Rhone Valley

Question 1

Minimum alcohol content of CNDP?

Answer 1

12.5% although rarely under 14.5% now

Question 2

Vins doux naturels of southern Rhône?

Answer 2

Beaumes-de-Venise (muscat)

Rasteau (sweet reds - 2009)

Question 3

Co-fermentation is allowed in what N. Rhône AOC?

Answer 3

Côte Rôtie

Question 4

Hermitage climats

Answer 4

Generally lighter, fresher and aromatic from higher up (Beaume and L’Hermite)

Most production from blends of climats, but some are doing micro climats

Question 5

Vin de Paille

Answer 5

Sweet wine made (very rarely) in Hermitage

Grapes are shriveled on straw mats on very ripe years

Question 6

Château Grillet AOC

Answer 6

Viognier

8.5 acres, appellation since 1936

Owned by Pinault family (from Latour)

Unlike condrieu - needs bottle aging and decanting

Question 7

Côte-Rotie AOC

Answer 7

Syrah dominant - up to 20% viognier allowed to coferment

Two main slopes:
1) Côte Brune (more structured + power)
2) Côte Blonde (more elegant + racy)

Use Cheys (walled stone terraces to keep soil from running off)

Question 8

Hermitage AOC

Answer 8

136 Hectares, mostly granite soils w/gravel, flint and limestone

Leathery, smoky, blackberry, truffle

Allowed up to 15% Roussanne/Marsanne but most don’t add

East bank of Rhône

Question 9

St.-Joseph AOC

Answer 9

Huge appellation stretching on the West Bank of Rhône valley

90% red production from Syrah

Small amount of Roussanne/Marsanne allowed to be blended in

Question 10

Condrieu / Chateau Grillet

Answer 10

100% white production from Viognier

Exquisitely perfumed, low acid, very tricky to grow well

Remember George Vernay (producer)

Question 11

Crozes-Hermitage AOC

Answer 11

East bank of Rhône, 10 times the size of hermitage

Mostly flatlands

Alain Graillot, Jean-Louis Chave

Question 12

Cornas AOC

Answer 12

150 hectares, 100% red Syrah production

Need 7 years of so aging to temper tannins

Powerful expression of Syrah

Top producers: Auguste Clape, Jean Luc Colombo, Thierry Allemand, Alain Voge

Question 13

Chateauneuf-du-pape AOC

Answer 13

France’s first AOC (1936)

Most southerly S Rhône appellation

Massive gravel soils (galets) w/salt/quartz deposits

Allows 13 (18 with colour variations) varietals

Question 14

Reds of the Rhône (9)

Answer 14

1) Syrah
2) Grenache
3) Mourvèdre
4) Cinsault
5) Carignan
6) Counoise
7) Muscardin
8) Terret Noire
9) Vaccarese

Question 15

White grapes of the Rhône (9)

Answer 15

1)Roussanne
2) Marsanne
3) Grenache Blanc
4) Picpoul
5) Clairette
6) Muscat Blanc à petits grains
7) Ugni Blanc
8) Bourboulenc
9) Viognier

Question 16

Climate conditions of the Rhône

Answer 16

Continental (extremes)

Southern exposures help for early warming (protection against Le Mistral)

Le Mistral - cold wind coming from Alpes to the Mediterranean

Question 17

Grape Varietals of CNDP

Answer 17

Reds: Whites:
1) Grenache. 1) Clairette
2) Syrah. 2) Bourboulene
3) Mourvèdre 3) Roussanne
4) Cinsault. 4) Picpoul
5) Muscardin. 5) Picardan
6) Counoise. 6) Grenache
7) Terret Noire. 7) Marsanne
8) Vaccarese

Question 18

Gigondas AOC

Answer 18

Firm and explosive

Minimum 50% Grenache

No less than 15% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre

Rest can be anything but Carignan

Question 19

Vacqueyras AOC

Answer 19

Created in 1990

Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault

Typically has a lot more Syrah than gigondas

Top producer: Dom de la Charbonnière

Question 20

Tavel AOC

Answer 20

Only produces rose

Robust in style

Grenache dominant blends

Question 21

Côtes du Rhône vs Villages

Answer 21

59% of Rhône production

Come from multiple sites and blended

Villages (usually) better, 95 allowed sites

22 villages are allowed to add their names to CDR Villages designation

Question 22

St.-Peray AOC

Answer 22

South of Cornas

Sparkling and still production from Marsanne and Roussanne

Question 23

Rasteau, Cairanne, Vinsobres

Answer 23

Newer Southern Rhône appellations

Vinsobres in particular very high elevation that allows Syrah dominance