Rhone Valley Flashcards
1
Q
north vs southern rhone ha planted
A
4000ha northern rhone 66000ha southern rhone
2
Q
AOC differences in northern and souther rhone
A
norther rhone is small AOCs for single areas southern rhone has many sizes of AOC from smaller area to bigger
3
Q
how much cote du rhone is in % of production?
A
46% of the total production of southern rhone
4
Q
syrah training
A
mainly to protect it from Mistral wind tied to one or to poles (trellising is not possible) on steep slopes
5
Q
syrah diseases
A
botrytis bunch rot mites syrah decline
6
Q
what is syrah decline?
A
leaves turn red graft point breaks vine dies
7
Q
what syrah gives to the blend in the southern rhone?
A
structure fruit colour
8
Q
why grenache is planted on bush vines?
A
high yielding, bush vines contain vigour
9
Q
grenache favourite soils
A
dry with low fertility
10
Q
grenache ripening
A
late (affected by early autumn rains)
11
Q
grenache is prone to
A
coulure (reduce yields)
downy mildew
phomopsis
botrytis bunch rot
bacterial necrosis/blight
12
Q
bacterial necrosis/blight, what it is and how to cure it
A
disease that kills leaves, shoots and eventually the plant can be cured by planting a disease free stock and avoid contamination from pruning tools
13
Q
why grenache can produce vin doux naturel?
A
has high sugar level (can be a problem for dry wines)
14
Q
grenache in southern rhone blends specs
A
pale colour ripe red fruits spices/herbal notes high alcohol low to med tannins low acidity
15
Q
grenache wants what kind of climate?
A
warm
16
Q
grenache has a good resistance to?
A
drought
17
Q
red grapes of the southern rhone
A
syrah grenache mourvedre cinsault carignan
18
Q
mourvedre budding/ripening cycle
A
late budding late ripening
19
Q
mourvedre thrives in which climate?
A
warm climate
20
Q
why mourvedre needs warm climates?
A
it fully ripens with high temperatures at the end of the season
21
Q
is mourvedre drought resistant?
A
no but needs just little amounts of water from storing soils
22
Q
best soils for mourvedre
A
deep calcareous soils (they store water well)
23
Q
mourvedre pruning
A
short pruning bush vines or cordon
24
Q
mourvedre is a high yielding variety?
A
no, low
25
mourvedre is prone to
mites leafhoppers sour rot
26
main problem of mourvedre in the winery
prone to reduction needs accesso to oxygen (oak vats)
27
sour rot disease
affecrs ripening bunches (insects or bord damage to grapes) then become prone to bacteria and fungi
28
mourvedre in the blend gives
deep colour black fruits and violets high alcohol and tannins
29
cinsault budding
late budding
30
cinsault yieldsing and resistance
high yielding (must be restricted) drought and heat resistance
31
best soils for cinsault
soils with excessive lime (chlorosis risk)
32
cinsault is prone to
esca eutypa dieback mites grape moths
33
cinsault in rhone blends
light colour red fruits high alcohol low to mid tannins usually gives drinkability for early consume
34
viognier budding
early (spring frost risk)
35
viognier training in norther rhone
on trellis or poles to prevent mistral damage
36
yields for vognier and problems
low and unpredicable because of poor flowerings and fruit set (coulure)
37
main picking problem in viognier
grapes must be fully ripe if not they tend to lose acidity and flavour, building sugars if left too long
38
marsanne budding
late (avoid spring frost)
39
yielding for marsanne
vigorous/productive must kept low
40
best soils for marsanne
stony soils with low fertility (keeps yields low)
41
marsanne is prone to
powdery mildew mites botrytis bunch rot
42
marsanne in blends
golden colour honeysuckle, apricot oily texture mid to high alcohol
43
roussane budding
late budding
44
best soils for roussane
low fertility high draining
45
roussanne is prone to
powdery mildew botrytis bunch rot mites wind
46
roussanne site locations
has low resistance to wind so they are more hard to select
47
marsanne vs roussanne: which one is harder to grow?
roussanne (so is less commonly grow)
48
roussanne in blend
pear, herbal notes med to medium + acidity high alcohol
49
main difference between marsanne and roussanne
they have similar structure but roussanne tends to age quicker also more common single bottling
50
grenache blanc budding
early
51
grenache blanc is resistant to
wind
52
styles of grenache blanc
dry
vin doux naturels
53
grenache blanc in blends
high alcohol low acidity ripe green fruit
54
why clairette is suited for southern rhone
because of its low dry fertility soils as it has high vigour and low rainfall
55
clairette canopy management
pruned short and excessive buds removed grows uptight anyway
56
ripening of clairette
late (prone to autumn rains)
57
main problem of clairette in the winery
oxidise quickly
58
clairette in blends
freshness fruits and white flowers, fenne, high alcohol low to medium minus acidity
59
bourboulenc ripening
late ripening (warm climates)
60
bourboulenc in blends
lemon flavours medium acidity and alcohol
61
bourboulenc bunches and skins
loose bunches
thick skins (resistant to botrytis bunch rot)
62
main vessels in the rhone and why
concrete (grenache is prone to oxidation)
big foudres (syrah is prone to reduction)
stainless steel is common, barriques were mostly used in the 90s
63
production of cru-level red in rhone valley
1. harvest by hand
2. destemmed, chilled, cold soake 1-3 days (extract colour) / whole bunch
3. ferment in stainless steel, concrete tanks, open top wooden fermenters with cultured/ambient yeast, at high temperature for extraction
4. maceration 20-30 days with punch down/pumping over
5. maturation is 12-24 months, new oak could be in 20-30% new
64
production of inexpensive red
1. harvest by machine
2. processed as fast as possible to avoid bacterial infection
3. extraction by carbonic maceration, flash detente or thermovinificators
4. cultured yeast
5. temp at mid range to retain fruit, and short maceration
6. stored in stainless steel shortly
65
rose winemaking in rhone valley (e.g. Tavel)
1. short maceration with cold maceration for 12.48 hours
2. aged in oak/concrete vats/stainless steel, some small oak in premium examples
66
white winemaking in the rhone valley
1. fermented mid range to retain fruit
2. mlf avoided to retain acidity
3. aged in large oak or stainless steel
4. no lees stirring
5. some matured in oak (small new)
67
northern rhone climate
moderate continental cold winters, warm summers adequate rainfall mainly winter and autumn
68
main climatic influences
mistral wind
area distance between north and south (65km - southern has better ripening)
69
mistral wind effects in northern rhone
reduce fungal disease
decrease vine vigour (lower yields, higher concentration)
70
where the best vineyards of norther rhone are located?
steep slopes (better aspect and drainage) harvesting needs to be done by hand
71
slopes in cote rotie main features
1. east, south east aspect (more sunlight, shelter from north winds)
2. stony soils, rapid drainage
3. steep slopes (most work is done by hand, erosion problems)
4. terraces needs repairing and needs single/double guyot tied to one or two poles
72
what are echalas in cote rotie?
vines tied to one or two poles (Mistral wind)
73
cote rotie ha and history
in the 70s lack of commercial interest only 70ha thanks to guigal and parker high scores now 250ha mostly premium prices
74
syrah in cote rotie: plantings and rootstocks
propagated by mass selection rootstock 3309 mostly for production with good depth of colour
75
syrah in cote rotie: planting density and max yield
10000 vines per ha (competition and concentration) 40hl/ha
76
viognier in cote rotie, how much and why?
20% allowed in co-fermentation, usually only 8% maximum adds floral and fruity aromas
77
winemaking options in cote rotie
1. destem/stems (more common)
2. cold soaking
3. natural yeast
78
cote rotie maturation
old cask (demi-muid 500-600lt)
barrique (225lt - guigal single vineyard)
79
cote rotie style
less body and softer than hermitage or cornas pronounced aromas
80
condrieu maximum yield
41hl/ha
81
vineyard aspect in condrieu
south facing
82
vineyards in condrieu and probles
terraced rocky soils problems of soil erosion and wind
83
chateau griller ha
3.5ha
84
condrieu winemaking
1. fermented in stainless steel tanks or large wood, only few premium examples of barriques
2. MLF is optional, normally is used
3. aged on lees for 10-12months (lees stirring)
85
saint joseph; how long it is
50kl north to south, covers most of the region
86
sain joseph story
1. initially small around the lieu dit of st joseph
2. expanded in 1994 expanded into flat land and not only hillsides (wines of lesser quality)
3. chave and gonon pushed the appellation
4. discussion on reducing the appellation to hillsides slopes only
87
saint joseph grapes choice
90% is red syrah
rest marsanna roussanne white they can be co-fermented in reds but not used
88
saint joseph common vessels
stainless steel big oak vats, occasionally barriques
89
hermitage is named after
Gaspard the Sterimberg (famous crusader and hermit)
90
how many hectares in hermitage
137 (the whole appellation is planted)
91
white wine % in hermitage
1/3 of the appellation
92
slopes feature in hermitage
1. south facing (sun, wind protection)
2. stony soils
3. most famous climats are on the western end of the hill where is incredibly hot (e.g. Le Meal)
4. terraces (erosion problems, most work by hand)
93
hermitage max yields
40hl/ha (seldom achieved, low yields and concentrated wines)
94
hermitage red winemaking
1. low % often added
2. warm temp ferment to heavily extract
3. new oak is common but not always used
95
white grapes in hermitage
majority marsanne (or pure) with few roussanne
96
wine winemaking in hermitage
1. ferment in old vats, new or old/stainless
2. oak maturation (minority new or stainless)
3. aged on lees 10-12 months
97
rare white wine style in hermitage
vin de paille (drying grapes off the vines)
98
hermitage who owns the most
negociant (jaboulet, chapoutier) co-op cabe de tain (15% of the appellation)
99
largest appellantion of the northern rhone
crozes hermitage 1700ha (surrounds tain l'hermitahe and the whole hermitage appellation)
100
crozes hermitage dates (creation and expansion)
created in 1937 expanded in 1956 (same as st joseph)
101
crozes hermitage 2 main sectors and climates
1. north sector: continental with alpine influences (really cold winters with high mistral presence), long growing seasons, high diurnal range (high acidity and moderate sugar)
2. south sector: temperate, heavy rainfall during autumn/winter
102
soils in crozes hermitage
1. slopes are north, flat land usually south (back in the day grew orchards and farmsteads)
2. generally fertile solis and deeper (lower concentration)
103
crozes hermitage max yields
45hl/ha
104
winemaking in crozes hermitage
1. carbonic and semi-carbonic used (now rare)
2. destemming
3. concrete or stainless fermentation
4. oak maturation
105
white % in crozes hermitage
9% marsanne roussanne bland aged in old wood or new barriques (rare)
106
cornas climate
warm mediterranean wind protection
107
main geographical feature or Cornas
south-east facing amphitheatre first wine to be picked in the northern rhone
108
grapes in cornas
red only, syrah 100%
109
cornas yields max
40hl/ha
110
how many ha in cornas
145
111
cornas style main trend
high tannins, robust, long-lived
112
main cornas producer
alain voge vincent paris auguste clape
113
saint peray climate
slightly cooler than neighbough appellations
114
saint peray soils
limestone granite both good water holding and drainage capabilities
115
main grape of saint peray
marsanne some roussanne planted
116
maximum yields in st peray
45hl/ha
117
saint peray winemaking
1. fermented in stainless steel or oak barrells
2. aged on lees for 10-12 months
118
appellation for grapes outside the aocs of northern rhone
collines rhodaniennes igp
119
collines rhodaniennes max yield
80hl/ha
120
collines rhodaniennes styles
red, rose, white other grapes allowed, less expensive mid to premium priced
121
southern rhone climate
warm mediterranean adeguate rainfall
122
main problem of southern rhone
drought
irrigation is permitted if drought is incredible severe
123
generally compared to northern rhone the land in the southern rhone is
flatter (more wind protection)
124
training for syrah and grenache in southern rhone
grenache - low bush vines syrah - trellis wired (wind protection)
125
most planted grape in the southern rhone
grenache noir
126
aoc hierarchy in the southern rhone
cotes du rhone
cotes du rhone village
cotes du rhone villages + village name (e.g. seguret)
individual AOC (e.g. gigondas, chateauneuf du pape, cairanne)
127
how many villages can be labelled in cotes du rhone villages?
22
128
general grape regulation in the southern rhone for red wines
grenache noir dominant blended with mourvedre and syrah (chateauneuf du pape is onl exception)
129
general aoc rules in the southern rhone
1. every aoc states main varietal and other permitted
2. every grape needs to be stated in %, some aoc divide % in the vineyard and in the final blend
130
how big is the cotes du rhone appellation?
2nd biggest of france after bordeaux aoc
it encompasses north and southern rhone, but technically is used only in the south as producers in the north can sell grapes to more valuable appellations
131
cotes du rhone maximum yields for red/rose and white
red/rose - 51hl/ha white - 51hl/ha
132
cotes du rhone red/rose allowed grapes
60% of combined gsm
if grapes are coming from the southern rhone grenache noir needs to be min 30% and 20% syrah mourvedre combined
can include other local varietals including carignan and cinsault
133
cotes du rhone white allowed grapes
80% combined of bourboulenc, clairette, grenache blanc, marsanne, roussane, viognier also local like piquepoul blanc
134
cotes du rhone villages red allowed grapes
66% min of grenache noir one between syrah and mourvedre
135
maximum yields for cote du rhone villages
villages aoc - 44hl/ha villages aoc + named village - 41hl/ha
136
crus aoc yield in southern rhone
chateuneuf du pape 35hl/ha
other aoc - 36-38hl/ha
137
gigondas main climatic influences
1. 600mt altitude
2. Dentelles de Montirall mountains (shade area)
3. cooling Mistral
138
gigondas grapes
50% grenache noir at least one grape between syrah or grenache in the blend
139
vacqueyras main climatic feature
440mt altitude
140
vacqueyras style and grapes allowed
white and rose mainly reds 50% grenache and at least one between syrah and grenache in final blend
141
vinsombres main climatic features
1. 200-500mt altitude
2. slopes protect from mistral and gives drainage and water retention
142
vinsobres grapes
grenache noir 50% + at least one between syrah (growing considerably in the area), mourvedre in final blend many old vines carignan cinsault are present in the area
143
like many crus in the southern rhone what was vinsombres before being elevated as AOC in 2006?
it was a cotes du rhone village
144
styles in rasteau
red vin doux naturel
145
rasteau main features
low (100mt) south facing slopes mistral protection irrigation is allowed if too much drought
146
what is aged in new oak in rasteau?
syrah
147
cairanne was elevated aoc in
2015, really young
148
cairanne styles
red - fruity approachable style (40% grenache + at least oen between syrah and mourvedre) white - high quality
149
beaumes de venise wine styles
vin doux naturel red still (based on 50% grenache plus at least one between syrah, mourvedre)
150
beumes du venise features
slopes shaded by Dentelles de Montmirall mountains
151
why chateauneuf du pape is famous
1. summer residence of the pope in the 14th century
2. in 1923 Baron du Roy of Chateau Fortia wrote the rules that made this area the first AOC
152
rules of the first aop of france (chateauneuf)
1. delimits the region where the grapes can be grown
2. use of 18 varietals
3. minimum alcohol of 12.5 without chaptalisation (truly hard at the times)
153
chateauneuf production red vs white in %
90% reds 10% white
154
chateauneuf du pape main grapes for white and red
red - grenache with mourvedre, syrah white - grenache blanc, bourboulenc, roussanne
155
what grapes are not allowed in chateauneuf du pape blanc?
marsanne viognier
156
is there a specific % for grapes in chateauneuf du pape?
no, can be a full blend or single varietal
157
soils in chateauneuf du pape
1. clay (mostly used for water holding capabilities)
2. galets (large pebbles) radiate heat at night (now less valued)
3. also sandstone, sand, limestone
many producers tend to blend wines from different soils for balance and volume
158
general style of reds chateauneuf
medium acidity high alcohol medium to high tannins
159
lirac main features
1. across the river from chateauneuf
2. high sunlight hours
3. well drained infertile soils
160
main producer of lirac
domaine de la mordoree has vineyard also in chateauneuf
161
grapes for lirac and styles
mainly red also small rose and whites 90% final blend of gsm
162
lirac style and varietsi
rose wines only 12 grapes allowed but mainly grenache noir main varietals cannot be more than 60%
163
maximum yield for tavel
46hl/ha
164
tavel style
pink orange (darker than most rose) medium + to full body medium alcohol
165
tavel main problem
competition with provence, some producers have made a paler style but the bigger remains
166
satellites appellation of cots du rhone
ventoux
costieres de nimes
luberon
grignan les adhemar
167
ventoux main features
1. south-west slopes
2. foothills of mount ventoux (cool air coming down the mountain)
3. 450mt altitude
168
grapes for ventoux and styles
2/3 reds, 1/3 rose and small whites gsm 50% (at least 2 varietals)
169
maximum yields for ventoux
60hl/ha (low concentration)
170
ventoux wine business
1/4 is exported mostly co-op even if new wave is coming (domaine de fondreche)
171
costieres de nimes styles and grapes allowed
like ventoux - 2/3 reds, 1/3 rose and small whites gsm 50% (at least two varietals)
172
yields for costieres de nimes
60hl/ha (low concentration)
173
production in costieres de nimes
was mainly co-op but small producers are starting to emerge
174
costieres de nimes main features
1. sw location near the border with languedoc 2. south-west slopes 3. mediterranean breezes
175
luberon location and vineyards
near provence gentle slopes or flat lands plantings
176
luberon maximum yields
55hl/ha
177
luberon grapes
50% gsm (at least two varietals)
178
grignan les adhemer grapes and style
grenache and syrah 50% min lighter and inexpensive to mid price
179
IGP wines in southern rhone
mostly for international varietals (e.g. merlot and cab sauv are widely planted in certain areas)
180
important co-ops
north (guigal, jaboulet, chapoutier, cave de tain sells 40% of crozes) south (cellier des princes) are more important than in the north
181
sales of rhone wine in %
32% supermarkets 29% wine retail/hospitality 6% discounters 33% is export (USA, UK, Belgium)
182
market changes especially in smaller appellation
growers who sold to co-ops are making now their own wines (e.g. in cote rotie)
183
is there an en primeur system in the rhone valley
only for some areas like cote-rotie, hermitage and chateauneuf du pape
