Rhone Valley Flashcards
What are the two regions Rhone Valley is broken into
Northern Rhone
southern Rhone
What is the predominate grape in Northern Rhone for red wine? white?
Syrah
Whites Viognier, Marsanne, anad Roussane
What is climate in Northern Rhone
continental
what is the climate in Southern Rhone
mediterranean
what are the significant varieties found in Southern Rhone?
Reds (and a few roses): Grenanche Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvedre
Whites = blends based in Grenache Blanc
what separates the Northern and Southern Rhone
a gap of 50 km (30 miles) where relatively few grapes are grown
Where are Northern Rhone appellations located
close to the river (vines planted on slopes above the river itself)
How much area is under vine in Southern Rhone?
66,000 ha
how much area is under vine in Northern Rhone
less than 4,000 ha
Where are Southern Rhone vines located?
a distance from the river
North or South? Which part of Rhone has both individual AOCs as well as large volumes of basics Cote de Rhone AOC and IGP wines?
South
which two appellations together produce around 60% of the total wine produced in the Rhone?
Cote du Rhone AOC
Cote du Rhone Villages AOC
in 2018 how was red/white/rose broken out by percentage?
red = 74%
white = 10%
rose = 16%
in 2018 how much percentage of Rhone was certified organic?
8%
what wind blows through the Northern and Southern Rhone?
Mistral
What type of varietal is vigorous in both northern and southern Rhone?
Syrah
How are Syrah vines trained in Northern Rhone?
on steep slopes of the top of appellations, individual plants are often tied to one or two poles. Trellising is not possible
What is Syrah susceptible to in Rhone?
mites and botrytis bunch rot
What disease is specific to Syrah? describe it
Syrah decline or disorder. leaves turn red and the graft point breaks up and the vine dies
SAT for Syrah in Northern Rhone crus
deep ruby in color
med to pronounced in intensity aromas and flavors of violet, plum (red in cooler years and sites; black in warmer years and sites), blackberry, with black pepper and herbal notes
acidity = med to high
tannins = med to high
what does Syrah add to Southern Rhone blends?
color, fruit, and structure
When does Grenache Noir ripen?
late - can be affected by autumn rains
What kind of yield does Grenache Noir produce
high yield
what kind of climate does Grenache Noir need to ripen
warm
how is Grenache Noir trained?
it grows upright so trained as a bush vine, pruned short to contain the vigor
What kind of soil does Grenache Noir do well with?
dry low fertile soils - due to vigor
What is Grenache Noir resistant to?
drought
What is Grenache Noir susceptible to?
coulure, fungal disease, downy mildew, Phomopsis, and botrytis bunch rot; bacterial necrosis or bacterial blight,
how is bacterial necrosis (blight) combatted
planting only disease-free stock and avoiding contamination from pruning tools
What is sugar accumulation like in Grenache Noir?
can accumulate sugar quickly which is a problem for dry wines but makes great VDN
SAT for Grenache Noir?
pale ruby color
ripe red fruit (strawberry, red plum, red cherry), spicy herbal notes,
high alcohol
low to med tannins
low acidity
Describe the budding and ripening of Mourvèdre grapes
late budding
late ripening
what kind of climate does Mourvedre grape need?
only thrives in warm to hot climates - needing the high temp at the end of the season to fully ripen. can be underripe if late summer is not hot
Is Mouvedre resistant to drought?
no, but it needs small but regular amounts of water
How is Mouvedre best pruned and trained?
short; either cordon trained or bush vine
what soil does mouvedre best grow in?
calcereous soils to retain water deep
What kind of yields does Mouvedre produce?
low
what is Mouvedre prone to in vineyard?
mites, leafhoppers, and sour rot (disease that affects ripening bunches due to insect or bird damage to the grapes which then make grapes prone to fungi or bacteria)
what is mouvedre prone to in teh winery?
strongly prone to reduction - needs adequate access to O2
what vessel is Mouvedre typically aged?
in old oak
SAT for Mouvedre in Rhone
almost always used in a blend
contributes:
deep ruby color
intense aromas of blackberry, blueberries, violets
high alcohol
high firm tannins
Describe the budding and yields of CInsault
late budding; high yielding
What is Cinsault resistant to?
drought and heat
What happens if Cinsault is grown on soils with excessive Lime
can suffer cholorsis
What is CInsault prone to?
mites, grape moths, esca and eutypa
How is CInsault typically used in Southern Rhone
small part of a red blend
Describe generally how CInsault is made
to preserve fruit flavors -
mid-range fermentation temp
aged briefly on stainless steel
SAT for Cinsault in Rhone
contributes
light ruby color
med to med+ intense aromas of fresh red fruit (raspberry, red cherry)
high alcohol
low to med tannins
when are the aromas most prominant for CInsault?
in the first year after wine is made - meant for early drinking reds and roses
what are the main red varieties used in Rhone?
Syrah
Grenache Noir
Mouvedre
Cinsault
Carignan
What are the main white varietals used in Rhone?
Viognier
Marsanne
Roussanne
Grenache Blanc
Clariette
Bourboulenc
What type of budder is Viognier? what does this make it prone to?
early budder - prone to spring frosts
How is viognier trained and why?
on a trellis or poles to prevent wind damage
Describe yields for Viognier
unpredictable and low due to poor flowering and fruit set (coulure)
Why does Viognier need to be fully ripe?
for pronounced aromas
What is the risk of leaving Viognier grapes on the vine too long?
they lose flavor and acidity, rapidly gaining sugar which results in unbalanced wines with lack of flavor
SAT for Viognier
med lemon in color
pronounced aromas and flavors of honeysuckle, apricot and peach
medium to high alcohol
low acidity
How much Viognier is allowed in some northern Rhone red wines?
up to 20% - otherwise made of Syrah
Describe budding and vigor of Marsanne
late budder and vigorous and productive
Describes why yields must be kept low for Marsanne
to produce high-quality wines to; reduce amount of fruit being ripened
What kind of soil does Marsanne perform best on?
stony and low fertility to keep yields low
What is Marsanne prone to?
mites , powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot
SAT for MArsanne
medium lemon in color sometimes gold
low intensity of honeysuckle, lemon, apricot,
oily texture
med acidity
full bodied
med to high alcohol
Describe what style wine Marsanne is used for in Northern Rhone? Southern? (blended vs varietal)
Northern = varietal wine or blended with Roussanne
Southern = usually part of a blend
Describe the type of soils Roussanne does best on
low fertility, well-draining
Is Roussanne early or late budding?
late budding
what does Roussanne have poor resistant to?
wind
What is Roussanne susceptible to?
coulure; powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot, and mites
In comparison to Marsanne how does it grow?
less successfully and is less commonly grown in Rhone
SAT for Roussanne
medium lemon in color sometimes gold
med to med + intensity aromatics of pear, with herbal notes
medium to med + acidity
med to high alcohol
How does Roussanne compare to Marsanne in terms of aging
Roussanne ages quicker than Marsanne
What other varietals are Roussanne typically blended with in Rhone Valley - northern? southern?
Northern = Marsanne,
Southern = Clairette, grenache Blanc
single varieties are made in both as well
Describe type of budding for Grenache Blanc and the problem this can cause?
relatively early budding, but because it is typically grown in mild south of France and in Spain there is only an occasional problem with spring frosts.
What does Grenache Blanc have good resistance against?
wind
In Rhone where is Grenache Blanc typically grown
almost exclusively in the southern part
What types of wines are made in Southern Rhone with grenache Blanc?
VDN and dry white blends
SAT for Grenache Blanc
low intensity ripe green fruit and some floral notes
high alcohol
low acidity
What type of variety is Clairette?
vigorous white
What type of soil does Clairette do well in?
low fertility, dry soils - well suited for southern Rhone and low rainfall
What methods used to contain the vigor of Clairette
pruned short and excessive buds removed
grows upright
What is Clairette resistant to?
wind
When does Clairette ripen? what does this make it prone to?
late
early autumn rains
Name a reason Clairette needs to be handled carefully in the winery
it oxidizes easily
SAT for Clairette
primary used for white blends
adding freshness and fruit
white flower, fennel, apple, grapefruit
high alcohol
low to medium acidity
Where is CLairette typically used in the RHone?
southern white Rhone blends
Describe the Bourboulenc grape
late ripening with loose branches and thick skins, resistance to botrytis bunch rot, giving it disease resistance necessary for late ripening
Where does Bourboulenc grow well?
warm dry locations (ex. Southern Rhone)
SAT for Bourboulenc in Southern Rhone?
white blends
contributes lemon flavor
medium+ acidity
med alcohol
In general describe winemaking in Rhone Valley
traditional with a preference for concrete vats for fermentation (although stainless steel and large wooden vessels are also used)
What vessels are typically used for maturation in Rhone Valley
small and large wooden vessels
How is Grenache Noir typically fermented and aged? why?
in concrete vats and stainless steel due to it being prone to oxidation and premature loss of color when exposed to too much O2
How is Syrah typically fermented and aged? why?
has to be pumped over more often and often aged in oak to provide gentle oxidation
due to it being prone to reduction
What do some quality producers in the northern Rhone use to age wine?
some use a proportion of new French oak barrique, but less prevalent than in the 1990’s
How are red Cru level wines typically harvested and brought to the winery in Rhone
grapes harvested by hand
transported in small crates(ensuring whole unbroken bunches arrive at winery)
How are red Cru level wines typically destemmed and pressed at the winery in Rhone
they are destemmed and chilled or cold soaked for 1-3 days to extract color
alternatively, they may be whole bunch pressed to promote more intense aromatics
What vessels are used to ferment red Cru level wines in Rhone
typically in stainless steel, large concrete vats, or open top wooden fermenters
What types of yeasts are used to ferment red Cru level wines in Rhone
either ambient or cultured yeasts
What temps are used for fermentation of red Cru level wines in Rhone and why?
warm temps to enhance extraction of color, flavor, and tannin
How long does maceration on skins last and what methods are used for maceration of red Cru level wines in Rhone and why?
maceration on the skins may last 20-30 days with punch downs, pump overs, and rack and return in order to enhance extraction of color, flavor, and tannin
About how long does maturation last before putting into bottles in the Rhone
12-24 months
What vessels are used for maturation with Grenache Noir? Syrah? Mourvedre?
grenache Noir = large oak vessels
Syrah and Mourvedre = small barrels with typically a proportion of 20-30% new
How are inexpensive high level red wines typically harvested and brought to the winery in Rhone
harvested by machine
due to grapes inevitably being crushed it is important to process entire volume quickly
hand picking and carbonic maceration is an option for some (to enhance color and fruit intensity and produce wines with low tannins)
What do some large producers do Rhone to produce a low tannin fruity style quickly
flash detente or thermovinification
What type of yeasts are used for inexpensive reds in Rhone valley
cultured to ensure quick reliable fermentation to dryness
What temp is fermentation done for inexpensive red wines in Rhone? why?
mid range to retain fruit flavors and avoid the extraction of high levels of tannins
Why are macerations levels kept short for inexpensive red wines in Rhone?
to retain fruit flavors and avoid extraction of high tannin levels
How are inexpensive red wines stored and for how long before bottling
stainless steel for a few months
Describe what saignee refers to in Southern Rhone
process of making rose wine with the idea of only making rose wine from the grapes and all the juice extracted from them, not drawing off the must to make rose as a by-product of concentrating what will become a red wine
How are rose wines typically made in Southern Rhone
through short maceration where grapes are pressed after cold maceration on the skins for about 12-48 hours, which provides needed color, flavor intensity and light tannins
How are rose wines fermented in Southern Rhone?
same as for white wines
HOw are rose wines typically aged in Southern RHone?
oak or concrete large vats or stainless steel, although some producers will age top wines in old small oak barrels to add texture
What temperature are white wines fermented in Rhone Valley? why
mid-range to retain fruit
Do producers use malolactic conversion for white wines in RHone Valley? why
its sometimes avoided to retain natural acidity
What type of vessels are used to age white wines in RHone?
most are aged in large old oak or stainless steel
Why is lees stirring typically sometimes avoided in white Rhone wines?
natural fuller body however, some still do some lees stirring to create an even fuller body
How are white wines in Rhone matured? fermented? why?
some are matured in oak for adding a layer of complexity
some are fermented in oak for better fruit-oak integration
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone
moderate continental climate
warm summers and adequate rainfall falling mainly in autumn and winter
What is the wind that blows from the north in Northern Rhone and what does it do?
Mistral - reduces the incidence of fungal disease and decreases the vigor of the vines leading to lower yields and higher concentration in wines, but lower production
what is the difference between the most northerly and southerly vineyards in Northern Rhone and what is the result of this
65 km (40 miles)
better ripening in the southern part of the region due to less wind
Where are the better vineyards located in Northern Rhone? What is the disadvantage of this
on steep slopes that increase the interception of sunlight and promote better drainage
hand harvesting needed - raises costs
What is the northern most appellation in Northern Rhone Valley?
Cotie Rotie AOC
What type of wines does Cote Rotie AOC produce?
only red
Describe the location of the vineyards in Cote Rotie AOC
on steep slopes, often terraces, mostly facing east and south east making for high sunlight interception and sheltered from the winds of the north
What results in fully ripened grapes in Cote Rotie AOC?
high levels of sunlight and heat, rapid drainage, and poor stony soils
How are Cote Rotie AOC grapes harvested? Why?
by hand due to steep slopes and erosion; grapes planted on terraces that need to be repaired
How are vines trained in COte Rotie AOC?
individual vines are single or double guyot trained and are tied to one or two poles (echalas)
What are the quality and price of Cote Rotie AOC wines?
good to outstanding
Premium to super premium
How many ha are under vine in Cote Rotie AOC?
now = 250 ha
19070s = 70 ha
What are all wines made from in Cote Rotie AOC?
Syrah with up to 20% viognier permitted in blends- although in practice it is often 0 and normally no more than 8%
What rootstock is preferred for Syrah in Cote Rotie AOC? WHy?
3309 regarded as being relatively productive and vines produce grapes with good depth of color
What are typical planting densities for Syrah in Cote Rotie AOC? why
10,000 vines/ha
creates competition between vines, reducing yields and producing concentrated fruit
What are max yields permitted in Cote Rotie AOC?
40 hl/ha
When Syrah and Viognier are both used in Cote Rotie AOC how do they have to be fermented
co-fermented
What is the emphasis of winemakers for wines made in Cote Rotie AOC?
the aromatic potential of wines