Rhone Valley

Question 1

What was the first French region affected by phylloxera?

Answer 1

Southern Rhone (1863)

Question 2

Which was the first AOP in France?

Answer 2

Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP (1936)

Question 3

How are the climates of the northern and southern Rhone different?

Answer 3

The Northern Rhone has a continental climate, while the Southern Rhone has a mediterranean climate

Question 4

What is the Northern Rhone soil mostly composed of?

Answer 4

Granite and schist

Question 5

What is the soil in Condrieu locally known as?

Answer 5

Arzelle (decomposed mica)

Question 6

What are the AOPs of the Northern Rhone from North to South?

Answer 6

Cote-Rotie (max. 20% viognier), Condrieu (100% viognier), Saint-Joseph (max. 10% marsanne/roussanne), Crozes-Hermitage (max. 15% marsanne/roussanne), Hermitage (max. 15% marsanne/roussanne), Cornas (100% syrah)

Question 7

Which Northern Rhone AOPs allow both red and white production?

Answer 7

Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage

Question 8

Largest producer of Cote-Rotie

Answer 8

E. Guigal

Question 9

What are the two hills that are considered the heart of Cote-Rotie?

Answer 9

Cote de Brune and the Cote de Blonde

Question 10

What are the three legendary Cote-Rotie wines from Guigal?

Answer 10

The La Las:
La Mouline (Cote de Blonde)
La Landonne (Cote de Blonde)
La Tourque (Cote de Brune)

Question 11

Who produces “La Chapelle” Hermitage?

Answer 11

Jaboulet

Question 12

What is the name of the hermit who lived in the chapel of Hermitage?

Answer 12

Gaspard de Stérimberg

Question 13

What is the name of the climat in Hermitage where its chapel is located?

Answer 13

L’Hermite

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Grenache

Question 15

What is the climate like in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 15

Mediterranean

Question 16

What are the main grapes of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 16

Grenache, mourvedre, syrah, cinsault, carignan

Question 17

What is the distinctive soil of Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 17

Galets (it stores heat during the day and releases it at night)

Question 18

What Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is known for using all of the 13 appellation’s allowed grapes?

Answer 18

Chateau de Beaucastel

Question 19

What producer releases its Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as 100% grenache?

Answer 19

Chateau Rayas

Question 20

What producers released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 20

Chateau La Nerthe

Question 21

What are the main grapes of Côtes du Rhône blanc?

Answer 21

Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier

Question 22

What styles of wine can be made in Côtes du Rhône AOP?

Answer 22

Red, white and rose

Question 23

What two Southern Rhone AOPs were elevated from Cote du Rhone Village AOP to their own appellation?

Answer 23

Gigondas (1971) and Vacqueyras (1990)

Question 24

What do Gigondas AOP and Vacqueyras AOP have in comon?

Answer 24

Both require a minimum of 50% grenache on their red wines.
Both allow red, white and rose.

Question 25

What is the Southern Rhone AOP dedicated only to rose production?

Answer 25

Tavel AOP (dry, grenache based)

Question 26

What is the only AOP in France that focuses on mouverdre?

Answer 26

Bandol AOP