Rhone Valley Flashcards
The prime viticultural areas of the Rhone Valley lie on either side of what river?
The Rhone
What city lies to the north of the Rhone Valley?
Lyon (20 miles north)
What city lies at the south of the Rhone Valley?
Avignon
How many miles from north to south is the Rhone Valley?
120 miles
How many miles are in the gap between the Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone?
30 miles
What are the 3 major apps in Southern Rhone?
Chateuaneuf du Pape, Gigondas & Vacqueyras
The climate in Southern Rhone is
Mediterranean
What is the name of the cold wind that blows down from the Alps and through the Rhone Valley?
The mistral.
How does the mistral help the Southern rhone grapes?
Cools down the vines so the grapes retain their acidity, and works as a blow-dryer to keep humidity & mold off the grapes at harvest time.
Because of the mistral, the best vineyards are located where?
In sheltered areas.
Because of the mistral, how are the vines pruned?
Low to the ground.
Which part of the Rhone Valley has vineyards venturing out away from the Rhone River and on flatter land and hills?
Southern Rhone
What are the soils in the Southern Rhome?
clay, sandy limestone, gravel, or stones
Why does Southern Rhone blend it’s wine?
The hot dry climate can make classic Syrah lose it’s focus & intensity so blending can create a whole wine that’s more than a sum of it’s parts.
How many red grapes are permitted in Southern Rhone?
12
How many grape varieties are allowed in Southern Rhone?
23
How many grape varieties are allowed in C du Pape?
13
What is the most important grape in Southern Rhone?
Grenache
List 4 other Southern Rhone red grapes?
Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsaut
What white grapes are found in Southern Rhone?
Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier, Clairette, Muscat
What grape variety is often a key component of Rhone rose’s?
Grenache
Tavel is located in what part of the Rhone Valley?
Southern Rhone
What app in the Southern Rhone produces only roses?
Tavel
What regional app covers most of the Southern Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone.
How many villages are within the Southern Rhone Cotes du Rhone app?
90
What app is best known of the Cotes du Rhone-Villages?
Cairanne
What Southern Rhone AOCs are known for hearty red blends?
C du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac & Rasteau
What best known vin doux natural or sweet wine is made in Southern Rhone?
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is the alcohol level and minimum % of sugar in a Muscat de B-de-V?
15% alcohol and 10% residual sugar
What is another vin doux natural from Southern Rhone is based on Grenache and is mostly red but can be white, tawny and rose versions?
Rasteau vin doux naturel
What grapes are used for Tavel roses?
Grenache & Cinsault
Where is Clairette de Die AOC and what style wine is produced there?
Apart from the Rhone Valley. Produces a sweet sparkling wine using the Method Ancestrale Dioise.
List the AOC’s in the Southern Rhone clockwise
Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, one at the top, Vinsoble, Rasteau, Gigondas, Vaqueyres, Beaumes de Venise, large app starts with a V, Luberon, Chat. du Pape, Cost. de Nimes, Tavel, Lirac
The Northern Rhone passes through what?
The Massiff Central and the French Alps
The vineyards are steep and must be terraced in what part of the Rhone Valley
Northern
What is the climate in the Northern Rhone
Continental
What are galets and where are they found.
Stones in Southern Rhone, esp. Chat. du Pape
What are the white varietals found in Northern Rhone?
Marsanne, Rousanne, Viognier
Full bodied, viscous and aromatic describes what Northern Rhone grape variety?
Viognier
What Northern Rhone AOC is 100% syrah?
Cornas
What Northern Rhone AOCs are dry whites from 100% viognier?
Condrieu and Chateau Grillet
List the Northern Rhone AOCs north to south
Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Chateaux Grillet, St. Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas, St. Peray
