Rhone Valley

Question 1

Where is the Northern Rhone located?

Answer 1

A narrow band of vineyards along the Rhone River, just south of Beaujolais, from Vienne to Valence.

Question 2

Where is the Southern Rhone located?

Answer 2

The vineyards funnel south along the Rhone River to Avignon, near the Mediterranean basin.

Question 3

Which Pope built the summer papal palace and surrounding vineyards in Avignon and what was it called?

Answer 3

Pope John XXII

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Question 4

The wines produced in the papal vineyards was called __________ until the 19th century when it was bottled as ____________.

Answer 4

Originally known as vin d’Avignon until the name was changed to Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Question 5

What was the first AOC/AOP in France and what caused the system to created in the first place?

Answer 5

In 1936 Chateauneuf-du-Pape became the first AOC.

The Southern Rhone was the first quality area in France to be hit with phylloxera and in the years of rebuilding CdP growers created rules for growing and production that resulted in the AOC laws.

Question 6

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 6

Continental

• greater temperature shifts
• more rain
• less sunshine annually

Question 7

What is the soil type of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 7

Granitic and schistous soils are prominent and they retain heat to keep the vines warm.

Question 8

What affect does the Mistral wind have on the Northern Rhone?

Answer 8

The wind dries the vineyards, preventing mold and mildew.

Question 9

What grapes are found in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 9

Syrah
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier

Question 10

What are the 5 appellations for Syrah in the Northern Rhone from north to south and what other grapes are allowed within each?

Answer 10

Cote-Rotie AOP–up to 20% viognier
St-Joseph AOP–up to 10% marsanne and roussanne
Hermitage AOP–up to 15% (combined) marsanne/roussanne
Crozes-Hermitage AOP–up to 15% (combined) marsanne/roussanne
Cornas AOP–100% syrah

Question 11

When white grapes are blended into Northern Rhone syrah, how is it usually done?

Answer 11

Co-fermentation

Question 12

What is the geography like in the Cote-Rotie?

Answer 12

Severely steep slopes–some of the steepest in France at 55 degrees +

It gives the region its name “Roasted Slope”

Question 13

Who is the largest producer in the Cote-Rotie and what two hills are named after his daughters?

Answer 13

E. Guigal

Cote Brune and Cote Blonde

Question 14

Who are the 4 major producers in Hermitage?

Answer 14

Jean-Louis Chave
Delas
M. Charpoutier
Jaboulet

Question 15

Where is Crozes-Hermitage?

Answer 15

Lies behind the hill of Hermitage.

Question 16

What Northern Rhone appellation is the warmest and why?

Answer 16

Cornas–the naked granite soils (gore) magnifies the sun’s heat and the region is shielded from the le mistral.

Question 17

What are the 4 lieu dits of Cornas?

Answer 17

Les Reynards
La Cote
Les Chaillot
Les Mazards

Question 18

What is the smallest appellation in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 18

Cornas (100 hectares), followed closely by Hermitage

Question 19

Who is considered a benchmark producer of Cornas and why?

Answer 19

Auguste Clape–known for traditional wines made from whole cluster fermentation and old oak barrels.

Question 20

What Northern Rhone AOP exclusively produces wines from marsanne and roussanne?

Answer 20

St-Peray

Question 21

Of the 5 Northern Rhone syrah appellations, which ones can also make white wines?

Answer 21

Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and St. Joseph

Question 22

Where is vin de paille produced in the Northern Rhone and what grapes are used?

Answer 22

Hermitage–marsanne and roussanne

Question 23

What Northern Rhone appellation makes viognier and where is it located?

Answer 23

Condrieu–just south of Cote-Rotie, it’s only 200 hectares and a great rarity

Question 24

Within the Rhone Valley, which region (northern or southern rhone) produces the most wine and in what style(s)?

Answer 24

Southern Rhone–about 95% of all wine produced in the Rhone Valley, almost all of it being red.

Question 25

What is the distinct winemaking difference between the Northern and Southern Rhone?

Answer 25

While Syrah dominates the north, blends are most common in the south.

Question 26

What are the major red grapes in the Southern Rhone and what do they do for the wine?

Answer 26

Grenache–most planted, richness, fruit, and warmth
Mourvedre–significant plantings, structure and color
Syrah–same as mourvedre
Cinsault–finesse and freshness, used for rose as well
Carignan–plantings are declining

Question 27

What is the climate of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 27

Mediterranean

• Fierce Mistral winds
• Hot summers with significant diurnal swings
• Heavy autumn rains
• Mild winters

Question 28

What soils dominate the Southern Rhone?

Answer 28

Alluvial soils over limestone subsoil

The river leaves behind sand, gravel, and clay

Question 29

What are “pudding stones” called in CdP and what do they do?

Answer 29

Known as galets, these are large stones deposited by the post ice-age glacial melt. They’re made of quartzite and they store heat to keep the vines warm at night.

Question 30

What is the premier appellation in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 30

Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP

Question 31

What 13 grapes are allowed in CdP?

Answer 31

• Grenache
• Mourvedre
• Syrah
• Cinsault
• Counoise
• Picpoul
• Terret noir
• Bourboulenc
• Clairette
• Roussanne
• Vaccarese
• Picardan
• Muscardin

Question 32

What grape is usually the principal variety in red CdP and what producer famously uses a different grape instead?

Answer 32

Grenache is the principal grape

Chateau de Beaucastel (rouge) is dominated by Mourvedre instead

Question 33

What producer often releases their CdP rouge as 100% grenache, breaking the blending tradition in the region?

Answer 33

Chateau Rayas

Question 34

What is the minimum required alcohol level for CdP?

Answer 34

12.5%–the highest in France for dry AOP wines.

Question 35

What does the papal crest signify on bottles of CdP?

Answer 35

Estate bottled CdP

Question 36

What is the largest appellation of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 36

Cotes du Rhone AOP–over 2/3 of the wines of the Rhone Valley are labeled this.

It’s also the base designation for all of the Rhone Valley. N.Rhone can release generic syrah blends as such, but the majority of Cotes du Rhone wines are from the S.Rhone.

Question 37

What AOP is a superior designation for red, white, and rose wines produced in the Southern Rhone and how many communes can amend their name to the appellation?

Answer 37

Cotes du Rhone Village AOP

18 communes

Question 38

Gigondas AOP

Answer 38

• Red and rose wines
• 50% grenache minimum
• Other Rhone varietals are permitted except for Carignan, at a maximum of 10% of the plantings

Question 39

Vacqueyras AOP

Answer 39

• Rustic reds, but also white and rose

- 50% grenache minimum

Question 40

Beaumes-de-Venise AOP

Answer 40

• Red wine

- 50% grenache minimum

Question 41

Vinsobres AOP

Answer 41

• Red wine

- 50% grenache minimum

Question 42

What 4 Cotes du Rhone-Villages communes have been elevated to their own AOP status and what do they all have in common?

Answer 42

• Gigondas
• Vacqueyras
• Beaumes-de-Venise
• Vinsobres

All require a 50% grenache minimum and they all have CdP’s minimum 12.5% alcohol

Question 43

What S.Rhone AOP was the first in France to be infected with phylloxera?

Answer 43

Lirac AOP

Question 44

What is the only AOP in France exclusively dedicated to rose wines?

Answer 44

Tavel AOP (S.Rhone)

Based on grenache in a dry style

Question 45

What appellations in the S.Rhone exist for vin doux naturel?

Answer 45

Rasteau AOP

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP