Rhone Valley & Southern France Flashcards

1
Q

How many AOC/AOP communes are in Rhone Valley?

A

16

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2
Q

How many Vins Doux Naturels AOC/AOP (VDN) in Rhone Valley?

A

2

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3
Q

Regional AOC for Rhone

A
  • Cotes du Rhone AOC

- Cotes du Rhone - Villages AOC

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4
Q

How many village appellations in Rhone

A

18

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5
Q

What does Rhone not have that most of France does?

A

Hierarchical appellations (Grand Cru or Premier Cru

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6
Q

Location of Rhone Valley

A

Between Lyon and Avignon

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7
Q

Northern Rhone influence

A

Cooler, continental influence

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8
Q

Wind in Northern Rhone

A

Cold, dry north wind called Mistral

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9
Q

What do winds do in Northern Rhone

A

Winds protect from mildew/mold but may hurt the vines

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10
Q

Other notes about Rhone Valley

A

Steep slopes

more labor intensive

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11
Q

Southern Rhone influence

A

Mediterranean

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12
Q

Wind in Southern Rhone

A

Sirocco winds

softer Mistral

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13
Q

Other notes about Southern Rhone

A

Longer growing season
Late ripening varieties
Flat land and more expansive

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14
Q

Soils in Northern Rhone

A

Erosion is a problem

Mineral-rich bedrock soils from granite

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15
Q

Soil of Cote Rotie/Condrieu/Hermitage

A

Granite and schist

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16
Q

Soil of St. Joseph/Crozes-Hermitage

A

Heavy clay

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17
Q

Soil of Southern Rhone

A

Various, stony soils with sand and clay subsoils

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18
Q

Most famous soils in Southern Rhone

A

Heat-retaining pudding stone, or Galets of Chateauneuf du Pape

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19
Q

Soil of Gigondas

A

Alluvial clay

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20
Q

Vine training of Rhone

A

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

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21
Q

General vinification of Rhone

A

North - land of iconic grape varieties

South - land of blended-wine styles

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22
Q

Syrah in Rhone

A

Star of the north
Second in command in the south
Adaptable, versatile and popular with consumers
Age worthy

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23
Q

Grenache in Rhone

A

Rarely a stand alone
Grenache is crucial for providing plenty of body and ripe fruit flavors
+Mouvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan

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24
Q

Viognier in Rhone

A

Star of the North for White wines
Increasingly popular in the South
Low acid
Intense aromas

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25
Q

Marsanne in Rhone

A

Pear and floral scented
Can age well
Plantings are slowly decreasing as it is a difficult grape to grow and often affected by diseases

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26
Q

Roussane in Rhone

A

Traditionally blended with Marsanne in the North

Reddish-brown colored variety

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27
Q

Grenache Blanc in Rhone

A

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

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28
Q

Regions in Northern Rhone

A
Cote Rotie AOC
Condrieu AOC
Chateau Grillet AOC
Hermitage AOC
St Joseph AOC
Crozes Hermitage AOC
Cornas
Saint Peray
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29
Q

Grape of Cote Rotie

A

Syrah
+up to 20% Viognier
-most production doesn’t reach that maximum, except Domaine Corps de Loup with its cuvee “Marions-les”

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30
Q

Grape of Condrieu

A

White Viognier ONLY

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31
Q

Grape of Chateau Grillet

A

White Viognier ONLY

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32
Q

Grape of Hermitage

A
  • extremely popular and acclaimed region
  • Longevity for both white and reds
  • SYRAH
  • +up to 15% Roussanne/Marsanne
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33
Q

Notes about St. Joseph/Crozes Hermitage

A

Good point of entry
+affordable
Bigger AOCs

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34
Q

Grape of St. Joseph

A

Syrah reds

Roussanne/Marsanne whites

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35
Q

Grape of Crozes-Hermitage

A

Syrah reds

Roussanne/Marsanne whites

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36
Q

Grape of Cornas

A

100% Syrah

-Powerful and dark, often with supple, ripe tannins

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37
Q

Notes on Saint Peray

A
  • only 75 hectares
  • Southernmost of the northern Rhone appellations
  • 1/3 of the production is Sparkling
  • Roussane and Marsanne
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38
Q

Important Northern Rhone Producers

A

E. Guigal, M. Chapoutier, Paul Jaboulet Aine

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39
Q

3 major regions in Southern Rhone

A

Chateauneuf du Pape
Gigondas
Tavel

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40
Q

Other regions of Southern Rhone

A
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
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41
Q

Wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A

Red and white Grenache-based wines

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42
Q

Soil of Chateauneuf du Pape

A

Galets (pebbles)

43
Q

Note on Chateauneuf du Pape

A

Lots of old vines

44
Q

How many grape varieties are allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape?

A

13 varietals

18 when you count morphs of grapes such as Grenache (blanc, noir, gris) and Piquepoul (Blanc, noir, gris)

45
Q

Grapes allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape

A
Grenache Noir
Grenache Blanc
Grenache Gris
Mourvedre
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Picpoul Noir
Picpoul Blanc
Picpoul Gris
Terret Noir
Bourboulenc
Clairette
Clairette Rose
Roussanne
Vaccarese
Picardan
Muscardin
46
Q

When was Gigondas promoted to AOC?

A

in the early 1970s – formerly one of the villages of the Cote du Rhone villages AOC

47
Q

Grape of Gigondas

A

Minimum 50% Grenache

-Rustic, savage, humble

48
Q

Note about Tavel

A

While most of the southern Rhone AOC /AOPs are located on the east side of the river, Tavel is located on the west side

49
Q

Wines of Tavel

A

Dry, pink wines only

Grenache based blends

50
Q

important Southern Rhone Producers

A

Vieux Telegraphe, Beaucastel, Delas, Rayas

51
Q

Another name for Languedoc Roussillon

A

also known as the Midi

52
Q

Notes on Languedoc Roussillon

A

-once known to provide the every day table wine (low quality, high quantity) for much of the French population
Started focusing on quality in the 1980s

53
Q

What created the Vin de Pays designation in Languedoc Roussillon

A

Government ordered to plant more useful crops

54
Q

What are all of the Vin de Pays in Languedoc Roussillon now?

A

In 2009 all 6 VDP became IGT

55
Q

How many IGT in Languedoc Roussillon

A

6

56
Q

Where is Languedoc Roussillon located

A

From the Mediterranean coast up into scrub land (Garrigue) and mountain foothills
GIGANTIC REGION

57
Q

Climate of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Mediterranean Climate

Long dry growing season

58
Q

Winds that affect Languedoc Roussillon

A

Sirocco

59
Q

What can cause some vineyards to experience continental influences in Languedoc Roussillon?

A

Higher altitude

60
Q

Soil of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Various – especially stony/schist soils

61
Q

What are the vineyards of Languedoc Roussillon often compared to?

A

Patchwork, because different varieties grown together

62
Q

Vine training in Languedoc Roussillon

A

Goblet

63
Q

What are the wines of Languedoc Roussillon typically aged in

A

Foudres

64
Q

Majority of Languedoc Roussillon producers

A

Negociant or Co-Op – development toward more estate production

65
Q

Other notes on Languedoc Roussillon

A
  • higher altitude, cooler vineyard sites + organic

- affordable rose wines

66
Q

Sparkling wine region in Languedoc Roussillon

A

Cremat de Limoux

67
Q

Grape varieties of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah

68
Q

High yielding grape varieties of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Aramon

Carignan

69
Q

Cepages ameliorateurs

A

Improving grape varieties

used for Rhone varieties

70
Q

International grape varieties of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Chardonnay/Cabernet sauvignon

71
Q

White wines of Languedoc Roussillon

A

blends of - Grenache blanc, Picpoul, Roussanne, Marsanne, etc.

72
Q

Large AOC of Languedoc Roussillon

A

Coteaux du Languedoc AOC

73
Q

Regions of Languedoc Roussillon

A
Faugeres
St. Chinian
Minervois/Minervois la Liviniere
Corbieres/Corbieres Boutenac
Cabardes
Fitou
Picpoul de Pinet
La Clape
Pic St. Loup
Maury
Collioure
Tautavel
Terrasses du Larzac
74
Q

Vin de Pays AOC

A

New regional IGT

Created August 1st 2009

75
Q

How many grape varieties are allowed in Vin de Pays AOC

A

58

76
Q

Important producers in Languedoc Roussillon

A
Clos de L'Anhel
Cave de Roquebrun
Gerard Bertrand
Mas De Duamas Gassac
Chateau Pech Redon
77
Q

Grape growing areas of South-West France

A

Vast region including many specific and distinct appellations
Benefited from proximity to Bordeaux market
Diverse, characterful wines

78
Q

Bearn

A

Tannat and Raffiat de Mocade (white)

79
Q

Bergerac

A

Red and White; Bordeaux like

80
Q

Brulhois

A

Vins Noir - Tannat, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc

81
Q

Buzet

A

Bordeaux Blends

82
Q

Cahors

A

Malbec (locally named Cot or Auxerrois)

83
Q

Coteaux de Quercy

A

Mostly Cabernet Franc

84
Q

Cotes de Duras

A

Red and White, bordeaux like

85
Q

Cotes de Millau

A

Light red wines from Gamay/Syrah

86
Q

Cotes du Marmandais

A

Red and White, bordeaux-like/local Abouriou

87
Q

Entraygues-Le Fel

A

Fer Souvadou grape variety

88
Q

Estaing

A

Red, white, rose: Fer, Gamay, and Chenin Blanc

89
Q

Fronton

A

Negrette

90
Q

Gaillac

A

Duras, Fer Servadou and Syrah
Lan de l’El, Mauzac and Muscadelle
Sparkling Gaillac Methode Ancestrale

91
Q

Irouleguy

A

Cabernet Franc or Tannat

92
Q

Jurancon

A

Sweet or dry white: Petit & Gros Manseng

Passerillage

93
Q

Madiran

A

Tannat

94
Q

Marcillac

A

Fer Servadou + rose production

95
Q

Monbazillac

A

Botrytised, sauternes like

96
Q

Montravel

A

Merlot + lots of bordeaux like white

97
Q

Pacherenc du Vic-Bihl

A

Late HarvestL Petit Courbu, Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Courbu Blanc, and Arrufiac

98
Q

Pecharmant

A

Bourdeaux blends

99
Q

Rosette

A

Very light Sauternes-like wines

100
Q

Saint-Mont

A

Tannat-based blends

101
Q

Saint Sardos

A

Syrah+Tannat

102
Q

Saussignac

A

White bordeaux blends

103
Q

Tursan

A

Very light wines - Cabernet Franc and Tannat