Rhone Valley & Southern France Flashcards
How many AOC/AOP communes are in Rhone Valley?
16
How many Vins Doux Naturels AOC/AOP (VDN) in Rhone Valley?
2
Regional AOC for Rhone
- Cotes du Rhone AOC
- Cotes du Rhone - Villages AOC
How many village appellations in Rhone
18
What does Rhone not have that most of France does?
Hierarchical appellations (Grand Cru or Premier Cru
Location of Rhone Valley
Between Lyon and Avignon
Northern Rhone influence
Cooler, continental influence
Wind in Northern Rhone
Cold, dry north wind called Mistral
What do winds do in Northern Rhone
Winds protect from mildew/mold but may hurt the vines
Other notes about Rhone Valley
Steep slopes
more labor intensive
Southern Rhone influence
Mediterranean
Wind in Southern Rhone
Sirocco winds
softer Mistral
Other notes about Southern Rhone
Longer growing season
Late ripening varieties
Flat land and more expansive
Soils in Northern Rhone
Erosion is a problem
Mineral-rich bedrock soils from granite
Soil of Cote Rotie/Condrieu/Hermitage
Granite and schist
Soil of St. Joseph/Crozes-Hermitage
Heavy clay
Soil of Southern Rhone
Various, stony soils with sand and clay subsoils
Most famous soils in Southern Rhone
Heat-retaining pudding stone, or Galets of Chateauneuf du Pape
Soil of Gigondas
Alluvial clay
Vine training of Rhone
Low-trained in bush-vine (Goblet)
either staked or situated in lateral, protected valleys because of the strong winds
Planted at an angle under the assumption that prolonged exposure to the wind straightens them by maturity
Windbreaks
General vinification of Rhone
North - land of iconic grape varieties
South - land of blended-wine styles
Syrah in Rhone
Star of the north
Second in command in the south
Adaptable, versatile and popular with consumers
Age worthy
Grenache in Rhone
Rarely a stand alone
Grenache is crucial for providing plenty of body and ripe fruit flavors
+Mouvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan
Viognier in Rhone
Star of the North for White wines
Increasingly popular in the South
Low acid
Intense aromas
Marsanne in Rhone
Pear and floral scented
Can age well
Plantings are slowly decreasing as it is a difficult grape to grow and often affected by diseases
Roussane in Rhone
Traditionally blended with Marsanne in the North
Reddish-brown colored variety
Grenache Blanc in Rhone
As a white grape, it forms the base of many of South’s simple white wines
With decent conditions, can make extremely complex and rich wines
Regions in Northern Rhone
Cote Rotie AOC Condrieu AOC Chateau Grillet AOC Hermitage AOC St Joseph AOC Crozes Hermitage AOC Cornas Saint Peray
Grape of Cote Rotie
Syrah
+up to 20% Viognier
-most production doesn’t reach that maximum, except Domaine Corps de Loup with its cuvee “Marions-les”
Grape of Condrieu
White Viognier ONLY
Grape of Chateau Grillet
White Viognier ONLY
Grape of Hermitage
- extremely popular and acclaimed region
- Longevity for both white and reds
- SYRAH
- +up to 15% Roussanne/Marsanne
Notes about St. Joseph/Crozes Hermitage
Good point of entry
+affordable
Bigger AOCs
Grape of St. Joseph
Syrah reds
Roussanne/Marsanne whites
Grape of Crozes-Hermitage
Syrah reds
Roussanne/Marsanne whites
Grape of Cornas
100% Syrah
-Powerful and dark, often with supple, ripe tannins
Notes on Saint Peray
- only 75 hectares
- Southernmost of the northern Rhone appellations
- 1/3 of the production is Sparkling
- Roussane and Marsanne
Important Northern Rhone Producers
E. Guigal, M. Chapoutier, Paul Jaboulet Aine
3 major regions in Southern Rhone
Chateauneuf du Pape
Gigondas
Tavel
Other regions of Southern Rhone
Beaumes-de-Venise Cairanne Clairette de Die (Sparkling) Costieres-de-Nimes Coteaux de Die Coteaux du Lyonnai Cotes du Vivarais Lirac Luberon Muscat-Beames de Venise (VDN) Rasteau (VDN) Vacqueyras Ventoux Vinsobres
Wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Red and white Grenache-based wines