
What is Georges Vernay’s top Condrieu bottling?
Coteau du Vernon
What is Guigal’s deluxe condrieu?
“La Doriane” blended by grapes on the Cote Chatillon and Colombier vineyards
What is arzelle?
It is a powdery rich mica topsoil very favorable to viognier
Name 3 vineyards in Condrieu
Chery
Chanson
Cote Bonnette
Les Eyguets
Name the climats of Hermitage
Meal Grefieux Beaume Raucoule Muret Buoigniere Bessas Burges Lauds
What is the lighest climat in hermitage?
Beaume and L’Hermite
Name a wine produced from the climat of Bessards
Chaputier’s Pavillon Ermitage
Who are the 4 major producers of Hermitage?
Chaputier
Jean-Louis Chave
Jaboulet
Delas
