Rhone Valley Flashcards
Where is the source and mouth of the Rhone River?
The source is in the Swiss mountains, and the mouth is in the French Mediterranean
When did the southern Rhone become the centre of Christian Europe?
1309
Until what year was Chateauneuf du Pape property of the papacy?
1791
When did Hermitage become famous?
18th and 19th centuries
Which appellation in the Rhone Valley became the first AOC in France?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Warm continental
What is the Mistral Wind?
The wind blows down from the Massif Central. The wind can sometimes strip vineyards because it’s so strong. Treelines are used the protect the vines and due to the wind the vineyards are protected from mold and mildew
What are the dominant soils of the Northern Rhone?
Soils are mostly heat-retaining granitic and schistous soils
The steep vineyards of the appellations come from outcrops of bedrock
What are the topsoils of the Northern Rhone?
Fine sand and loess
What are the topsoils of Condrieu?
Arzelle
This is a rich, powdery, decomposed mica
What is the dominant grape of the Northern Rhone?
Syrah
What is the northernmost appellation of the northern Rhone?
Cote-Rotie
What are the wines of Côte-Rotie?
Red wines only produced from Syrah, with up yo 20% Viognier permitted in the wines
What is special about the slopes of Côte-Rotie?
They are some of the steepest in France, with the gradient reaching over 55 degrees
Who is the largest and most famous producer of Côte-Rotie?
E.Guigal
What are the 2 heartland slopes of Côte-Rotie?
Cote Brune and Cote Blonde
What is considered to be the top cru bottling in Côte-Rotie?
La Landone
What is the only permitted grape of Condrieu?
Viognier
What is the style of Condrieu?
The wines tend towards a rich texture with honeyed lushness and intense floral aromas
Styles vary from producer to producer
What wines are produced from Saint Jospeh?
Still red and white wines
Where is Saint Joseph?
Between Condrieu in the North and Saint-Peray in the south
What is the original commune of Saint Joseph?
Tournon-sur-Rhone
Where is Crozes-Hermitage?
Behind the Hermitage hill to the north
What wines are produced from Crozes-Hermitage?
Still red and white wines
What wines can be produced from Hermitage?
Still red and white wines
Who are the 4 major producers of Hermitage?
Jean-Louis Chave
Delas
M. Chapoutier
Jaboulet
What method are the dessert wines of Hermitage produced from?
Vin de paille
What is the only permitted grape of Cornas?
Syrah