Rhone Master Flashcards
When was “La Cote du Rhone” created and what is it?
1600 - Administrative district in the Vicariate of Uzes (w/i Southern Rhone department of Gard, the right bank of the Rhone River. Around 1650 regulations to make guarantee of origin due to great quality
who created CDR and when
1737 King Louis XV gave edict to control quality and fraud. 1800 LA became LES Cotes du Rhone becoming regional moniker. Vienne to Avignon.
Cotes du Rhone Septentrionales
Northern Rhone
Cotes du Rhone Meridionales
Southern Rhone
Number of Rhone Crus AOCs
16 (8 northern, 8 southern)
Number of Vins Doux Naturel AOCs
2, both Southern Beaumes de Venise, Rasteau
Number of Rhone Valley wine producing villages that produce CDR wines
171 of the Rhone Valley’s 300 wine-producing villages produce SDR wines.
92% Red, 4% Rose, 4% White
When did phylloxera devastate the region
1870, switched to American Rootstock. Syrah and Grenache easy to graft. Mourvedre very hard to graft. Lost footing
Who created the first wine Appellation d’Origine Controle (AOC) system?
Baron Pierre le Roy Boiseaumarie in 1935
Who co-founded the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO)?
Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie in 1935
What is an AOC?
A clearly defined area of origin (Origine) from which a specifically named (Appellation) product can be created and labeled under strictly regulated (Controlee) production methods.
When and what was the INAO’s first regulation text for French AOC wines
May 15th 1936
Arbois, Cassis, Chateaunerf-du-Pape
Year of Cotes du Rhone AOC status
1937
Year of Cotes du Rhone Villages Appellation
1967
Year of Cotes du Rhone Villages-Named appellations
1999
What year did the Great Winter Freeze hit Rhone
1956
5F for 3 weeks with Mistral Winds. Most fruit and Olive trees died, vines did not. Many farmers turned to vines after that
What region is France’s second largest producers of AOC wines?
Rhone Valley
Define regional boundaries of Rhone Valley
Lyon & Beaujolais on the North Languedoc on SW Provence on SE Pre-Alp on East Mtns of Massif Central on W
Length of Rhone Region
120 miles Vienne to Nimes
30 mile stretch between Northern & Southern sub-regions with no vines
What parallels bookend the Rhone Valley
44 & 45th parallels north
Halfway between the equator and the pole. The same as Willamette Valley
Les Cotes du Rhone is a sub-section of what Valley
Rhone Valley
At first, the singular “Côte du Rhône” was used in the 1600s for wines specific to one area of the Southern Rhône within the Vicariate of Uzès, in the Gard department. Then, the plural form was gradually adopted by the 1800s for a much larger zone.
Name two common climatic denominators for both Northern and Southern Rhone
The Rhone River
The Mistral wind
Describe the Rhone River effect
Moderates temperature
Equalize diurnal and seasonal temperature swings
Aid in bud break
Reduce risk of frost
More effect in North due to close proximity of vines to the river. In Southern Rhone, some vineyards are 30 miles away from river bed
Describe the Mistral Effect Benefits
Clears clouds and dust bring sunny skies dry weather Prevents frost Chases humidity, reduces disease pressure Drops temp to keep grapes from baking
Describe the Mistral Effect Risks
Breaks shoots Rips off leaves and berries uproots vines damages crops Desiccates grapes
Blows harder in Southern Rhone, vines untrellised
To protect vines in the Northern Rhone, vines planted on Southeast slope
Length and boundaries of Northern Rhone
45 Mile N to S btwn Vienne and Valence
8,100 acres of vineyards
5% total Les Cotes du Rhone production and 4% total production w/i Rhone Valley
Northern Rhone Climate
Continental (Significant diurnal and seasonal temperature swings)
Rhone temps drop earlier than in the south so earlier ripening grapes are favored
What is coulure?
Cool temp at bud break decreasing yield
Location of vineyards in Northern Rhone
Flank the Rhone River on steep slopes
Soils of Northern Rhone
Mostly granite sub-soils with a topsoil of decomposed crystalline mica-schist and granitic sands
pockets of calcareous soils with galets and patches of shingle-clay (good for reflecting heat after sun set)
Some vineyards are pure sand or pure clay - BEST for WHITE wines
Name primary grapes of Northern Rhone
Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne
Are there sweet wines from Northern Rhone
No AOC burt some late-harvest (sometimes botrytized) dessert wine from Viognier in Condrieu and Vin de Paille from Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage
Characteristics of Rhone grown Syrah
Early ripening densely pigmented tannic moderate in alcohol Moderate in acidity Reductive in nature (doesn't bond well with oxygen) hence gamy, leather notes
Characteristics of Rhone grown Viognier
Vigorous and hardy Thrives in poor, dry, stony soils Early-ripener Aromatic High in alcohol Moderate in acidity
Characteristics of Rhone grown Marsanne
Vigorous and hardy Generous producer Early-ripener prefers warm stony infertile sites High in alcohol High in extract Moderately low in acidity
Characteristics of Rhone grown Roussanne
Moderately vigorous
Early-ripener
Prefers warm, stony, well-drained soils; arid hillsides
Name the Cru AOCs in Northern Rhone
Cote-Rotie Condrieu Chateau-Grillet Saint-Joseph Crozes-Hermitage Hermitage Cornas Saint-Peray
Minimum alcohol levels for Northern Cru
Northern Cru Whites - 10-11%
Northern Cru Reds - 10-10.5%
Lower than in the South due to cooler temperature producing less ripe grapes
Blending limits for Cote-Rotie
(Baked Slope)
100% red cru SYRAH
up to 20% Viognier
Blending limits for Condrieu
100% white cru consisting of Viognier only
Blending limits for Chateau-Grillet
100% white cru consisting of Viognier only
Size of Chateau-Grillet
7.4 acres!!!
Blending limits for Saint-Joseph
Predominately red cru Syrah
up to 10% Rousanne and/or Marsanne into red bottlings
Whites are Roussanne/Marsanne blends
Blending limits for Crozes-Hermitage
Mostly red cry consisting of Syrah and up to 15% of Roussanne-Marsanne
Whites are Roussanne-Marsanne blends
Blending limits for Hermitage
Mostly red cry of Syrah with up to 15% Rousanne-Marsanne
25% of the cru is white: Roussanne-Marsanne blends & rare vins de paille
Blending limits for Cornas
100% red cru consisting of Syrah
NO BLENDING ALLOWED - only cru to forbid
Cornas means burnt soils in Cletic
Blending limits for Saint-Peray
100% White cru of Roussanne and Marsanne blends
Still white Saint-Peray
Sparkling white Saint-Peray Mousseux
What is Echalas
two sticks, two vines, in a teepee-like growing structure to protect and support vines. Syrah tends to droop
What is the region of Diois
ONE OF FRANCE’S HIGHEST wine Regions
Considered part of the Northern Rhone but NOT included in Les Cotes du Rhone
SW edge of Pre-Alpine region known as Massif du Vercors
Limestone and clay soils
Location of Southern Rhone
Montelimar to Nimes 66 miles N to S
What are the Northern and southern most cities for Les Cotes du Rhone
Vienne N
Avignon S
Southern Rhone climate
Mediterranean
2,700 hours of sunshine
Grapes get full ripeness. Many grapes thrive in this climate
Describe landscape of Southern Rhone
rolling hills, rocky plains and jagged mountain peaks
glacial melt-waters eroded and smoothed the rocks and reduced their size to still large galets
Name the Southern Rhone Soil Types
5 hence the large number of appellations Galets Shingle Clay Stony Clay Limestone Loess and Molasse Red Sandstone
Galets soil yields what type of wine
Dense, layered powerful wine
Shingle clay soil yields what type of wine
Powerful, tannic, age-worthy wine
Stony Clay Limestone soil yields what type of wine
Long-lived wines with distinct minerality, good acidity and sleek polished tannins
Loess and Molasse soils yields what type of wine
Wind blown silts and sands
Bright whites, roses and simple reds that are fruit forward
Red sandstone soil yields what type of wine
Wines full of black fruit, spice and leather
Describe wine style of southern rhone
Typically blended products
27 Grape varieties grown in Southern Rhone, (31 grapes total in entire Rhone Valley)
Number of grapes permitted in Les Cotes du Rhone wines
24 grapes ONLY 21 of the 24 permitted in Cotes du Rhone AOC wines Grenache Blanc Clairette Blanche Viognier Bourboulenc Roussanne Marsanne Muscat a Petits Grains (AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise ONLY) Piquepoul Blanc (lip stinger) Ugni Blanc (trebbiano) Grenache Noir Syrah Carignan Cinsault Mourvedre Counoise Muscardin Vaccarese-Camarese Terret Noir Picpoul Noir Grenache Gris Clairette Rose (NOT PERMITTED - Picardan, Rolle (aka Vermentino) , Maccabeu (aka Viura in Rioja), Pascal, Calitor)
Southern Rhone White Wine Styles
Dry whites
Sweet Fortified Whites (Vins Doux Naturels - VDN)
Southern Rhone Red Wine Styles
Dry red, Sweet fortified red (VDN)
Where is the Calitor grape found
Tavel only
Training system typical to Southern Rhone
Older vineyards use Gobelet - low to the ground to protect vines from mistral winds. New vineyards are trellised to better sun exposure, easy pruning, air flow, structural support agains the Mistral
Name two categories of the Rhone Valley AOCs
AOCs that can produce regional Cotes du Rhone (they lie within the Cotes du Rhone zone of production.
Rhone Valley AOCs that lie outside the Cotes du Rhone thus not allowed the regional appellation
Name the 5 categories of Cotes du Rhone Zone AOC
Cotes du Rhone AOC (171 villages both N and S)
Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC (95 villages, SOUTH ONLY)
17 Cotes du Rhone Villages-Named Villages (SOUTH ONLY)
16 Crus AOCs (8 N, 8 S)
2 Vins Doux Naturals AOCs (Fortified wines, SOUTH ONLY)
What are the Other Rhone Valley AOCs
often same grapes and styles but located out of the Cotes du Rhone zone
Northern Rhone - Diois AOC
Southern Rhone - Cotes du Vivarais, Grignon Les Adhemar, Ventoux, Luberon, Costieres de Nimes, Clairette de Bellgarde
Describe the Cotes du Rhone AOC
Largest in vineyard acerage and volume Focused mostly (95%) in the Southern Rhone sub-region. Grapes can be sourced from anywhere in the designated Cotes du Rhone region
Describe the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
95 villages all located in the South flanked on both sides of the river
Describe the Cotes du Rhone Village-Named Villages AOC
17 villages (zones of production) Consistently produced wines with such unique and distinct characteristics they they have been awarded their own AOC
Describe the Vin Doux Natural AOC
Two villages only, both Southern
Beaumes-de-Venise & Rasteau
Must contain at least 11% residual sugar and 15% Alcohol
What are the CDR White Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Wine must be 80% Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier
Other grapes - Ugni Blanc & Piquepoul Blanc - can NOT exceed 20% of the blend
11% alcohol minimum
What are the CDR Villages Red & Rose Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Grenache >50%
Syrah and Morvedre (mandated) together or separate >20%
Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, Camarese, Vaccarese, Picpoul Noir, Terret, Grenache Gris, Clairette Rose - together or Separate <20%
What are the CDR Red/Rose Wine Blend alcohol minimum for Southern Rhone
11%
What are the CDR Villages White Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Grenache Blanc, Cairette, Marsanne, rousanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier - together or separate >80%
Ugni Blanc, Picpoul Blanc - together or separate <20%
What are the CDRV-Named Villages Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
White & Rose 12% alcohol Minimums
Red 12.5% alcohol minimums
WHITES - Grenache Blanc, Cairette, Marsanne, rousanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier - together or separate >80%
Ugni Blanc, Picpoul Blanc - together or separate 50%
Syrah and Morvedre (mandated) together or separate >20%
Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, Camarese, Vaccarese, Picpoul Noir, Terret, Grenache Gris, Clairette Rose - together or Separate <20%
Name the 17 CDRV-Named Villages
SOUTHERN RHONE ONLY Cairanne Chusclan Laudun Massif d'Uchaux Plan de Dieu Puymeras Roaix Rochegude Rousset-les-Vignes Sablet Saint-Gervais Saint-Maurice Saint-Pantaleon-les-Vignes Seguret Signargues Valreas Visan
Name the Crus AOCs of the Southern Rhone
Vinsobres Gigondas Vacqueyras Rasteau Beaumes de Vinise Chateauneuf-du-Pape Lirac Tavel
Core Red Blends for Southern Crus AOCs
Core Red Blend - Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre + any othe 10 red varieties grown in Southern CDR. Some whites may be added depending on specific AOCS
12.5% alcohol minimum for reds
12-12.5% for rose
Core White Blends for Southern Crus AOCs
Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne and Rousanne + any of the 6 other white varieties grown in Southern CDR
12-12.5% for white
Describe blend and location of Vinsobres
100% red cru
Left Bank
Describe blends and location of Gigondas
95% red, 5% Rose
Left Bank
Describe blend and location of Vacqueyras
97% red, 2% White, 1% rose
Left Bank
Describe blend and location of Rasteau
100% red for Dry wine
(same zone of production makes red, white and rose vin doux natural)
Left bank
Describe blend and location of Beaumes de Venise
100% red
Left Bank
DO NOT Confuse with VDN Muscat de Beames de Venise!!!
Describe blend and location of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
95% red, 5% white
Left Bank
Describe blend and location of Lirac
80% red, 15% Rose, 5% White
Right bank
Describe blend and location of Tavel
100% Rose
Right Bank
Name the vins doux naturels in the Rhone Valley
2
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (white,sweet)
Rasteau (red, sweet)
Describe blend of VDN Rasteau
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris & Grenache Blanc with up to 10% other CDR varieties
Mostly red VDN but there is som White and Rose VDN also
Describe blend of VDN Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Grapes: Muscat a Petits Grains only
Mutage
adding neutral grape spirits (95% alcohol) to partially fermented grape must
Saignee
For Rose production
- After destemming and crushing, the slurry of skins, pulp, seeds and juice is tanked
- Maceration averages 4-12 hours then the liquid is pulled off of the solids (bleeding)
- Pink juice is fermented as if it were a white wine (no skin contact)
- Malo-lactic fermentation is avoided
Who founded Massalia (today’s Marseilles) and when
Phocaeans in 600BC
NOT TO CONFUSE WITH Phoencians - Mariniers from Anatolia (present-day Turkey)
Name the ancient grape variety planted in the Rhone near Vienne and mentioned by Roman chroniclers
Allobrogica
What is the name of the historical heartland of Rhone Valley vineyard
Les Cotes du Rhone
What is Allobrogica
grape associated with the native Allobrogres tribe who were defeated by the Romans, and then worked with them in developing some of the most celebrated vineyards of the Northern Rhône.
When approximately did the Rhône glacier carve the Valley of the Rhône?
2 million years ago
The Northern Rhône Valley vineyards on the right bank of the River from Côte-Rôtie to Saint-Péray are primarily found on soils of granite and schist with localized top soils of limestone, marl and sand. True or false
True
Garrigue
- An infertile rocky limestone soil found in the Southern Rhône
- Wild plants and herbs such as thyme, rosemary and lavender
- A highly distinctive aroma emitted by resinous wild plants in the Southern Rhône
Approximate annual hours of sunshine in the Southern Rhône.
2,700 annual hours
winds of the Rhône Valley include:
Mistral/Bise
Vent du Sud
Sirocco
climate of the Northern Rhône
is classified as continental, with four distinct seasons and regular rainfall.
What training systems are authorized in Southern Rhone vineyards
Gobelet
Cordon de Royat
Describe Gobelet
Short, vertical trunk with divergent branches and spurs to bear fruit and provide next years spurs
No stake or trellis
Describe Cordon de Royat
Long trunk trained horizontally on wire with short spurs/canes
Positions fruit at same height
Favors consistent development
Controls yields
Trellised for better sun exposure, eliminate humidity, facilitate pruning, aids in harvesting
Are Southern Rhone vines planted closer or wider apart? Why?
Wider apart due to depleted soil and shortage of water. Northern Rhone has half the density than the South.
Is irrigation allowed in Southern Rhone
Yes, with conditions.
- By special request only
- until the grape begin to change color ( Verasion)
- No later than August 15th
Roughly how many vineyards are certified organic/in conversion in Rhone Valley
4,600 ha (6% of Rhone Valley AOC vineyard) 2010
Syrah is a vigorous vine and relatively early ripener (2nd Epoch) which customarily needs a trellis or stake for support. True or False?
True
Name the 5 principal soil types of the Southern Rhone
Limestone Red Sandstone Shingle Clay Galet Loess/Molasse
How many grape varieties are permitted in the historical heartland known as Les Côtes du Rhône?
23
