Rhone and Southern France Flashcards
Where did Pope Clement V move his court to?
From Rome to Avignon in 1309 - hence CNdP.
When was Rhone struck by phylloxera?
1863 - the first quality region in France to be hit.
What is the major river in Rhone?
The Rhone River
What was the first AOP in France?
Chateauneuf du Pape - they set up laws and rules that would become the prototype for the modern AOP system as a reaction to wine fraud.
What is the main town in southern Rhone?
Avignon
What is the climate in Northen Rhone?
Continental
What is the climate of Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean
What do Le Mistral winds do in Northern Rhone?
- Cool the area in the summer
- Dries the vineyards and prevents mold
- So strong, it can tear out vines. Many are permanently leaning southward bent by the wind.
What is the soil in the Northern Rhone?
Granite and schistous soils that retain heat to warm the vines during cool nights.
What are the five regions for Syrah in Rhone?
- Cote Rotie
- St Joseph
- Hermitage
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Cornas
What is the style of wine produced in Northern Rhone?
Full-bodied, firm, and savory, and they manifest a host of signature secondary aromas including smoke, grilled meat, olive, lavender, and peppercorn.
Which Rhone AOP is 100% Syrah?
Cornas
What is the blend in Cote Rotie and what kinds of wine are made?
- max. 20% Viognier
- Min. 80% Syrah
RED ONLY
What is the most famous producer in Cote Rotie?
E. Guigal
What are the two famous hillsides in Cote Rotie?
- Cote de Blonde - Softer and more alluring
- Cote de Brune - Bold and assertive
Where is La Landonne?
Cote Rotie. It’s the most prestigious cru garnering prices comparable to 1st growths in Bordeaux.
What type of wine is produced in Condrieu?
- 100% Viognier
- honeyed lushness, intriguing floral aromas, and rich texture; however, important stylistic decisions, such as the use of oak and the desirability of malolactic fermentation, vary widely by producer.
WHITE ONLY
Where is Chateau Grillet?
A single estate within Condrieu that carries its own appellation. Monopole. WHITE ONLY.
How many ha are dedicated to grapes in Condrieu?
200ha
What is the blend in St. Joseph and what type of wine is made?
Reds:
- Min. 90% syrah
- Max. 10% Marsanne/ roussanne
Whites:
-Marsanne/ roussane
RED AND WHITE
Who is Gaspard de Stérimberg?
Crusader turned hermit who lived a life of asceticism atop the hill. Hermitage’s namesake.
Who are the major producers in Hermitage?
- Jean-Louis Chave
- Delas
- M. Chapoutier
- Jaboulet
What is the blend in Hermitage and what kind of wines are produced?
- Min. 85% syrah
- Max 15% marsanne/ roussanne
RED AND WHITE
What are the important Climats in Hermitage?
- La Chapelle
- Le Meal
- Les Bessards
- Greffieux
- Beaume
- Peleat
Where are the steepest vineyards in Northern Rhone?
Cote Rotie
Where are the warmest vineyards in Northern Rhone?
Cornas
Is Cornas affected by le mistral?
No. Shielded.
What type of wine is produced in Cornas and what is the blend?
- 100% Syrah
RED ONLY
What are the lieux-dits in Cornas that divide the area?
- Les Reynards
- La Cote
- Les Chailot
- Les Mazards
What type of wine is produced in Crozes-Hermitage and what is the blend?
- Max. 15% marsanne/roussanne
- Min. 85% Syrah
RED AND WHITE
Where is Crozes-Hermitage
Behind the hill of Hermitage
What type of wine is produced in St-Peray and what is the blend?
WHITE ONLY
- Still and sparkling from marsanne/ roussanne
- Sparks are traditional method
What is Vin de Paille?
Dessert wine made from doing either or both Marsanne and Roussanne
What are the 4 appellations on the Drome River (tributary of Rhone River)?
- Coteaux de Die
- Cremant de Die
- Clairette de Die
- Chantillon-en-Diois
What type of wine is produced in Coteaux de Die?
100% clairette (white)
What type of wine is produced in Cremant de die?
Sparkling wine partially based on claret (white)
What type of wine is produced in Clairette de Die?
- Traditional method spark: 100% clairette max. 15 g/L
- Methode Dioise Ancestrale: min. 75% muscat petit a grans made min. demi sec (35 g/L)
What type of wine is produced in Chantillon-en-Diois?
- Red/ Rose: Gamay
- White: Chard/ Aligote
What is the most planted grape in southern rhone?
Grenache - a Spanish import
What percentage of wine production is Southern Rhone responsible for in Rhone?
95%
What is the soil in Southern Rhone?
Alluvial clay in the northern Gigondas area, movie southward they move to alluvial deposits with large stones “galets” in CNdP.
What are “galets”?
Large stones made of quartzite and smoothed by the river. Warm the vineyards at night.
What do Mourvèdre and Syrah contribute to wine?
Structure and depth of color
What does Consult contribute to wine?
Finesse and freshness
What are the grapes of southern rhone?
- Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
- Mourvèdre
- Syrah
- Cinsault
- Counoise
- Picpoul (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
- Terret Noir
- Bourboulenc
- Clairette/Clairette Rosé
- Roussanne
- Vaccarèse
- Picardan
- Muscardin
RED AND WHITE WINE PRODUCED
What is the dominant grape in CNdP?
Grenache
As an outlier in the region, what is the dominant grape in Chateau Beaucastel?
Mourvedre, with a blend of all 13 grapes.
As an outlier in the region, what is the dominant grape in Chateau Rayas?
100% grenache
What is the min Alcohol content in CNdP?
12.5% - highest min in all of France.
What is the base designation for wine in Southern rhone?
- Cote-du-Rhone AOP: can be wine from N or S Rhone, but 95% is from S Rhone. (AKA, predominantly GSM blends vs generic Syrah).
- Represents 2/3 of total Rhone production.
What is Cote-du-Rhone Villages AOP and what style wine?
- Superior designation for R, W and Rose, made from 21 communes
- GSM
What type of wine is produced in Gigondas AOP?
- RED AND ROSE
- min. 50% grenache + syrah and Mourvedre
- max 10% other varietals
Similar to CNdP, offers value
What type of wine is produced in Vacqueyras AOP?
- R, W, and ROSE
- Min. 50% grenache
- Rusting and brooding
What type of wine is produced in Tavel AOP?
- ROSE ONLY
- Made mostly from Grenache
What type of wine is produced in Lirac AOP?
- R, W and ROSE
- Located across the Rhone river from CNdP
- Grenache Noir and Blanc are the primary grapes
- Known for being France’s gateway to phylloxera
What type of wines are produced in Beaumes-de-Venice AOP and Vinsobres AOP?
- RED
- min. 50% grenache
What type of wine is produced in Carianne AOP?
Dry R and W grenache blends
What communes were elevated from Cote-du-Rhone Villages AOP to their own designation?
- Gigondas (1971)
- Vacqueyras (1990)
- Beaumes-de-Venise (2005)
- Vinsobes (2006)
- Cairanne (2016)
What are the appellations in Rhone that produce Vin doux natural?
- Rasteau
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is Vin Doux Natural?
“Naturally sweet wine” - fortified with grape spirit to stop fermentation.
Mutage
The act of adding the pure grape spirit to stop fermentation
Ambre (blanc)
White VdN displaying more oxidative character with at least 3 years aging. (blanc is fresher version)
Tuile (grenat)
Red VdN displaying more oxidative character with at least 3 years aging. (great is fresher version)
Hors d’Age
VdN aged at least 5 years
Rancio
A deliberately oxidized and maderized style in which wine is left in open barrels exposed to sunlight and heat.
Cotes de Provence AOP
- 75% Dedicated to Rose
What are the grapes in Provence?
- Grenache
- Mourvedre
- Syrah
- Tibouren
How are most of the Rose’s made in France?
Via the sainage or Saignee method
- short skin contact period; not a blend.
What is a “skittle”?
The traditional hourglass shaped bottle used for rose in Provence. Not an indicator of quality.
What grape are the most famous wines of Bandol produced from?
- min 50% Mourvedre.
- blended with grenache, cinsault, syrah and Carignan
Although there is rose production here too.
What is the climate of Provence?
Mediterranean
What is the Southernmost wine producing region in France?
Banyuls AOP, in Languedoc
What kind of wine is produced in Banyuls?
Vin doux Natural
- fortified wine with a min of :
- 50% grenache noir
- OR 75% grenache noir if Grand Cru
