Rhone Valley Flashcards

1
Q

The Rhône valley is the largest AOC area in France. True or False

A

False. It’s the second largest after Bordeaux

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2
Q

Which AOC produces c. 50% of the Rhône valley production?

A

Côtes du Rhône

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3
Q

Who introduced vineyards to the Rhône?

A

Phocaeans

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4
Q

Who developed the northern Rhône vineyards?

A

Romans

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5
Q

In what century did the papal palace move to Avignon?

A

14th Century

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6
Q

What was coste du Rhône?

A

Famous church held wine producing area near Uzes

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7
Q

What was the predominant grape variety in the Rhône before Phylloxera?

A

Mourvèdre

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8
Q

What event changed the agricultural landscape in the Rhône valley away from fruit and olives towards vines?

A

The 1956 freeze

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9
Q

Wine is the Rhône valley’s number 1 business activity? True or False?

A

True

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10
Q

What are the 3 subdivisions of the Rhône?

A

Northern Rhône
Southern Rhône
Côtes du Rhône

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11
Q

What delineates the Northern Rhône?

A

Vienne to Valence

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12
Q

What delineates the Southern Rhône?

A

Montelimar to Nimes

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13
Q

What delineates Côtes du Rhône?

A

Vienne to Avignon

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14
Q

What is an eschalas?

A

A single stake supporting a vine (usually Syrah)

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15
Q

What % of production of the Rhone valley does the northern Rhône account for?

A

4%

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16
Q

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

A

Continental with some Mediterranean influence

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17
Q

True or false. The Northern Rhône valley is glacial.

A

True

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18
Q

What is the primary soil type of the Northern Rhône?

A

Granite with mica, schist and sand

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19
Q

Which white grape is considered higher quality - Marsanne or Rousanne?

A

Marsanne

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20
Q

Which northern Rhône grape is reductive?

A

Syrah

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21
Q

What is the primary training method for Syrah and Viognier in the Northern Rhône?

A

Guyot

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22
Q

What is the primary harvest method in the Northern Rhône?

A

Hand harvest

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23
Q

Which northern Rhône AC can make sparkling wine?

A

Saint-Peray

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24
Q

Which northern Rhône AC can make vin de paille?

A

Hermitage AC

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25
Q

How many ACs are there in the Northern Rhône?

A

8

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26
Q

How many Northern Rhône ACs make rosê?

A

None

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27
Q

What’s the maximum amount of Viognier allowed in a Côte Rôtie blend?

A

20%

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28
Q

Which northern Rhône ACs can be found on the left bank of the Rhône?

A

Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage

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29
Q

What are the two monopoles outside of Bourgogne?

A

Château-Grillet and Coulée de Serrant (in the Loire)

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30
Q

What is the maximum amount of white grapes allowed in red St-Joseph?

A

10%

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31
Q

What white grapes can be co-fermented with red Saint-Joseph?

A

Marsanne and Rousanne

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32
Q

Which Northern Rhône AC must be 100% Syrah?

A

Cornas

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33
Q

Which Northern Rhône AC is white only?

A

Saint-Peray AC

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34
Q

What is the maximum amount of white grapes that can be included in red Hermitage AC?

A

15%

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35
Q

Which Northern Rhône ACs are red only?

A

Côte Rôtie
Cornas

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36
Q

Which is the largest of the Northern Rhône crus?

A

Crozes-Hermitage AC

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37
Q

What is the maximum amount of white grapes that can be included in red Crozes-Hermitage AC?

A

15%

38
Q

Which area is counted as the northern Rhône but is outside the Côtes du Rhône production area?

A

Diois

39
Q

What is the climate of the Diois?

A

Continental with Alpine influences

40
Q

What river runs through the Diois vineyards

A

The Drôme

41
Q

What are the soils found in the Diois?

A

Limestone
Clay

42
Q

What AC accounts for 96% of the Diois production?

A

Clairette de Die AC

43
Q

How does Clairette de Die differ from Clairette de Die Method Diois Ancestrale?

A

Clairette de Die is a traditional method wine made from 100% Clairette
Clairette DD Ancestral is a sweet wine and a blend of muscat and Clairette - can be white or rosé

44
Q

What defines the Northern limit of the Southern Rhône?

A

Montelemar

45
Q

What is the climate of the southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean

46
Q

What are the 5 principal soil types of the Southern Rhône?

A

Galets
Garrigue
Sandstone
Clay
Loess/ Molasse (windblown silt)

47
Q

True or false. Most southern Rhône wines are blends?

A

True

48
Q

How many grape varieties can be used in Côtes du Rhône?

A

23

49
Q

What is the most widely planted grape in the Southern Rhône?

A

Grenache Noir

50
Q

What is the most widely planted white grape in the Southern Rhône?

A

Grenache Blanc

51
Q

What is the predominant training method in the Southern Rhône?

A

Goblet

52
Q

Which southern Rhône AC requires hand harvest?

A

Beaumes de Venise AC

53
Q

What measures are Southern Rhône growers using to reduce heat stress on the vineyards?

A

Shade panels
Misters

54
Q

True or False. Vintages are generally consistent in the southern Rhône?

A

True

55
Q

Which Southern Rhône AOCs are outside the Côtes du Rhône production zone?

A

Costieres de Nimes
Ventoux
Luberon

56
Q

How many Crus are there in the Southern Rhône?

A

9

57
Q

How many villages qualify as Côtes du Rhône Villages?

A

95

58
Q

How many villages qualify as a Côtes du Rhône Villages DGC?

A

22

59
Q

Which grape is mandatory in a red Côtes du Rhône blend vinified south of Montelemar?

A

Grenache, but the wine must be a blend of at least 2 varieties

60
Q

Which grape is mandatory in a red Côtes du Rhône blend vinified north of Montelemar?

A

Not specified, but needs to comprise 60% of the blend

61
Q

Côtes du Rhône Villages produces predominantly white wine. True or False?

A

False. It’s 95% red

62
Q

Côtes du Rhône Villages can be variétal wine. True or False?

A

False. It needs to be a blend of at least 2 principal varieties.

63
Q

What’s the predominant wine style found in the Southern Rhône crus?

A

Red (85%)

64
Q

Which Southern Rhóne Crus are classified as hilltop towns?

A

Vinsorbres
Rasteau
Cairanne

65
Q

Which hilltop town AC in the Southern Rhône can produce VDN?

A

Rasteau

66
Q

Which hilltop towns AC in the Southern Rhône are red only?

A

Vinsobres
Rasteau is also red only if VDN is discounted

67
Q

Which is the only hilltop town AC in the Southern Rhône that can produce dry white wine?

A

Cairanne AC

68
Q

Which are the three Southern Rhône Crus influenced by the Dentilles de Montmarails?

A

Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Beaumes de Venise

69
Q

Which Southern Rhône Cru influenced by the Dentilles de Montmarails can make white wine?

A

Vacqueyras

70
Q

Which Southern Rhône Cru influenced by the Dentilles de Montmarails cannot make rosé?

A

Beaumes de Venise

71
Q

What are the 3 Southern Rhône Crus found on the valley floor?

A

Châteauneuf du Pape
Lirac
Tavel

72
Q

Which Southern Rhône Crus found on the valley floor can only make rosé?

A

Tavel

73
Q

How many grapes are permitted in Châteauneuf du Pape production?

A

13 (18 counting colour variations)

74
Q

Châteauneuf du Pape cannot make rosé wine. True or false

A

True - only white and red

75
Q

Châteauneuf du Pape can be a single varietal wine?

A

True

76
Q

What grape variety must be present in Tavel AC wines?

A

Grenache

77
Q

What winemaking method must be used for Tavel AC

A

Rosé de maceration

78
Q

True or False. Muscat Beaumes de Venise can be made in an oxidative style?

A

False. It’s all reductive

79
Q

Muscat Beaumes de Venise can be red, white and rosé. True or false

A

True

80
Q

What’s the primary grape of red Rastau AC VDN

A

Grenache (especially noir) but also blanc and gris

81
Q

What styles is white Rasteau VDN made in?

A

Ambré (oxidative) and blanc (reductive)

82
Q

What styles is red Rasteau VDN made in?

A

grenat (reductive), tuilé (oxidative), hors d’age (at least 5 years ageing) and rancio

83
Q

What is the ageing requirement for Rasteau rosé VDN?

A

There is none.

84
Q

What are the two additional grapes found in the non-CDR ACs of southern Rhône?

A

Vermentino
Macabeu

85
Q

Which is the largest of the non-CDR ACs in the southern Rhône?

A

Ventoux

86
Q

What styles of wine can be made in Ventoux AC?

A

White, red, rosé

87
Q

What is the primary wine style made in Ventoux AC?

A

Rosé

88
Q

What is the climate of Luberon?

A

Mediterranean with strong continental influences

89
Q

What is the dominant grape in Costieres de Nimes AC?

A

Syrah

90
Q

Which southern Rhône Crus lie on the right bank of the Rhône?

A

Tavel
Lirac
Costieres de Nimes

91
Q

What does “Septenrtionaux” mean

A

Pertaining to the Northern Rhône