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Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) > Rhône Valley > Flashcards

Rhône Valley Flashcards

1
Q

Name 4 iconic producers of Cornas.

A
  1. Thierry Allemand
  2. Auguste Clape
  3. Noel Verset
  4. Franck Balthazar
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2
Q

Name 4 iconic producers of Hermitage.

A
  1. Jean-Louis Chave
  2. Bernard Faurie
  3. Jaboulet
  4. Chapoutier
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3
Q

Name 4 iconic producers of Côte-Rôtie.

A
  1. Bernard Levet
  2. Gentaz-Dervieux
  3. Domaine Jamet
  4. Guigal
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4
Q

The Rhône Valley is nestled within these two larger regions.

A
  • Burgundy
  • Provence
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5
Q

The Rhône Valley is situated between these two cities.

A
  • Lyon to the north
  • Avignon to the south
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6
Q

What city is the unofficial dividing line between the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône?

A

Montélimar

There is a 30-mile gap between the Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône sections.

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7
Q

What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?

A

Mediterranean

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7
Q

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

A

Moderate Continental

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8
Q

In what country does the Rhône River originate?

A

Switzerland

The Rhône River flows south through France to the Mediterranean Sea.

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9
Q

Fill in the blanks.

As far as topography in the Rhône Valley, the Northern Rhône is known for its ___ ___ while the Southern Rhône is known for its ___ ___.

A
  • Northern Rhône: steep hillsides
  • Southern Rhône: flatter terrain
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10
Q

Many of the Northern Rhône AOPs hug the Rhône River.

What effects does this have on those vineyards?

A
  • River reflects light, which helps the grapes ripen and warm the soils.
  • River helps reduce disease pressure as it creates gentle breezes.
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11
Q

Select the correct answer.

Because of the steep hillsides in the Northern Rhône, the effects of the Mistral are:

a. Reduced
b. Concentrated

A

b. Concentrated

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12
Q

Fill in the blank.

In the Southern Rhône, with its flatter terrain and gentle rolling hills, the effect the Rhône River has on this is a _____ effect.

A

cooling

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13
Q

What are the 2 main soil types in the Northern Rhône?

A
  1. Decomposed granite
  2. Schist
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14
Q

What are the 3 main soil types in the Southern Rhône?

A
  1. Galets
  2. Alluvial
  3. Limestone
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15
Q

Fill in the blank.

Because of the Northern Rhône’s steep hillsides, vineyards have to be _______.

A

terraced

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16
Q

Fill in the blank.

Northern Rhône’s terraced slopes are vulnerable to the Mistral, so in order for the vines not to be blown over or uprooted, the vines have to be ______.

A

staked

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17
Q

What is the traditional vine training in the Southern Rhône?

A

Bush

Bush training conserves water and provides shade from the sun.

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18
Q

Fill in the blanks.

Modern plantings in the Southern Rhône are often _______ and often dictated by _______.

A
  • trellised
  • economics
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19
Q

Select the correct answer.

Traditionally, the Northern Rhône winemaking practice is to:

a. co-ferment
b. blend after fermentation

A

a. co-ferment

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20
Q

Select the correct answer.

Traditionally, the Southern Rhône winemaking practice is to:

a. co-ferment
b. blend after fermentation

A

b. blend after fermentation

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21
Q

What are 2 effects/advantages of co-fermenting the red wines of the Northern Rhône?

A
  1. Stabilizing red wine color
  2. Moderating tannin extraction
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22
Q

Fill in the blank

The only red grape allowed to be planted in the Northern Rhône is ______.

A

Syrah

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23
Q

Fill in the blank.

The main and most important red grape of the Southern Rhône is ______.

A

Grenache

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24
Q

What 3 qualities does Grenache bring to the blends of the Southern Rhône?

A
  1. Rich body
  2. Sweet fruit
  3. Warmth
25
Q

Name a producer in the Southern Rhône that often releases its Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as a 100% varietal Grenache.

A

Château Rayas

26
Q

What is a weakness of Grenache (rouge or blanc)?

A

It oxidizes easily.

27
Q

What are the 3 white grapes allowed in the Northern Rhône?

A
  1. Viognier
  2. Marsanne
  3. Roussanne
28
Q

What are the 4 main white grapes of the Southern Rhône?

A
  1. Grenache Blanc
  2. Bourboulenc
  3. Clairette Blanche
  4. Picpoul
29
Q

Besides Grenache, name 2 other important red grape varieties in the Southern Rhône.

A
  1. Mourvèdre
  2. Cinsault
30
Q

From north to south, list the 7 main appellations of the Northern Rhône.

A
  1. Côte Rôtie AOP
  2. Condrieu AOP
  3. Château Grillet AOP
  4. St.-Joseph AOP
  5. Crozes-Hermitage AOP
  6. Hermitage AOP
  7. Cornas AOP
31
Q

What is Château Grillet?

A

A monopole within Condrieu; it is always 100% Viognier.

It is owned by French billionaire François Pinault.

32
Q

What are the grape varieties permitted in Côte-Rôtie?

A
  • Syrah plus a max. 20% Viognier
  • Côte-Rôtie is always red
33
Q

What grape varieties are permitted in Condrieu?

A

Must be 100% Viognier (Condrieu will always be a white wine).

34
Q

St.-Joseph:

  • What colors of wine are permitted?
  • What grape varieties are permitted?
A
  • St.-Joseph can be white or red.
  • The white wines are made with Marsanne and Roussanne.
  • The red wines are min. 90% Syrah, plus Marsanne and Roussanne.

Reds can be 100% Syrah; the blending is not mandatory

35
Q

Crozes-Hermitage:

  • What colors of wine are permitted?
  • What grape varieties are permitted?
A
  • Crozes-Hermitage can be white or red.
  • The white wines are made with Marsanne and/or Roussanne.
  • The red wines are Syrah plus a max. 15% combined Marsanne and Roussanne.

Reds can be 100% Syrah; the blending is not mandatory

36
Q

Hermitage:

  • What colors of wine are permitted?
  • What grape varieties are permitted?
A
  • Hermitage can be white or red.
  • The white wines can be Marsanne and/or Roussanne.
  • The red wines are Syrah plus a max. 15% combined Marsanne and Roussanne.

Reds can be 100% Syrah; the blending is not mandatory

Fun Fact: Vin de Paille can be made in Hermitage, though it is rare.

37
Q

Cornas:

  • What colors of wine are permitted?
  • What are the grape varieties are permitted?
A
  • The wines of Cornas are always and only red.
  • The only grape allowed is Syrah.
38
Q

In the Southern Rhône, there are three classification tiers. What are they?

A
  1. Côtes du Rhône AOC
  2. Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC
  3. The Crus (17)
39
Q

Give 5 examples of Crus in the Southern Rhône.

A
  1. Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
  2. Tavel AOP
  3. Gigondas AOP
  4. Vacqueyras AOP
  5. Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
40
Q
  • How many geographical village names are permitted to append their name to Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOP?
  • Name four.
A
  • 21
  • Village Names:
    1. Plan de Dieu
    2. Sablet
    3. Séguret
    4. Visan
41
Q

Select the correct answer.

Where are the vineyards found that produce grapes that go into Côtes-du-Rhône AOP?

a. flat terrain
b. steep slopes
c. Côte-Rôtie

A

a. flat terrain

42
Q

Select the correct answer.

Where are the vineyards found that produce grapes that go into Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOP?

a. flat terrain
b. on gentle slopes higher than the vineyards designated for Côtes du Rhône
c. Condrieu

A

b. On gentle slopes higher than the vineyards designated for Côtes du Rhône.

43
Q

Select the correct answer.

Where are the vineyards planted that produce grapes to go into the Crus of the Southern Rhône?

a. flat terrain
b. only next to the Rhône River
c. higher elevation vineyards that provide good exposition and excellent drainage

A

c. Higher elevation vineyards that provide good exposition and excellent drainage.

44
Q

What is the minimum ABV% permitted for Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP?

A

12.5% ABV

45
Q

What is the minimum Grenache requirement for Gigondas AOP?

A

Minimum 50% Grenache

46
Q

What is the minimum Grenache requirement for Vacqueyras AOP?

A

Minimum 50% Grenache

47
Q

What is the minimum Grenache requirement for Lirac AOP?

A

Minimum 40% Grenache

48
Q

What is the minimum Grenache requirement for Vinsobres AOP?

A

Minimum 50% Grenache

49
Q

What is the minimum Grenache requirement for Cairanne AOP?

A

Minimum 50% Grenache

50
Q

What are the 2 appellations in the Southern Rhône designated for Vin Doux Naturel?

A
  1. Rasteau AOP
  2. Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
51
Q

The Vins Doux Naturels of Rasteau AOP and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP can be what colors?

A

White, rosé, and red

Fun Fact: they are based on the three colors of Grenache: Blanc, Gris, and Noir.

52
Q

Fill in the blanks.

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise wines are typically _____ and _____, whereas the Rasteau wines show more _____ flavors.

A
  • Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise: fresher and more aromatic
  • Rasteau shows more tawny flavors
53
Q

Select the correct answer.

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP wines are typically:

a. heavily fortified and heavily oaked
b. heavilty fortified and lightly oaked
c. lightly fortified and unoaked

A

c. lightly fortified and unoaked

54
Q

Name 5 Rhône producers you need to know for the exam.

A
  1. Chave
  2. Chapoutier
  3. Guigal
  4. Beaucastel
  5. Rayas
55
Q

What does Châteauneuf-du-Pape translate to in English?

A

“New house of the Pope”

56
Q

How did Châteauneuf-du-Pape get its name?

A

From the Avignon Papacy, which was from 1309-1376, when the seat of the Pope moved from Rome to Avignon.

This is why there is the papal crest and keys on every bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Read about it here.

57
Q

In what glass would you pour Grenache or a Grenache-based wine?

A

Bowl-shaped glass, much like a Burgundy glass.

58
Q

In what glass would you pour Syrah or a Syrah-based wine?

A

A Bordeaux or Bordeaux-shaped glass.

59
Q

Name 3 ingredients that pair well with Rhône wines.

A
  1. Herbs
  2. Bacon
  3. Peppercorn

Rhône reds love to be paired with meaty dishes!

60
Q

If you have a guest who asks for a Chardonnay alternative, what white from the Rhône could you suggest?

A
  • Condrieu, particularly if the guest is a California Chardonnay drinker for the rich use of oak and ripe peach flavors.
  • Marsanne and/or Roussane if the guest drinks more Mâcon for the gentler use of oak, texture and weight.

Certified Sommelier Exam (CMS 2) (49 decks)

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