Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Continental with some Mediterranean influence.
What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean
There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhone Valley. True or False?
False.
Saint-Peray in the Northern Rhone and Clairette de Die and Cremant de Die in the Diois all make sparkling wines.
What is the Mistral?
A strong, cold, north wind that blows through the Rhone Valley.
The Tavel AOC only produces rose wines. True or False
True
What are “galets”?
Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Which Rhone appellation is a monopole?
Chateau-Grillet
Which two Southern Rhone crus are on the right of the Rhone River?
Tavel and Lirac
The entire Rhone Valley produces Cotes du Rhone AOC. True or False?
False. There are Rhone Valley appellations outside the Cotes du Rhone zone of production.
How do vines benefit from being located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail?
The Dentelles act as a wind block and sun trap and blanket the vines with cool air at night.
Which Rhone AOCs produce VDN wines?
Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhone Valley?
Costieres de Nimes
Which Rhone AOC’s name means “burned earth” in Celtic?
Cornas
In which century did the Papacy move to Avignon?
14th Century
Which two “other Rhone Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?
Ventoux and Luberon
Which Northern Rhone appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah in their red wines?
Cote Rotie-using Viognier.
Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage & Saint-Joseph - all using Marsanne and Roussanne.
Which three grape varieties dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhone?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre (GSM)
What is the northermost cru in the Northern Rhone?
Cote Rotie
What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhone?
Granite & Schist
Which two Southern Rhone cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rose and red wines?
Lirac and Vacqueyras
Southern Rhone white wines are typically aged in oak. True or False?
False. They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.
Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wines from Viognier grapes. True or False?
True
Southern Rhone cru appellations mandate hand harvesting.
False. Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting.
Which grape variety forms the backbone of most Cotes du rhone white wines?
Grenache Blanc
The Northern Rhone is bookended by which two cities?
Vienne and Valence
The Southern Rhone is Bookended by which two cities?
Montelimar and Nimes
What is the Dentelles de Montmirail?
A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhone.
Which Rhone appellation can make Vin de Paille?
Hermitage
Which appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?
Clairette de Die
What are the five soil types of the Southern Rhone?
Galets, garrigue, sandstone, clay and loess/molasse.
What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhone?
Gobelet
Which three Southern Rhone Crus surround hilltop towns?
Vinsobres
Rasteau
Cairanne
There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhone. True or False?
False.
There is high vintage variation in the Northern Rhone wines.
What is “loess”?
Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand.
What does “Meridionaux” mean?
Of the Southern Rhone (in nature, style or location)
