Rhone Valley Flashcards
What is the french term for Northern Rhône
Rhône septentrionale
What is the french term for Southern Rhône
Rhône méridionale
What culture settled the Rhône
The Greeks
When did Chateauneuf-du Pape become the first AOP in France
1936
What is the name of the wind that affects the Rhône Valley
Mistral Wind-from the alps
When did phylloxera first appear in the Rhône Valley
1863
List the AOPs of the Northern Rhône from north to south
Côte-Rôtie AOP Condrieu AOP Saint-Joseph AOP Crozes-Hermitage AOP Hermitage AOP Cornas AOP Saint-Péray AOP Clairette de Die AOP Châtillon-en-Diois AOP Coteaux de Die AOP Crémant de Die AOP
What varietals can be blended in Côte-Rôtie AOP
Syrah with up to 20% Viognier
List all the Syrah AOPs of the Northern Rhône from north to south
Côte-Rôtie AOP Saint-Joseph AOP Crozes-Hermitage AOP Hermitage AOP Cornas AOP
What AOPs can have up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane blended with it
Hermitage and Croze-Hermitage
What is the percentage of Marsanne and Roussane that can go into St. Joseph
10%
What is the minimum harvest must weight for Hermitage Vin de Paille how does that differ than final must weight
Vin de Paille must be harvest at 170g/L and after a minimum 45days of drying must must obtain 350g/L
What is the maximum yield for Vin de Paille from Hermitage
15hl/ha compared to the standard of 45 and 40 for basic white and red Hermitage
What are the principal soils of Hermitage
Granite with mica topsoil and schist and gniess
List five major lieux dits of Hermitage
L'Hermite Les Meal Les Greffieux Beaume Les Bessard Peleat
What is the cepage for Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Min 80% combined: Marsanne, Roussane, Clairette, Viognier, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc Maximum 20% Piquepoul and Ugni Blanc
What are the communes, north to south, of Cote Rotie
Saint Cyr sur le Rhone
Ampuis
Tupin et Semons
What soil is found in the southern Cote Blonde
Gniess
What soil is found in the northern Cote Brune
Mica-schistous rock
What soil is found in the northern Crozes-Hermitage
Granitic slopes, similar to hermitage
What soil is found in the southern Crozes-Hermitage
Alluvial soils
What soil is found in Saint Joseph
Schist and gniess on granite bedrock
What is the minimum amount of Syrah found in St. Joseph rouge
90% syrah with max 10% marsanne and roussane
When was Chateau Grillet sold
2011 ownership transferred Neyret-Gachet to Francois Pinault
What is the maximum yield of Chateau Grillet
37hl/ha
What appellation in the nothern rhone can you find Gamay, what other varietals are present
Chatillon-en-Diois red and rose
Min 75% Gamay plus Syrah and Pinot
What is the term for the powder top soil of Condrieu
Arzelle
What are the 3 La La wines and when were the first vintages
La Mouline: 1966
La Lalandone: 1978
La Turque: 1985
What is the soil of Cornas
Gore (Decomposed Granite)
What is the four lieux dits
La Cote
Les Messards
Les Chaillot
Les Reynard
What is the cepage for Cornas red wines
100% Syrah
What is the smallest red wine appellation in the northern rhone
Cornas
What style of wines does Saint Peray produce
White still and sparkling wine only based on Marsanne and Roussane
Name three producers of Condreiu
George Vernay
Andre Perret
Yves Culleron
What are the sparkling wine appellations of the northern rhone
Saint Peray
Cremant de Die
Clairette de Die
What is the cepage of Coteaux de Die
100% Clairette
What is the cepage for Cremant de Die
Min 55% Clairette, min 10% Aligote, min 5-10% Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains
What is the minimum pressure for Cremant de Die
3.5 atmospheres
What is the cepage for Clairette de Die
Traditional Method: Clairette
Dioise Ancestrale: Min. 75% Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains plus Clairette
What is the minimum aging, pressure and sugar in Clairette de Die Methode Dioise Ancestrale
4months
35g/l (15 for traditional)
3 atmospheres
What appellation in the northern rhone can have aligote and chardonnay
Whites from Cremant (10% aligote) and whites from Chatillon en Diois
Is chaptalization premitted in Condrieu
Yes, but prohibited for wines above 45g/L
What is the cepage for red and rose from Chatillon en Diois
Min. 75% Gamay plus Syrah and Pinot Noir
What is the maximum residual sugar for Chatillon en Diois
6g/L (+-2TA)
What is the cepage for red Cote du Rhone
Principal: Min. 40% Grenache, Min 15% Mourvedre and Syrah
Max 5% white varietals
What is the cepage for red Cote du Rhone
Principal: Min. 40% Grenache, Min 15% Mourvedre and Syrah
Max 20% white varietals
What does Grenache add to Southern Rhone red wines
Richness of body, sweet fruit, and warmth
What does Syrah and Mourvedre add to Southern Rhone reds
Structure and depth of color
What does Cinsault add to Southern Rhone reds
Finesse and freshness
What are the major grapes of the southern rhone
Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Cinsault Carignan
What is the most northern AOP in the southern rhone
Grignan-les-Adhemar (Cotes de Tristans)
What is the most souther AOP in the southern rhone
Costieres de Nimes (Coistieres de Gare until 1989)
What is the term for pudding stones in Chateauneuf du Pape
Galets Roules
What is the minimum potential alcohol in Chateauneuf du Pape
12.5% (highest in France)
What is the “le rape”
2% of all harvested grapes must be discarded
What was the first estate bottling of Chateauneuf du Pape
1785, Chateau la Nerthe
Define the term “En Ligne”
Vines planted in line
Define the term “Au Carre”
Vines planted in square
What is the maximum yield in Chateauneuf du Pape
42hl/ha reduces to 35hl/ha with the rape
Name five different grapes found in Chateauneuf du Pape
Grenache (Noir, Gris, Blanc), Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise
Is chaptalization permitted in Chateauneuf du Pape
No, Prohibited
How much of wine produced in southern rhone is released as Cotes du Rhone
Over 2/3, white, rose, and red
What is the difference between Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages
Essentially a superior designation for white, rose, and red
When was Cairanne upgraded to a AOP
2016
How many communes can be attached to Cotes du Rhone Villages
20
What are the stats for Cotes du Rhone Village vs Cotes du Rhone Villages with subzone
Alcohol: 12/12.5
Must: (196-white rose, 207 red,)/ Grenache 216
RS: 3g/L 4g/L is alcohol is more than 12%
Yield: 44/41
What is the grapes of white Cote du Rhone Villages
Min 80% Combined Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc
Max 20% combined Piquepoul and Ugni Blanc
Assemblage: (Min 50% Primary)
What is the grapes of rose and red Cote du Rhone Villages
Min 50% Grenache and at least one complementary
Principal: Min 50% Grenache
Complementary: Min 20% combined Mourvedre and Syrah
Accessory: Max 20% Brun Argente
When was Gigondas promoted to AOP
1971
Why was Gigondas promoted to AOP
Reds and Roses from minimum of 50% Grenache but NO Carignan
What is the soil of Gigondas
Stony red clay alluvium
What happened in terms of cepage requirements in Gigondas in 2014
Requires a minimum of 50% Grenache and min. 15% Syrah and Mourvedre
Assemblage: Min 50% Grenache and at least one of either Syrah and Mourvedre
What was the second appellation promoted to AOP in 1990
Vacqueyras
What styles of wine are produced in Vacqueyras
White, rose, red
What are the cepage requirements for Vacqueyras white
Bourbelenc, Clairette, Grenache (no one variety is more than 80%)
What are the cepage requirements for Vacqueyras rouge
Min 50% Grenache and one complementary (Syrah and Mourvedre min20% combined) must account for 90% of the total
What are the five AOPs promoted from Cotes Du Rhone Villages and when
Gigondas 1971 Vacqueyras 1990 Beaumes de Venise 2005 Vinsobres 2006 Cairanne 2016
What colors of wine can Beaumes de Venise prodcue
Red only, based on combined minimum of 80% Grenache and Mourvedre (50% Grenache and 25-50% Syrah) Max 10% White
What are the soils of Beaumes de Venise
Clay-Limestone
What is the maximum yield for Beaumes de Venise
38hl/ha
What colors of wine can Vinsobres produce
Red only, Min. 50% Grenache Complementry Min 25% Mourvedre and Syrah and 80% combined GSM
What are the red wine only AOP of the southern rhone
Vacqueyras
Beaumes de Venise
Vinsobres
What colors of wine can the 2016 AOP of Cairanne produce
White: Southern Rhone whites
Red: Min 50% Grenache no more than 30% accessory. (7% white), max 20% Carignan
How old are vines if “vieille vignes” is denoted on Cairanne
30years (20 for syrah and viognier)
What is the minimum age of vines to produce a Cairanne wine
5 years
What are the soils of Lirac
Sandy soils- helped become the gateway for Phylloxera
What can be produced in Lirac
White: Grenache Blanc and more (max 60% for any one)
Rose: Min 80% combined Grenache (40%) CSM (25SM)
Red: Min 90% combined Grenache (40%) CSM (25SM)
What is the maximum amount of Caignan in Lirac
Rose: 10%
Red: 10%
What is the only commune in France dedicated to production of rose wine
Tavel
What is the soils found in Tavel
Lauses (white calcareous stone) and galets
What is the rose of Tavel based on
30-60% Grenache all colors and others, max 10% Carignan
What are the yields for tavel
46hl/ha
What are the two AOP that exist for Vin Doux Natural in the Southern Rhone
Rasteau and Muscat Beaumes de Venise
What is the co-op that is responsible for the majority of Muscat Beaumes de Venise producation
Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise
What makes Vin Doux Natural wines
When fermentation is stopped by the addition of 5-10% neutral grape spirit (96%abv) to retain the natural sugars
What are Rasteau VDN based on
Make all three colors based on the three Grenache varienets
What are the three communes of Rasteau
Rasteau, Cairanne, Sablet
What is the defining character of rancio in VDN
Must show an oxidative style
What are the yields for Rasteau
Red: 38hl/ha
VDN: 30hl/ha