Rhone & Provence Flashcards
1
Q
What does Rhône Septentrionale refer to?
A
The Northern Rhone region
2
Q
What village is just to the North of Northern Rhone?
A
Vienne
3
Q
What river runs through the Rhone?
A
The Rhone River
4
Q
What does the Rhône méridionale refer to?
A
Southern Rhone
5
Q
When did viticulture spread to the Northern Rhone Valley
A
1st century CE
6
Q
When did the Romans arrive to Southern Rhone (and spread viticulture)
A
125 BCE
7
Q
What is vinum picatum?
A
“Pitched wine” what the Roman’s referred to as the Viennese wine shipped to Rome in amphorae lined with Resin
8
Q
What was Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
A
The pope’s summer palace
9
Q
When was Southern Rhone first struck with phylloxera?
A
1863
10
Q
What AOC became the first in France?
A
Château-neuf-de-pape AOC, 1936
Now an AOP
11
Q
What is the climate of Southern Rhone?
A
Mediterranean
12
Q
What is the climate of Northern Rhone?
A
Continental
13
Q
What is the Massif Central?
A
A highland region in the middle of Southern France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France
14
Q
In which seasons does the Mistral Wind effect the Northern Rhone?
A
Winter, Spring
The Mistral effects Provence and Southern Rhone year around but in the winter and spring blows down from the Massif Central to effect the Rhone
15
Q
What are the primary soil types in Northern Rhone?
A
Granitic and Schistous soils
The steeply sloped vineyards of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage are carved out of this bedrock
Fine sand and loess topsoil are prone to erosion and make Northern Rhone prone to erosion.
16
Q
What is a synonym for arzelle?
A
Decomposed mica.
A thin, powdery, topsoil found in Condrieu
The soils become heavier with clay in the southern section of Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Péray
17
Q
What are signature secondary aromas of a Northern Rhone Syrah?
A
Meat, smoke, olives, lavender, blood, peppercorn
18
Q
Northern Rhone Syrah’s are typically aged in?
A
Large oak foudres
19
Q
What are the 5 northern rhone appellations for Syrah?
A
Hermitage AOP Crozes-Hermitage AOP Cornas AOP Côte-Rôtie AOP Saint-Joseph AOP
20
Q
Which Northern Rhone AOP is bottled varietally as 100% Syrah?
A
Cornas
21
Q
In Cotie-Rotie AOP, which white grape(s) are allowed to be blended (and co-fermented) with Syrah?
At what Percentage?
A
Viognier
up to 20%
22
Q
Crozes-Hermitage AOP, Hermitage AOP and Saint Joseph AOP allow which white grape(s) to be blended (and co-fermented) with Syrah?
At what percentage?
A
Marsanne/Rousanne
Crozes-Hermitage 15%
Hermitage 15%
St. Joseph 10%
23
Q
What are the benefits of co-fermentation?
A
It offers the almost counterintuitive advantage of stabilizing red wine color and moderating tannin extraction
24
Q
What does cotie rotie translate to?
A
Roasted slope
25
Who is the largest producer in the Cote Rotie region?
E. Guigal
26
Which two hillsides are considered the heart of the cotie rotie?
```
Cote blonde (softer, more alluring wines) and Cote brune (stronger, more assertive wines)
Both lay behind the riverside village of Ampuis
```
27
What is La Landonne?
A cru vineyard bottled by E. Guigal, Rene Rostaing, among others.
Can command price tags as high as first growth Bordeaux.
28
Name 4 major producers in Hermitage
```
Jean Louis Chave
Negociants:
Delas
M. Chapoutier
Jaboulet
```
29
Who is the producer of La Chapelle?
Jaboulet
Named for a small hillside chapel that stands in commemoration of Gaspard de Stérimberg, the legendary Crusader-turned-hermit who lived a life of asceticism atop the hill
30
What are important climats in Hermitage?
```
L'Hermite
Le Méal
Les Bessards
Gréffieux
Beaume
Péléa
```
31
What soil type is found in Cornas?
Granite (gore)
32
What are the 4 lieux-dits of Cornas?
Les Reynards
La Côte
Les Chaillot
Les Mazards
33
What is the smallest appellation in Northern Rhone?
Cornas
| 100 hectares
34
What traditional vilification practices does Auguste Clape follow?
Whole cluster fermentation
Use of demi-muids of the region
These are the traditional vinification practices of the region and Auguste Clape is considered the standard-bearer for this style
35
Which northern Rhone AOPs produce only red wine?
Cotie-Rotie
Cornas (100% varietal bottlings of Syrah)
Crozes-Hermitage, St Joseph, & Hermitage can produce white wines from the Marsanne and Rousanne grapes
36
What is vin de paille?
Dessert wine from Hermitage from Marsanne and or Roussanne. Grapes are dried to concentrate sweetness.
37
St. Peray AOP produces exclusively from which grapes? what styles of wine?
Marsanne and Roussanne - often (but not always) blended together.
Roussanne is more delicate and adds acidity and waxy minerality and Marsanne has a broader, oily texture and marzipan quality.
Mousseux and still
38
What grape is produced in Condrieu?
Viognier
39
What are characteristics of Viognier?
Rich texture, honeyed lushness and floral aromas
40
Chateau Grillet AOP is a monople where? And produces which varietal?
It is a monople within Condrieu.
| It produces Viognier
41
Coteaux de Die AOP and Crémant de Die AOP produce still and sparkling wines (respectively) from which grape?
Clairette
Couteaux de Die AOP (Clairette)
Cremant de Die AOP (Clairette blend)
42
Clairette de Die AOP produces which style of wines?
Sparkling: in the traditional method and methode Dioise ancestral (ancestral method)
43
In Clairette de Die AOP traditional method sparkling wines, what percentage of wine need to come from Clairette grapes?
100%
44
In Clairette de Die AOP ancestral method, what is the primary grape used at what percentage?
Muscat a petit grains, min 75%
45
In Clairette de Die AOP methode ancestral, what level of sweetness is the finished wine?
demi-sec 35 grams residual sugar
| method traditional wines are brut in style with a max 15 grams per liter of sugar after dosage
46
The Chatillon-en-Diois AOP produces wines from what varietals?
Gamay - still - red and rose
Aligote - still
Chardonnay - still
47
What is the most planted red grape in the southern rhone?
```
Grenache
Other highly planted varietals are:
Syrah
Mourvedre
Cinsault
Carignan
```
48
Are Southern Rhone wines more often varietally bottled or blends?
Blends
49
What percentage of total wine production does Southern Rhone account for in all of the Rhone?
95%
50
What strong wind blows across the southern Rhone?
The Mistral
51
What are galets?
Quartzite rocks that characterize the vineyards of Chateauneuf-de-pape
They store the day's heat and release it to the vines at night
52
Château Rayas often releases their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as a 100% varietal of which grape?
Grenache
53
What is the minimum ABV for Chateauneuf-de-pape AOP?
12.5% min
54
What does le râpé mean?
In Chateauneuf-de-pape AOP, the mandatory 2% of grapes that need to be discarded per harvest. This serves to safeguard against under ripeness.
55
What year was the first bottling of Chateauneuf-de-pape released? By which producer?
1785
| Chateau La Nerthe
56
How many hectares is in Chateauneuf-de-pape AOP?
Approximately 3,000 hectares
57
What are the different soil types of chateaupneuf de pape?
Beyond the distinctive galets, there are many soil types found over the large AOP. Distinct pockets of alluvial sediment exist for gravel, calcareous clay, and sand
58
What are the traditional aging vessels used in Chateauneuf-de-pape?
Foudres
59
What is the Southern Rhone's largest appellation?
Cotes du Rhone AOP
(not Chateauneuf-de-pape AOP)
Cotes du Rhone AOP covers both the Northern and Southern Rhone although the majority of it's bottlings come from the Southern Rhone
60
Approximately how much of the Rhone's wine is released as "Cotes du Rhone AOP"?
Over 2/3's
| Most of the wine is red although whites and rose's are allowed
61
What are the principal red grapes for the Cotes-du-Rhone Villages AOP?
Grenache, syrah, mourverde
62
What soil type is found in Gigondas AOP?
Red clay
63
What type of wine is produced in Gigondas AOP?
Reds and roses
| For reds 50% min Grenache is required. Blending grapes are the same as other Rhone grape varietals excluding Carignan
64
When did Vacqueyras AOP become an AOP?
1990
Produces predominately reds but also whites and roses.
For the reds, min 50% Grenache is required
65
What is the most recent Rhone village to achieve AOP status?
Cairanne AOP
2016
Producing dry whites and reds
66
When did Beaumes-de-Venise AOP and Vinsobres AOP achieve appellation status (from former village status)?
Beaumes-de-Venise AOP: 2005
| Vinsobres AOP: 2006
67
What is the min ABV for Gigondas AOP, Vacqueyras AOP, Cairanne AOP, Beaumes-de-Venise AOP and Vinsobres AOP
12.5%
| Same as Chateauneuf-de-pape
68
Where is Lirac AOP located and what type of wine does it produce?
Across the Rhone river from Chateauneuf-de-pape. It produces red, white and rose.
Primary varietals are Grenache noir and Grenache blanc. Clairette and Bourboulenc are also used in white blends.
Although Lirac AOP has sandy soils, it may be where phylloxera first began in France.
69
Where is the Tavel AOP located?
| What type of wine is made there?
South of Lirac AOP
| Exclusively Rose - Dry wines that are Grenache based
70
Who produces the majority of the wine labeled as Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP?
The local co-operative, the Vignerons de Beaumes-de-Venise.
71
Name the two southern rhone AOPs that produce vin doux natural
Muscat de Beaumes-de-venise AOP
| Rasteau AOP
72
What is vin doux natrual?
French sweet fortified wine
73
*For Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP wines, which communes can the grapes be sourced from?
The communes of Beaumes-de-Venis and Aubignan
74
What is mutage?
Adding grape spirit to stop fermentation and thereby retain sweetness in the final wine.
75
Rasteau AOP vin doux naturel wines may be white, rosé, or red, which grapes are used for these wines?
Grenache - grenache blanc, grenache gris, grenache noir
76
What communes are eligible to be used for Rasteau AOP?
Rasteau, Cairanne, and Sablet
77
In Rasteau, what do ambré and tuilé indicate?
white and red (respectively) vin doux naturel wines that display more oxidative characteristics and are aged at 3 years prior to release.
78
Versions of white and red Rasteau VDN wines that are labeled blanc and grenat indicate...?
fresher styles of vin doux naturel, not oxidative or aged extensively
79
What does Hors d'age indicate on a vin doux naturel wine?
Aging at least 5 years.
80
Can Rasteau AOP produce still reds?
Yes. Beginning in 2010 the AOP has allowed dry still reds to be produced only from the Rasteau commune.
81
Rasteau AOP wines can be Rancio. What does that mean?
A deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature
82
Prior to 2010, what was Grignan-les-Adhémar AOP's name? Why was it changed?
Côtes du Tricastin AOP
| It's name was changed as rebranding effort as Tricastin is a nuclear power plant.
83
Which southern rhone AOP used to be part of Languedoc?
Costières de Nîmes AOP
| Oversight of the appellation was transferred by the INAO authorities in 2004
84
Cotes de Provence AOP wines make up what percentage of all Provencal wine?
What type of wine is made?
Cotes de Provence makes up 3/4 of all Provencal wine and is dedicated to rose. Reds and whites are made but 75% of output is rose.
85
How is rose made in Cotes de Provence AOP?
The rosés must be blended from at least two varieties.T
hey are given color through a short period of skin contact, saignage, or, in the case of the palest of wines, immediate pressing of whole grapes
The blending of red and white grapes in still wines to create roses is not permitted
86
Alongside the traditional Rhone varietals of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsaut, and Mourverdre, what is the local grape used often in Cotes de Provence AOP?
The Tibouren grape
87
What are the four designated sub zones of Cotes de Provence?
La Londe, Pierrefeu, Sainte-Victoire, and Fréjus
88
What types of wine does the Bandol AOP focus on?
The Bandol AOP produces whites, roses and reds. The most notable are the reds, produced from a minimum of 50% Mourvèdre blended with Grenache and cinsaut.
They must be aged for min 18 mos in cask.
89
Name 2 producers from the Bandol AOP
Domaine Tempier
Château de Pibarnon
Château Pradeaux
90
What is a synonym for the Rolle grape?
Vermentino
| The Rolle grape is increasingly used in the whites of Bellet AOP
91
Where is Domaine de Trévallon located (which AOP)?
Les Baux-de-Provence AOP
92
In which AOP is Château Simone located?
Palette AOP
93
Which white varietals are generally used in Cassis AOP?
Clairette and Marsanne
94
In Cotes De Provence AOP, how many vineyards are classified?
In 1955, 23 estates were classified
| Cotes de Provence is the only region outside of Bordeaux that publishes a ranking of grand cru classe estates.
95
What is the name of the island-wide AOP that covers Corsica?
Vin de Corse AOP
White Vin de Corse AOP wines are blends of Vermentino and Ugni Blanc
Red Vin de Corse red and rose wines are made from Nielluccio and Sciacarello that are blended with Grenache, Barbarossa, and a host of Rhône grapes
96
Name 3 grapes indigenous to Corsica
Nielluccio (a variant of Sangiovese) Sciacarello
| Vermentino
97
What type of wine does Muscat du Cap Corse AOP produce?
Vin doux naturel blanc from Muscat blanc a petits grains blanc
98
What AOP unknowingly served as the entry for phylloxera into France in the 1860s?
Lirac AOP, Southern Rhone
| Located opposite Chateauneuf de pape, across the Rhone river
99
How many liters are in a Demi-muid?
600 liters
| Demi-muids are the traditional aging vessels used in northern rhone
100
What is the max Viognier permitted in Cote Rotie?
20%
101
What is Vin de Paille?
A rare dessert wine produced out of Hermitage AOP from Marsanne and Roussanne grapes
102
What is the primary grape used in Vieilles Vignes Blanc from Château de Beaucastel?
```
Roussane (80%)
Grenache Blanc (20%)
```
103
What is rotundone?
A terpene in Syrah that produces the characteristic black pepper and black olive characteristics in the wine
104
What is the minimum percentage of Grenache mandated for Vacqueyras AOP red wines
50%
105
What is the minimum residual sugar (in grams per liter) of Rasteau AOP vin doux naturel wines?
100 g/liter
106
Clairette de Bellegarde AOP is a single commune appellation within what larger AOP?
Costières de Nîmes
Costières de Nîmes adjoins the regions of the Southern Rhône Valley, Provence, and Languedoc
Clairette de Bellegarde produces white wines from the Clairette grape
107
What year did Chateauneuf-de-pape receive AOC status?
1936
