Rhone Valley Flashcards
What are the main grapes of the northern Rhone?
- Syrah
- Viognier
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
What ancient civilization is responsible for the terraces found in the northern Rhone?
The Romans
What pope moved the papacy from Rome to Avignon in 1309?
Pope Clemant V
Which pope was responsible for the initial building of the now-ruined summer papal palace?
Pope John XII
How long did the papacy reside in Avignon?
1309-1378
What is a little known secret about the wines of Hermitage?
Merchants from Bordeaux used to blend their wines with the wines from Hermitage to strengthen them
What was the first AOP in france?
Chateauneuf-du-Pape (1936)
What are all the red wine producing AOPs in the Northern Rhone?
- Cote-Rotie
- St-Joseph
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Hermitage
- Cornas
What are the white wine producing AOPSs in the Northern Rhone?
- Condrieu
- St-Peray
What is the name of the monopole located within Condrieu?
Chateau Grillet
What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?
Continental
What is the name of the powerful (and destructive) wind that blows through the Rhone Valley?
The Mistral
What are the main soil types found throughout the Northern Rhone?
- Heat-retaining schistous and granitic
- Sandy and loess topsoils
- Soils become heavier with clay the further south you go
What soil type is unique to Condrieu?
Azelle : A thin topsoil rich in powdery-decomposed mica
What are the blending rules for all of the red wine AOPs in the Northern Rhone?
- Cornas must be 100% Syrah
- Cote-Rotie is Syrah with up to 20% Viognier
- Crozes-Hermitage is Syrah with up to 15% total of Marsanne/Roussanne added
- Hermitage is the same as Crozes-Hermitage
- St-Joseph is Syrah with up to 10% Marsanne/Roussanne added
What is the benefit of co-fermentation as done in Cote-Rotie?
More color stabilization and tannin extraction
What does Cote-Rotie translate to?
Roasted Slope
What are the 2 key slopes in Cote-Rotie?
Cote Brune
Cote Blonde
What are the 3 La La wines produced by Guigal?
- La Landonne (always 100% syrah)
- La Turque
- La Moulin (highest viognier concentration)
Who are the 4 major producers in Hermitage?
- Jean-Louis Chave
- Paul Jaboulet
- Chapoutier
- Delas
What are the main climats of Hermitage?
- L’Hermite
- Le Meal
- Les Bessards
- Greffieux
- Beaume
- Peleat
What is gore?
Gore is the soil found in Cornas that is a naked granite soil
Name the 4 lieux-dits of Cornas
- Les Reynards
- La Cote
- Les Chaillot
- Les Mazards
What producer has been seen as the standard bearer in Cornas?
Auguste Clape
What is the name of the rare desert wine made in Hermitage?
Vin de Paille
Can Saint-Peray make sparkling wine?
Yes! Made from Marsanne and Roussanne
What is the split of wine production between the Northern and Southern Rhone?
5% in the North
95% in the South
What is the main grape varietal grown in the Southern Rhone?
Grenache
What is the climate for the Southern Rhone?
Mediterranean
What winery release the first estate bottled CDP?
Chateau La Nerthe in 1785
How Large is Chatenaneuf-du-Pape in hectares?
3,000
What is the iconic soil type in CDP?
Galets
What is the Largest appellation in the Southern Rhone?
Cotes du Rhone
How many Communes may append their name to the Cotes du Rhone-villages AOP?
21
What are the three main grapes for Cotes du Rhone villages?
- Grenache
- Mourvedre
- Syrah
What is the minimum amount of grenache required in the Gigondas AOP?
50%
The Tavel AOP produces what style of wine exclusively?
Rose
What is VDN?
Vin doux naturel, a sweet fortified wine
What two AOPs are allowed to produce VDN wine?
- Rasteau
- Beaumes- de -Vensie
What is the name of the Hermit of H’Ermitage?
Gaspard de Sterimberg
Name the four minor Northern Rhone AOPs found off of the Drone River
- Coteaux de Die AOP
- Cremant de Die AOP
- Clariette de Die AOP
- Chatillon-en- Diois AOP
What is the only grape varietal allowed in the Coteaux de Die AOP?
Clariette
Why is Chatillon-en-Diois such an outlier in the Northern Rhone?
Because the reds are based on Gamay and the whites are based on Chardonnay and Aligote
Name as many of the Southern Rhone AOPs as you can (There are 18)
- Beaumes-de-Venise
- Cairanne
- CDP
- Clariette de Bellegarde
- Costieres de Nimes
- Cotes du Rhone Villages
- Cotes du Vivarais
- Duche d’Uzes
- Gigondas
- Grignan-les-Adhemar
- Lirac
- Luberon
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
- Rasteau
- Tavel
- Vacqueyras
- Venetoux
- Vinsobres
What is the famous soil of Chateauneuf-du-Pape?
The Galets
How many of the Cote du Rhone Villages can you name? (There are 21)
- Chusclan
- Gadagne
- Laudun
- Massif d’Uchaux
- Plan de Dieu
- Puymeras
- Roaix
- Rochegude
- Rousset-les-Vignes
- Sablet
- Saint-Andeol
- Saint-Gervais
- Saint-Maurice
- Saint-Pantaleon-les-Vignes
- Sainte-Cecile
- Seguret
- Signargues
- Suze-la-Rousse
- Vaisone-la-Romaine
- Valreas
- Visan
Why was the Cotes du Tricastin renamed, and what is it’s new name?
The Cotes du Tricastin was renamed to Grignan-les-Adhemer as a way to distance itself from troubled Tricastin nuclear power plant.
What is the northernmost AOP the Southern Rhone?
Grignan-les-Adhemer
What is the single commune appellation within the Costieres de Nimes AOP, and what wine do they produce there?
Clairette de Bellegarde AOP, and the wines made there are white, made from 100% Clairette
