Rhône septentrional

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 1

Moderate continental
Temperatures are noticeably cooler than in the Southern Rhone

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 vineyards are planted close to the river; the best sites occupy steep slopes with a south-facing aspect.
These sites often lie in lateral valleys that feed into the Rhone, valleys that also serve to protect the vines from the cold north winds known
as the mistral, which can easily damage them. Vines are
supported either by an individual stake or by a tepee-like
arrangement of stakes.

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
Syrah is at the very northern limit of where it can ripen successfully. The most prized sites for Syrah have southerly exposures and are on very steep slopes.
The wines tend to be deeply coloured and have medium to high levels of tannin with black fruit , and sometimes black pepper or floral aromas. The use of oak is dependent on the winemaker; some use a high proportion of new oak for their best wines whereas
others prefer to use older oak or larger barrels.
Fermenting Syrah with white varieties has traditionally been practised in a number of the crus, but this technique is now rarely seen. The addition of the white grapes can help to stabilise the colour extraction from the red grapes;Viognier in particular can also add an
extra aromatic intensity to the wine.

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

New oak is increasingly being used but it too has to be handled carefully as oak flavours can easily overwhelm primary aromas. A small number of wines are made in an off-dry style from late-harvested grapes

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. They are usually blended together. they can age well and develop complex hazelnut aromas

Question 10

Describe Cote Rotie’s wines

Answer 10

Only red wines are produced, although up to 20 per cent Viognier can be added.
These wines are deeply coloured, full-bodied, spicy and the best have an aromatic, floral freshness and textural elegance that
distinguishes them from Hermitage.

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

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

Answer 12

Condrieu AOP: 100% Viognier​

the best wines come from low-yielding old vines, grown on steep, well-exposed, terraced vineyards

Question 13

Is Condrieu more likely to be dry or sweet?

What about oak usage in Condrieu?

Answer 13

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 14

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

Answer 14

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 15

St-Joseph lies on the which bank of the Rhône River?

What city marks the southern end of St-Joseph?

Answer 15

west
Tournon

Question 16

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

Answer 16

The vast majority of the wines here are reds made from
Syrah.
Some white wines are made from Marsanne and Roussanne

Question 17

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

Answer 17

NO
The BEST wines generally come from the terraced vineyards near Tournon, with flavour intensity and structure similar to Hermitage.
Excellent wines are also produced just south of Condrieu.
LARGE VOLUMES of relatively light-bodied wines, often
incorporating elements made using carbonic maceration, come from the more fertile, flatter sites on the valley floor and the plateau above the slopes. These wines can be among the lightest-bodied of the Northern Rhone, expressing the pepper-perfumed aspects of the
Syrah grape.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Red:

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

White:

Marsanne
Roussanne

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Crozes-Hermitage AOP

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Red wines from Crozes-Hermitage, especially those from the higher
yielding flatter sites in the south, tend to be lighter in body and exhibit less tannic structure compared to Hermitage wines, more often displaying fresh and vibrant fruit flavors.
The white wines also tend to be lighter in body and fresher in style.

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Only some of the more expensive wines may be aged in oak

Question 22

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.

Answer 22

1 Côte-Rôtie
2 Cornas
3 Hermitage

Question 23

What is the warmest appellation in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 23

Comas

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Comas
The wines are deeply coloured, full-bodied, and in a style and quality similar to Hermitage

Question 25

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

Answer 25

The vineyards lie on the sheltered, well-exposed sun-baked south-facing slopes of the many lateral valleys that exist here

Question 26

What styles of wine can be made in Hermitage AOP?

Answer 26

The best Hermitage has traditionally been a blend of wines from these different sites, but some producers have started to release wines made from specific lieux-dits.
Red Hermitage is generally the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone red wines and ages well.
Although up to 15 per cent of Roussanne and Marsanne may be fermented with Syrah,this is now rarely done and instead they are made into white wines that account for approximately a fifth of Hermitage’s production.

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage

Question 28

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?

Answer 28

This turn in the river gives the hill of Hermitage a full southerly exposure, giving the grapes all-day sun.

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Red Hermitage is generally the fullest bodied of the Northern Rhone red wines and ages well

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Mistral

Question 31

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

Answer 31

It helps keep the vines well-ventilated and dry after rainfall, acting like a natural antiseptic that wards off diseases by preventing rot from settling in

Question 32

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

Answer 32

However, too much wind can be detrimental. Strong gusts can break branches and damage both the vines and their fruit, disrupting even and balanced ripening. Growing vines on stakes or in goblet shapes can effectively counter these challenges. This cultivation method gathers the vine close to the stake, protecting it from excessive exposure, thus preserving the sap and ensuring healthy growth.

Question 33

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

Answer 33

almost all Côtes du Rhône AOC is produced in southern Rhône, since the northern sub-region is covered by well-known appellations and also is much smaller in terms of total vineyard surface.

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Northern Rhône

Question 35

When did Vitis vinifera arrive in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

What are échelas?

Answer 36

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 37

What are E. Guigal’s La La La wines?

Answer 37

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 38

What styles of wine are produced in Saint-Péray?

Answer 38

Still and sparkling dry white wines

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

Question 39

What are Côte Brune and Côte Blonde?

Answer 39

There are two main hills in Côte Rôtie where some of the best wines are made. According to folklore, a feudal landlord gifted his two daughters each a hill. The hill that went to the dark-haired daughter is known as Côte Brune while the hill that went to the light-haired daughter is called Côte Blonde