Rhone History/General

Question 1

What Rhône septentrionale? Between what to cities does it lie?

Answer 1

Another name for Northern Rhône

Between Vienne to Valence

Question 2

What is Rhône méridionale? Between what two cities does it lie?

Answer 2

Another name for Southern Rhône

Between Montélimar “M0N-tee-LEE-mar” to Avignon

Question 3

Rhone General History

Answer 3

• 600 BCE-Introduction of winemaking to France by the Greeks arrival in Massalia (modern-day Marseilles)
• 125 BCE- Romans continue winemaking trend with arrival to Southern Rhone
• 1st century CE-Viticulture spreads to Northern Rhone. The Northern Rhone’s picturesque, hallmark terraces first constructed by Roman workers.
• Following the collapse of Roman Empire, winemaking continues, but trade declines during Dark Ages (500-1000 CE)
• 9th century-Like Burgundy, Catholic Church revives viticulture in Rhone
• 1309 Southern Rhone becomes center of Christian Europe as Pope Clement V moves from Rome to Avignon. His successor, Pope John XXII, began construction on summer papal palace-Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Roman Catholic Popes presided in Avignon till 1378 and CDP palace remained Catholic property till 1791.
• 17th century- Traders carried Rhone wines to the Loire Valley
• 18th century- Rhone wines exported to England via the Loire.
• 18th and 19th centuries-“Manly” wines of Hermitage were amongst the most famous.
• 1863-Southern Rhone was the first quality region struck by phylloxera
• 1936-Chateauneuf-du-Pape becomes first AOC in France.

Question 4

What 4 departments does Northern Rhone cover?

Answer 4

Rhône-North
Loire-Northwest
Ardèche-Southwest
Drôme-Southeast

Question 5

Côtes du Rhône AOP

Styles and Encépagement
Assemblage 
Min Pot Alcohol
Min Must Weight
Max RS
Max Yield
AOC established?

Answer 5

Styles and Encépagement—Blanc: Min 80% combined Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Viognier
—Rouge: Min 40% Grenache (except for vineyards north of Montélimar “M0N-tee-LEE-mar” Northern Rhone) Min. 15% combined Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 70% combined principle and complementary varieties)
—Rose: same as rouge with addition of up to 20% combined white varieties
—Primeur/Noveau Rosé/Rouge
—Producers farming less than 1.5 hectares are not required to include the min. 15% Syrah and Mourvèdre in their wines
—The min. 15% Syrah and Mourvèdre applies after harvest 2019

Assemblage:
—Rosé/Rouge: Grenache must account for the majority of the blend, and at least one complementary variety must be present. Vineyards north of Montélimar are excused from these requirements.
—Blanc: Principal varieties must account for the majority of the blend.

Min Pot Alcohol: 11%

Min Must Weight:
Syrah: 180 g/l (171 g/l for vineyards north of Montélimar)
Other Red Grapes: 189 g/l
White Grapes: 178 g/l (161 g/l for vineyards north of Montélimar)

Max RS
—Nouveau/Primeur: 2 g/l
—Blanc/Rosé/Rouge: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)

Max Yield (Rendement de Base): 51 hl/ha

Est: 1937

Question 6

What direction does the Rhone river travel?

Answer 6

It first flows generally to the northwest into Lake Geneva, then exits the lake and meanders to the southwest from Switzerland into France, meeting the Saône River in the vicinity of Lyon. The Rhône then flows due south through southeastern France to the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 7

What is the difference in average annual rainfall between Northern and Southern Rhone?

Answer 7

Northern Rhone (Valence) 36.4 inches
Southern Rhone (Avignon) 26.6 inches