Rhone Valley Flashcards

1
Q

Which two towns bookend the northern Rhone?

A
  1. Vienne (north)
  2. Valence (south)
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2
Q

What is the climate of the northern Rhone?

A

Continental

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3
Q

Where does the Rhone River originate?

A

Switzerland

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4
Q

What benefits does the Rhone River provide the vineyards?

A

moderates the climate

provides air circulation

reflects sunlight

warms the slopes

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5
Q

What is the Mistral?

A

Strong winds that originate in Switzerland and follow the Rhone River into France.

It warms and dries out the nothern Rhone, inhibiting disease, mildew and mold.

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6
Q

Are the vineyards of the northern Rhone situated on the valley floor or on steep, terraced hillsides overlooking the river?

A

Steep, terraced hillsides overlooking the river

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7
Q

What are the soils of the northern Rhone?

A

Granite
Schist

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8
Q

What are the white grapes of the northern Rhone?

A

Viognier

Marsanne

Roussanne

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9
Q

What is the only red grape allowed in the northern Rhone?

A

Syrah

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10
Q

Why are vines in the northern Rhone so often staked to the ground?

A

The Mistral is strong its been known to knock over vines.

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11
Q

Are the wines of the northern Rhone more often bottled as blends or single varietals?

A

Most often single varietals, especially Syrah and Viognier.

Sometimes you’ll see Marsanne and Roussanne blended together.

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12
Q

Most wines from the northern Rhone are fermented and aged in ______.

However, there are some winemakers who do primary fermentation in _____ and then age their wines in ______.

A

Oak, especially large foudres.

Stainless steel, then oak (new and/or used)

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13
Q

What is cofermentation and why is it done?

A

When two or more grape varietals undergo fermentation together, rather than separately.

It is done to boost aromatics, complexity and softening tannins.

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14
Q

What are the 6 AOPs of the northern Rhone from north to south?

A
  1. Cote-Rotie (red only)
  2. Condrieu (white only)
  3. Saint-Joseph
  4. Crozes-Hermitage
  5. Hermitage
  6. Corona (red only)
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15
Q

What are the 2 red-wine only AOPs in the northern Rhone?

A
  1. Cote-Rotie AOP
  2. Cornas AOP
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16
Q

What color wines can Cote-Rotie be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

Red only

Syrah with max 20% Viognier

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17
Q

What color can wines from Condrieu be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

White only

100% Viognier

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18
Q

What color can wines from Saint-Joseph be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

red and white

reds: Syrah w/max 10% Roussanne and Marsanne

whites: Roussanne and Marsanne

19
Q

What color can wines from Crozes-Hermitage be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

red and white

red: Syrah w/max 15% Roussane and Marsanne

White: Roussanne and Marsanne

20
Q

What color can wines from Hermitage be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

red and white

red: Syrah w/max 15% Roussane and Marsanne

white: Roussanne and Marsanne

21
Q

What color can wines from Cornas be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

red only

100% syrah

22
Q

How big is the distance between the northern Rhone and the southern Rhone?

23
Q

What is the climate of the southern Rhone?

A

Mediterranean

24
Q

How does the Mistral affect the southern Rhone?

A

Cools down the southern Rhone

25
Q

How do the diurnal shifts in the southern Rhone affect the wines?

A

Helps them remain fresh and lively

26
Q

How else are the warmer temps of the southern Rhone moderated?

A

The Rhone River helps moderate and cool down the area

27
Q

Is the southern Rhone steep, terraced and hilly like the northern Rhone or is it flatter and more broad?

A

Flatter and more broad with lots of scrubland (on the valley floor)

28
Q

What are the soils of the southern Rhone?

A

Alluvial Clay

Large River rocks (aka galets or pudding stones)

29
Q

What are the 3 main white grapes of the southern Rhone?

A

Grenache Blanc

Roussanne

Clairette

30
Q

What are the 3 main red grapes of the southern Rhone?

A

Grenache

Syrah

Mourvedre

31
Q

Does the southern Rhone make more red wine or more white wine?

A

Red wine

90% of total wine production in southern Rhone

32
Q

How are the vines typically trained in the southern Rhone?

A

Bush trained (gobelet)

33
Q

Are the wines of the southern Rhone more often bottled as blends or single vineyards?

A

Blends

(very few single varietals bottled here)

34
Q

For aging their wines, most winemakers in the southern Rhone use ____ ______ rather than ______.

A

Use large oak rather than barrique

35
Q

Are the wines of southern Rhone allowed to be chaptalized?

A

No because the grapes have no trouble getting ripe.

36
Q

Name 4 single village AOPs of the southern Rhone.

A
  1. Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP
  2. Gigondas AOP (red only)
  3. Vacqueyras AOP
  4. Tavel AOP (dry rose only)
37
Q

What color can wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

red and white

Red: Grenache based blends

White: Blends of Grenache, Clairette….

38
Q

How many grapes are allowed in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

A

18

13 individual
5 of different color mutations

39
Q

What color can wines from Gigondas be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

Red
Grenache based blends

40
Q

What color can wines from Vacqueyras be are the permissible grapes?

A

red, white, rose

red and rose: Grenache based blends

white: blends of Grenache Blanc, Clairette…

41
Q

What color can wines from Tavel be and what are the permissible grapes?

A

Rose

Grenache based blends

Always dry, richer, deeper color (than Provence)

42
Q

What sort of foods would you pair with Condrieu?

A

Cheese
Shellfish (lobster with cream sauce)

43
Q

What foods would you pair with fat, rich, Rhone whites based on Marsanne and Roussanne?

A

Pork loin

Roast chicken

44
Q

What foods would you pair with Rhone reds?

A

Syrah: meat (rabbit, sausage/pork, steak)

Grenache: Cassoulet, sausage, burgers