Rhone Valley

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 1

Continental with some Mediterranean influence.

Question 2

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Question 3

There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhone Valley. True or False?

Answer 3

False.
Saint-Peray in the Northern Rhone and Clairette de Die and Cremant de Die in the Diois all make sparkling wines.

Question 4

What is the Mistral?

Answer 4

A strong, cold, north wind that blows through the Rhone Valley.

Question 5

The Tavel AOC only produces rose wines. True or False

Answer 5

True

Question 6

What are “galets”?

Answer 6

Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Question 7

Which Rhone appellation is a monopole?

Answer 7

Chateau-Grillet

Question 8

Which two Southern Rhone crus are on the right of the Rhone River?

Answer 8

Tavel and Lirac

Question 9

The entire Rhone Valley produces Cotes du Rhone AOC. True or False?

Answer 9

False. There are Rhone Valley appellations outside the Cotes du Rhone zone of production.

Question 10

How do vines benefit from being located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail?

Answer 10

The Dentelles act as a wind block and sun trap and blanket the vines with cool air at night.

Question 11

Which Rhone AOCs produce VDN wines?

Answer 11

Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.

Question 12

What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhone Valley?

Answer 12

Costieres de Nimes

Question 13

Which Rhone AOC’s name means “burned earth” in Celtic?

Answer 13

Cornas

Question 14

In which century did the Papacy move to Avignon?

Answer 14

14th Century

Question 15

Which two “other Rhone Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?

Answer 15

Ventoux and Luberon

Question 16

Which Northern Rhone appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?

Answer 16

Cote Rotie-using Viognier.
Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Saint-Joseph - all using Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 17

Which three grape varieties dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 17

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre (GSM)

Question 18

What is the northermost cru in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 18

Cote Rotie

Question 19

What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 19

Granite & Schist

Question 20

Which two Southern Rhone cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rose and red wines?

Answer 20

Lirac and Vacqueyras

Question 21

Southern Rhone white wines are typically aged in oak. True or False?

Answer 21

False. They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.

Question 22

Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wines from Viognier grapes. True or False?

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Southern Rhone cru appellations mandate hand harvesting.

Answer 23

False. Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting.

Question 24

Which grape variety forms the backbone of most Cotes du rhone white wines?

Answer 24

Grenache Blanc

Question 25

The Northern Rhone is bookended by which two cities?

Answer 25

Vienne and Valence

Question 26

The Southern Rhone is Bookended by which two cities?

Answer 26

Montelimar and Nimes

Question 27

What is the Dentelles de Montmirail?

Answer 27

A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhone.

Question 28

Which Rhone appellation can make Vin de Paille?

Answer 28

Hermitage

Question 29

Which appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?

Answer 29

Clairette de Die

Question 30

What are the five soil types of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 30

Galets, garrigue, sandstone, clay and loess/molasse.

Question 31

What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 31

Gobelet

Question 32

Which three Southern Rhone Crus surround hilltop towns?

Answer 32

Vinsobres
Rasteau
Cairanne

Question 33

There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhone. True or False?

Answer 33

False.
There is high vintage variation in the Northern Rhone wines.

Question 34

What is “loess”?

Answer 34

Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand.

Question 35

What does “Meridionaux” mean?

Answer 35

Of the Southern Rhone (in nature, style or location)