Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the name of Alain Graillot’s top Crozes-Hermitage bottling that is only bottled in the best years? First vintage of this?
La Guiraude
1998
What is the unique soil type found in Condrieu called? What is it composed of?
Arzelles
Composed of powdery decomposed mica
What three La-La vineyard bottlings does Guigal produce? Which is 100% Syrah? The others contain a small percentage of Viognier. Which has the highest percentage?
Top 3 Guigal’s Côte-Rôtie wines
La Mouline: Syrah + 11% of Viognier in average
First vintage: 1966
La Landonne: 100% Syrah
Fist vintage: 1978
La Turque: Syrah + 5 to 7% Viognier in average
First vintage: 1985
La Reynarde: Newest wine, introduced in 2022
* Will be released from 2026 (40 mth of ageing)
Thierry Allemand produces his top wines from which two lieux-dits? In what years was one bottling produced combining the both?
Reynard and Chaillot
1990, 2002, and 2003
Q
What producer released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape? In what year?
Château La Nerthe (1785)
What is are the grapes for red wines and white wines respectively for Châtillon-en-Dioise AOP?
Red/Rose: Min 75% Gamay, plus Pinot Noir and Syrah
White: Chardonnay and Aligoté
What are Guigal’s Ermitage Blanc and Rouge bottlings called?
Ex-Voto
Name five producers of St-Joseph.
Name five producers of St-Joseph.
A
Pierre Gonon
J.L. Chave
Hervé Souhaut
Monier-Perreol
Chapoutier
Coltair Michal
Andre Perret
Raymond Trollat
Georges Vernay
Which white grape adds acidity and a waxy minerality to wines?
Roussanne
What is the name of the major soil type in Cornas and what is it composed of?
Gore (naked granite soil)
For how long must Crémant de Die AOP rest on its lees? How long total must it age prior to release?
9 Months on lees and 12 months total before release
When did Pope Clement V move the papal court to Avignon?
1309
Name 5 of the best climats in Hermitage.
La Chapelle
L’Hermite
Le Méal
Les Bessards
Les Gréffieux
Les Baumes
Chante Alouette - white
Maison Blance - white
Les Rocoules - white
Les Murets - white
L’Homme - whtie
Name white wine making climats of Hermitage
Chante Alouette - Marsanne - CHapoutier
Masion Blanche
Les Rocoules - Chave/Marc Sorrel/Jaboulet
L’Homme
Les Murets
Name the monopole climat of Chave
Le Peleat - pouding soil, clay and silex - white Chave and Syrah
Name only red wine making climat of Hermitage
q
La Chapelle - within L’Hermite
Les Greffieux
Les Beaumes
Plantiers
Walled climated owned by Chave
Les Vercandieres
Le Greal of Marc Sorrel comes from…
Le Meal climat
Which climat the Cuvee Cathelin is coming from?
Les Bessards (south of L’Hermite)
From which climate Cpaoutiers Le Pavillon comes from
Les Bessards (south of L’Hermite)
From which climat La Chapelle by Jaboulet comes from
Les Bessards (south of L’Hermite)
Communes of Hermitage
Crozes Hermitage
Tain l’Hermitage
Larnage
Vin de paille blanc in Rhone
In Hermitage
grapes must be drying for minimum of 45 days
max 15hl/ha
min 170g/l must weight
no max RS stated
Coteaux de Die AOP
100% Clairette blanc dry
Cremant de Die AOP
Only sparkling blanc
Min 55% Clairette
Min 10% Aligote
5-10% Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains
min 9 m lees, total 12 months
max 15 g RS
min 35. atm pressure
Chatillon en Diois AOP
White - Aligote, Chardonnay
Red and Rose - minimum 75% Gamay, plus Syrah and Pinot Noir
Clairette de Die
2 types
1. Methode Traditionelle - 100% Clairette, min 9 months on the lees, 3.5 bar
2. Methode Ancestral blanc/rose
Blanc - min 75% Musclat Blanc a Petit Grains plus Clairette
Rose - min 75% Musclat Blanc a Petit Grains plus Clairette, max 10% Gamay
4 m lees, 3 bar pressure
St Peray AOP
Marsanne, Roussane - BLANC only and SPARKLING
min 12 m after tirage, NO minimum lees aging stated!
Name the communes of Cote Rotie
Saint Cyr sur Rhone
Ampuis
Tupin Semons
Name some climates of Cote Rotie
Cote Blonde
Cote Brune
Baleyat in between them
Rozier
Bonnivieres
Leyat
Maison Blance
Le Burg
La Roche
Le Mont
Tupin, Semons
Name the communes of Condrieu
3 original - Verin, Condrieu, St Michel sur Rhone
Added in 1967 - Limoni, Chavanay, St. Pierre de Boeuf, Malleval
Chateau Grillet AOP
Neyret Gachet from 1827-2011
Artemis since 2011 - also ows, Latour, Clos de Tart, Eisele, D. D’Eugenie
3.8ha
100m elevation
Communes of Crozes Hermitage
Chanson Curson
Crozes Hermitage
Tain l’Ermitage
Erome
Gervans
Larnage
Soil of Crozes Hermitage
North - Granatic slopes
South - alluvial on glacial origin
Cornas soil
Cornas means “Burnt land” in celtic dialect
GORE - naked granit soil, provides rapid drainage, low fertility, deep strong root system
Oak for Cornas
Demi muids - 600l
Lieux dits of Cornas
Chaillot
Reynard
La Cote
Les Mazards
Theziers
Pigeonnier
Sauman
Cayret
Champelrose
Saint Peray
style/grapes
Marsanne (92%) and Roussanne (8%)
Still white/Methode Traditionall
1.5km from Cornas but much cooler - 17th century “uniqually sparkling”
St. Joseph
20x bigger than Cornas
Syrah plus
max 10% Marsanne, Roussanne
What is the dominating soil type present in Gigondas?
Red clay alluvial
Name three producers of Condrieu.
Pierre Gaillard
Yves Cuilleron
Domaine Faury
Andre Perret
Jean-Michel Gerin
Domaine Gangloff
What is the unique soil type found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape but not found at Château Rayas? What is the soil composed of? What does this soil type do for the vines at night?
Pudding stones called “galets”
Alluvial sediment, gravel, calcareous clay, and sand stores heat from the afternoon sunlight exposure and releases it to warm the vines at night
What is the Mistral and where does it come from? Which seasons does it impact the vineyards of the Northern Rhone the most? What benefit does it provide?
Cold, dry wind that blows down from the Massif Central and affects the Northern Rhone in the winter and spring. It dries the vineyards, preventing mold and mildew from taking hold
Q
Name two producers of Vin de Paille in Hermitage.
Jean Louis Chave
Chapoutier
What is René Rostaing’s top bottling called in the U.S. that was formerly called “Classique”? This wine is sourced form all of Rostaing’s lieux dits except which two?
Cuvée Ampodium
All but Côte Blonde and La Landonne
When was the inaugural vintage of Clape Renaissance? Where are the grapes sourced from for this wine? What are the average age of the vines used for this wine?
1998
Made from 20-25 year old vines from the domaine’s best slopes as well as older vines from the lower slopes
Rasteau creates VDN in various styles. Name them and describe their aging requirements and stylistic differences.
**VDN Blanc **- Grenache Blanc & Grenache Gris, max 10% other white CNDP grapes - fresher
VDN Rouge - Min. 50% Grenache
Complementary Varieties: Min. 20% combined Mourvèdre and Syrah
**VDN Ambré (Tawny Blanc) & VDN Rose **
Grenache, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc
Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% other white CNDP grapes
VDN Grenat and Tuilé (Rouge)
Min. 75% Grenache, plus Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris
Hors d’Age: Wines that have matured for at least 5 years prior to release
**Rancio: **Deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature
Ambre and Tuilé: Red VDN displaying more oxidative character and subject to three years of aging prior to release
Grenat and Blanc - fresher
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Châteauneuf reds that is the highest in France for dry AOP wines?
12.5%
What appellation in the Southern Rhône exists for both dry red wines as well as fortified VDN wines of all colors?
Rasteau AOP
only white wine AOP in Southern Rhone
Clairette de Bellegarde
Only Rose AOP in SR
Tavel AOP
Grenache Noir must be used, plus 30-60% combained Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc
up to 60% Boubolenc, Clairette, Clairette Rose, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Piquepul Blanc/Gris/Noir, Syrah
Soil of Tavel
Lauses - white calcareous stone, poor soil so its great
Communes of Rasteau AOP
Cairanne
Rasteau
Sablet
Rasteau AOP RS, must weithg, yield, potential alcohol
min 21.5% pot. abv
min 45g RS
min 252 g/l must weight
max 30 hl/ha
Rivers of NR
Rhone
Isere - south of Crozes Hermitage
Drome - through Clairette de Die, Chatillon en Dois etc
Who produces La Bonnette
Condrieu by Rostaing
Who makes Dorianne
Condrieu
Guigal
Name a sweet condrieu wine
Ayguets from Currelon
Name the cuvees of Vernay
Coteau de Vernon
‘Les Chaillées d’Enfer’
Le Pied de Samson
Chave top cuvee
Cuvee Cathelin
1990 first vintage
It is named after a close family friend, artist Bernard Cathelin, and is produced mostly from Syrah from the Les Bessards lieu-dit with an extended period of maturation in new French oak. Only made in selected vintages production is strictly limited to around 200 cases
Syrah chemical compound
Routondon
Barrel used in Rhone
demi muids - 600l
Where Gentaz Dervieux is located?
Cote Rotie
Was legendary, old vine Syrah from Cote de Brune no longer produced, winemaker died in 2011
Beaucastel top cuvee
Hommage a Jacques Perrin
1989 1st vintage
tribute to the late Jacques Perrin, who passed away in 1978. Aged in large oak foudre and normally
60% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, 10% Counoise and the rest Syrah, it’s only produced in top vintages with only 350 cases produced.
Syrah crossing
Dureza x Mondeuse Blanche
What is La Rape
discarding min 2% of harvested grapes, safeguard against underripeness
Hermitage blanc abv
min 11%
Mica
Decomposed granit base mixed with limestone
Arzelle
La Barbarine
Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff
Since the 1997 vintage, Domaine Yves et Mathilde Gangloff has produced La Barbarine from its Côte Rôtie vineyards. The cuvée, a blend of Syrah with a small portion of Viognier, is produced with fruit primarily from young vines.
Cotes du Rhone AOP
White/Red/Rose
White - min 80% combined Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourbulenc, Granche Blanc, Clairette, Vigonier
Red - min 30% Grenache ith min 20% Syrah and Mourvedre
70% of GSM south of Montelimar
North Rhone can be 100% Syrah even - must contain at least Syrah or Mourvedre.
Rose - as for red, plus can have max 20% white grapes too
What is the Southern Rhône’s northernmost appellation? What was it formerly called?
Grignan-les-Adhémar AOP
Formerly Côtes du Tricastin
All 3 color
min 70% Grenache and Syrah
min 30% Viognier, GB, Roussan - unusual!!
Chateauneuf-du-Pape became the first AOC in France in what year?
1936
What is the dominating soil type that is found mostly throughout the Southern Rhone?
Alluvial soils of over limestone with sand, gravel, and clay and large stones
What three communes can produce VDN wine under the Rasteau AOP? Which isn’t allowed to bottle dry red wines under the Rasteau AOP appellation?
Rasteau, Cairanne, and Sablet can produce VDN under Rasteau AOP
Only Rasteau commune can produce still reds under Rasteau AOP
What is the name of the French war hero who lived on the hill of Hermitage that ultimately gave the hill its name?
Gaspard de Stérimberg
What is the name of Gonon’s white wine bottling? What are the grape percentages?
Les Oliviers
80% Marsanne & 20% Roussanne
Châteauneuf-du-Pape allows the use of up to 13 grapes, or 18 depending on who you ask. What are they? (8) Red
Red:
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Cinsault
Counoise
Terret Noir
Vaccarèse (Brun Argent)
Muscardin
White:
Piquepoul
Clairette
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
Picardin
Clairette Rose (Trebbiano)
Which Côte Rôtie producer makes “Blonde de Seigneur”?
Domaine Georges Vernay
What are the 2 appellations of Vin Doux Naturel within the Rhône Valley?
```** Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel AOP** Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel AOP
* Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
* Be careful: Beaumes de Venise AOP is able to produce only dry red wine
What is happening in 2023 for Gigondas AOP?
White - allowed!
70% Clairette Blanche
Bourboulenc
Clairette rosé
Grenache Blanc / Gris
Piquepoul
Roussane
Red - min 50% Grenache min 15%Syrah&Mourvedre
Name the Mountain around Gigondas
Dentelle Mountain
What appellation where upgraded from Côte du Rhône Villages to communal appellation?
Vacqueras: 1990
Beaumes de Venise: 2005 (red only)
Vinsobres: 2006 (red only)
Rasteau: 2010 for red wine / VDN since 1944
Cairanne: 2015
Laudun: 2023
What is the newest AOP Cru of the Rhône Valley?
Laudun
Varieties:
* White: Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche mainly
* Red: Grenache & Syrah + Mourvèdre, Carignan & Cinsaul
What are the grape varieties of:
Vinsobres AOP
RED only
50% Grenache minimum
+ minimum 25% combined :
Syrah
Mourvèdre
Vinsobres has higher altitude
What 2 communes makes the birthplace of:
Saint Joseph AOP
Mauves
Tournon Sur Rhone
southern part of the AOP, near Valence
Name some well known producers of:
Rasteau AOP
Ortas
Domaine de l’Espigouette
Domaine Richaud
Domaine la Soumade
What is the first vintage of:
Clos des Papes
Name the owner and winemaker?
1896
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The current owner Paul Avril is the 5th generation to lead the estate.
The estate itself was part of the creation of the AOC.
Name the producer of the following:
Renaissance Cornas AOP
Vins des Amis
August Clape
Prestige cuvée
Oldest vines of the estate
First vintage: 1955
Entry level wine, easy drinking Syrah
From the young vines
Explain briefly the following:
Clairette de Bellegarde AOP
Appellation of the southern Rhône Valley
Located near Nîmes
Style of wine: Dry still and sparkling wine
Variety: 100% Clairette
What is the common point of the following AOPs for red wine:
Hermitage
Crozes Hermitage
St Joseph
All 3 AOPs are based on Syrah, allowing an amount of white varieties (Roussanne, Marsanne) in the blend.
Hermitage: up to 15%
St Joseph: up to 10%
Crozes Hermitage : up to 10%
What style of wine is produced in:
Ventoux AOP
White/Red/Rose
GSM, Cinsault, Carignan
Bourbulenc, Clairette, GB, Roussanne
Name the producer and the appellation of the following wine:
Seigneur de Mongiron
Delas Frère
Côte Rôtie AOP
100% Syrah
Blended cuvee from the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde
Brézème
Name 2 producers
Unofficial sub-region of Côte du Rhône AOP**
Located on the Northern Rhone Valley, on the south of Valence, on the left bank
Superficie: 50 Ha
Comune of production: Livron sur Rhone
Varieties: Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier
Producers: Eric Texier, Domaine de Bréseyme, Famille Perrin
Vacquerays AOP
All 3 colors
**Red, Rose **
50% Grenache
20% combined Syrah, Mourvèdre
**White **
Following must be blended, with no more than 80% maximum by varieties
* Clairette
* Grenache
* Bourboulenc
* Roussane
* Marsanne
“valley of rocks”
Name the producer of the following:
Condrieu Vernillon
Domaine Jamet
Name the producer and first vintage of:
Roussanne Vieilles Vignes
Château de Beaucastel
White Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Sourced from the oldest Roussane plot on the Rhône Valley: 80 years old,
Explain the following term:
Co-fermentation
Where in France is it a common practice?
Fermentation of different varieties in the same time in the same tank.
Grapes can be either white or red
Flavours, phenolic component are more integretated rather than a classic blend at the end of the ageing.
In a often used in Côte-Rôtie to blend syrah and Viognier together
What villages of the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP produce only red wine?
- Gadagne
- Massif d’Uchaux
- Nyons
- Plan de Dieu
- Puyméras
- Saint Andéol
- Sainte-Cecile-Les-Vignes
- Signargues
- Suze-La-Rousse
- Vaison la Romaine
What is the sole Côte du Rôhne Village to be produced in Ardèche département?
updated in 2023
Saint Andéol
The Jura is the most well known region for the production of Vin de Paille.
However, there is 2 other AOPs in France allow to produce some.
What are they?
Hermitage AOP
Corrèze AOP
Appelation created in 2017
Where is the following producer based:
Henri Bonneau
Name some of his wines
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP
* Les Rouliers
* Marie Beurrier
* Réserve des Célestins
What are the varieties blended requirement of:
Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
RED only
80% Grenache and/or Syrah combined
Terret Noir, Piquepoul Noir, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Muscardin Max 10% white GV
restanque “river rocks”
steep hillside, settled by the greek
Explain the following term:
Bonbonne
Where is it commonly used?
For style of wine?
This is a small glass container, of a capacity of 20L
It is mostly used for the ageing in liquor wines after fortification in oxydatif style. The bonbonne is kept on the rooftop, in direct sunshine, to increase the oxidation of the wine
Largely used in Banuyls and Rasteau
Name the prestige Cuvée of:
Domaine Jamet
La Landonne
Côte Rôtie
100% Syrah
100% Vendanges entières
Parcel size: 0,26 Ha
24 month of ageing in barrique
Only produced on the best vintages
Explain Costières de Nimes AOP
What happen to them in 2004?
Southern most AOP of the Rhône Valley
All 3 color
min 60% GSM
Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne,
Used to be part of Languedoc
Duche d’Uzes AOP
All 3 colors
min 40% Syrah
min 40% Vigonier
UNUSUAL!!
What climate differences can we notice between the Northern and the Southern Rhône Valley?
North:
Semi-Continental climate
Cold winter, moderately warm summer
Some Mediterranean comes up
South:
Mediterranean climate
Warm and dry summers, mitigate winters
This is more important closer the the sea.
Strong Mistral wind cool down the climate
What are the soil differences between:
Côte-Rôtie’s
Cote Blonde
Cote Brune
Both sub-areas are the same granite and Gneiss base soil.
Blonde: higher limestone content
Use to be more elegant wines
Brune: high iron rich clay on top soil
In general firmer structure, with higher austerity
What are the main soils of the Southern Rhône Valley
Mostly Alluvial soil
Pebble (galet roulet like)
Sandy
clay
Some limestone closer to the mountains ranges
Explain briefly:
Muscat-de-Beaume-de-Venise AOP
VDN from the Southern Rhône Valley
White, Red, Rose wine
Variety: Muscat blanc a Petits Grains (or Muscat Rouge a Petits Grains)
Sugar minimum: 100g/L
Min must weight - 252g/l
Alongside the Dentelle de Montmiraille mountain
Villages: Beaume-de-Venise, Aubignan
Name some producers of:
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOP
Domaine Durban
But 90% is the Cave cooperative des Vigneron de Beaumes de Venise
Who’s behind the following wine
Chateau Fonsalette
Emmanuel Reynaud
* Owner of Chateau Rayas*
* Cotes du Rhone
Vinified at Rayas
White - 80% Grenache plus Clairette, Marsanne
Red - 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 35% Cinsault
Founded in 1945
Name the producer of the following:
Ex-Voto
E. Guigal
* Hermitage AOP*
First vintage: 2001
Not produced in: 2002, 2004 and 2008
What Côte du Rhône Villages can produce red and rosé wine?
Chusclan - the only one!
What Côte du Rhône Villages can produce white and red?
Rochegude
Valreas
What villages of the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP produce all 3 colors
Laudun - newest
Roaix
Rousset les Vignes
Sablet
Saint Gervais
Saint Maurice
Saint Pantaleon les Vignes
Segunet
Visan
What in the minimum ageing for:
Sparkling wine in St Péray AOP
12 months of maturation minimum after tirage.
* The AOP doesn’t regulate the time on the lees*
Name the producer of the following wine:
Château des Tours
- Vacqueyras red - 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
- Cote du Rhone red - 65% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 20% Syrah
- Cote du Rhone white - 100% Grenache
- AKA Chateau Rayas*
Emmanuel Reynaud
Domaine de Tours
Vinified at Chateau de Tours
- Vin de Pays de Vacluse red - Grenache, Counoise, Syrah, Cinsault, Merlot
- Vin de Pays du Valause white - 100% Clairette
What is Parisy
Vin de table rose made from Greanchce and Cinsault
vinified at Chateau de Tours
Communes of Muscat de Beaumes de Venice
Beaume-de-Venise
Aubignan
Who’s the producer of the following 2 wines:
Da Capo
A Tempo
Domaine Pegau
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP
A tempo: 1/3 each: Grenache, Clairette, Roussane
Da Capo: 70% Grenache + 20% cinsault
2 years of ageing in large oak
From La Crau
most traditional wine-making style of Provence and Rhone
Explain the following:
Échalas
Wooden pick used to trellis vines in steep slopes’s vineyard.
Largely used in the Northern Rhône appelation:
Hermitage, St Joseph, Cornas, Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie
What styles of wine are produced in Côtes du Vivarais AOP
Where is it located?
All 3 color
For red min 40% syrah which is unusual
Which 2 AOPs of Southern Rhone producing white and red only
CNDP AOP
Cairanne AOP
Cairanne AOP
White and Red only
* Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Rousanne
* min 50% Grenache
Vielles Vignes term can be use in Cairanne AOP from what aged?
All vines must be at least 30 years old to be labelled Vielles Vignes
Syrah and Viognier are exceptions: Allow from 20 years old vines
Which SR AOPs require Vigonier in the blend
Grignan les Adhemar AOP min 30%
Duche d’Uzes AOP min 40%
Which SR AOP reguires Syrah as a minimum?
Cotes du Vivarains -min 40%
Duche d’Uzes AOP - min 40%
Communes of CNDP
Orange
CNDP
Courthezon
Bedarrides
Sorgues
On what AOP you can find the lieu dits Coudoulet and Chapouin?
Châteaneuf-du-Pape AOP
Sector of production of Château de Beaucastel
Name the level villages AOP of the Southern Rhône Valley
Beaumes de Venise
Cairanne (2016)
Châteauneuf du Pape
Clairette de Bellegarde
Costières de Nimes
Duche d’Uzes
Gigondas
Grignan les Adhemars (2012)
Lirac
Muscat de Beaume de Venise
Tavel
Vacqueras
Vinsobres
In what appelation of the Rhône Valley is UGNI Blanc allowed?
Cairanne
Cotes du Rhone villages
White
Blanc: Min. 50% principal varieties - Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc
Red& Rose
Rosé/Rouge: Min. 66% combined Grenache and another principal variety.
Min. 40% Grenache, Min. 25% combined Mourvèdre and Syrah, all three must account for 80%
Departments of Rhone
Drome
GArd
Ardeche
Vacluse
100% Syrah
St. Paul ‘Insolite’
100% Syrah in CNDP
Domaine de Maravilhas ‘Espirito’
100% Mourvedre
Henri Perges ‘Chante Perdix’
Rayas
Raynaud family since 1880 - Albert bought the estate when he became deaf and could no longer do his job so made a carrier change
10ha
ver poor sandy soil, no galets
north facing vineyard
old barrel age - double piece 450l
Greanche for red
Grenache bland, Clairette for white
15hl/ha
2nd label - Pignan also 100% Grenache rouge
