Rhône septentrional

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 1

Moderate continental

Question 2

Which 2 cities delimit the Northern Rhône Valley?

Answer 2

Vienne

in the north

Valence

in the south

Question 3

Name the 7 AOPs of the Northern Rhône Valley from north to south.

Answer 3

From north to south:

Côte-Rôtie
Condrieu
Château-Grillet
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas

Château-Grillet AOP is a single property appellation within Condrieu AOP.

Question 4

Where are the prime vineyards of the Northern Rhône situated: on the valley floor or on steep slopes?

Answer 4

Northern Rhône’s prime vineyards are planted on steep slopes.

Question 5

How do winemakers work on the steep slopes of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 5

Most of the work is done by hand as tractors cannot go over the small terrasses. Horses are sometimes used in Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie.

Romans built stone terraces which are still used today and require hand harvesting

Question 6

What is the only red grape allowed in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 6

Syrah

Question 7

Name the white grapes grown in the Northern Rhône and in which white wine appellations you’ll find them.

Answer 7

Viognier

Condrieu
Côte-Rôtie

Roussanne

Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph

Marsanne

Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph

Question 8

What are the flavors and characteristics of Viognier?

Answer 8

Full body
High alcohol
Low acidity
Apricot, stone fruits + blossom aromas

Question 9

What are the flavors and characteristics of Roussanne and Marsanne?

Answer 9

Roussanne

Medium-to-full body
Medium acidity
Perfumed (stone) fruits

Marsanne

Medium-to-full body
Rich, weighted texture
Slightly bitter; develops hazelnut notes as it ages

Neither is as aromatic as Viognier

Question 10

Name a white wine-only appellation in the Northern Rhône.

Answer 10

Condrieu AOP: 100% Viognier​

Question 11

Northern Rhône appellations that are allowed to make both still red and still white wines include:

Answer 11

Saint-Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage

Question 12

Is Condrieu more likely to be dry or sweet?

What about oak usage in Condrieu?

Answer 12

Today Condrieu is famous for being dry and aged in oak barrels.

However, back in the 1940s, Condrieu was known for its sweet wine production. A few young winemakers today are experimenting with late harvest Viognier from the slopes of Condrieu.

Question 13

What is the single vineyard appellation within Condrieu that makes a wine similar in style to Condrieu?

Answer 13

Château-Grillet

On p.100 of the WSET textbook, it is specified that Château-Grillet is its own AOP. It lies within the boundaries of Condrieu.

Question 14

In terms of volume, what is the largest appellation of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 14

Crozes-Hermitage AOP

Question 15

Name the grape varieties used in the production of Crozes-Hermitage AOP.

Answer 15

Red:

Syrah
Can be blended with a max 15% combined Marsanne and Roussanne.

White:

Marsanne
Roussanne

Question 16

Are new oak barrels largely used in Crozes-Hermitage AOP?

Question 17

What is the difference between Crozes-Hermitage AOP and Hermitage AOP?

Question 18

Is St-Joseph a homogeneous appellation in terms of quality and style of wine?

Question 19

St-Joseph lies on the left or right bank of the Rhône River?

What city marks the southern end of St-Joseph?

Question 20

Name the grape varieties used in the production of Saint-Joseph AOP.

Question 21

In the Northern Rhône, red wines from (1) tend to have more elegance while in (2) they are bolder and more powerful; in (3) they are full bodied and earthy.

Question 22

What is the warmest appellation in the Northern Rhône?

Question 23

Which appellation in the Northern Rhône makes red wine only made from 100% Syrah?

Question 24

What are some of the factors that contribute to wines from Cornas being so full and powerful?

Question 25

What is the northernmost appellation in the Rhône Valley?

Question 26

Which AOP in the Northern Rhône is situated around the town of Ampuis?

Question 27

In Côte-Rôtie, which white grape may be blended with Syrah?

What is the maximum amount?

Question 28

What styles of wine can be made in Hermitage AOP?

Question 28

Name the 2 AOPs located on the left bank in the Northern Rhône.

Question 29

The Rhône River takes a west-to-east turn at the village of Tain l’Hermitage. In terms of exposure, what does this do for the hill of Hermitage?

Question 30

Are Hermitage wines well suited for aging, or are they generally made for early consumption?

Question 31

What is the name of the howling, cold northerly wind in the Rhône Valley?

Question 32

What are the advantages of the Mistral in the Northern Rhône?

Question 33

What is a disadvantage of the Mistral in the Northern Rhône?

Question 34

Wines labelled under the Côtes-du-Rhône AOP are mostly sourced from the Northern or the Southern part of the Rhône Valley?

Question 35

Which is cooler: the Northern Rhône or the Southern Rhône?

Question 36

When did Vitis vinifera arrive in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 36

At least 2000 years ago with the arrival of the Romans, who planted hillside vineyards, stone walls and small terrasses.

Question 37

What are échelas?

Answer 37

Largely seen in the Northern Rhône, échelas are wooden spikes used to support gobelet-trellised vines.

They are most often found in vineyards on steep slopes.

Question 38

What are E. Guigal’s La La La wines?

Answer 38

La Mouline

fantasy name, not a parcel; fruit sourced from Côte Blonde; always has a bit of Viognier in the blend;

La Turque

parcel located on Côte Brune; always has a bit of Viognier in the blend;

La Landonne

parcel located on Côte Brune; always 100% Syrah; usually the longest lived of the three.

Question 39

What styles of wine are produced in Saint-Péray?

Answer 39

Still and sparkling dry white wines

Sparkling wines must be aged for minimum 12 months prior to release with no minimum lees aging.

Question 40

What are Côte Brune and Côte Blonde?