S. Rhône Valley Flashcards
Who owns Château de Fonsalette?
Château Rayas
Who owns Château des Tours?
Château Rayas
Name (2) appellations in Southern Rhône designated for production of Vin Doux Naturel
Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
What is the minimum % of Grenache required for red bottling from both Gigondas and Vaqueyras?
50%
In 2004, which Languedoc AOP was transferred to the Rhône Valley?
Costières de Nîmes
‘Brun Argente’ is a synonym for which grape?
Vaccarese
Does Vinsobres AOP allow white wine?
No, red only (min. 50% Grenache)
What communes are eligible for the Rasteau AOP for VDN?
Rasteau, Cairanne, Sablet
What is the Southern Rhône Valley’s northernmost appellation?
Grignan-les-Adhémar
What producer released the first estate bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1785?
Château la Nerthe
Name the 5 communes of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Which commune extends the furthest south?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Orange, Bedarrides, Courthezon, Sorgues
Name 2 villages that can append its name to CDR Villages AOC
Laudun, Sablet, Séguret, Visan, (etc…. these seem to be the most significant)
Name the (2) dry red-only AOPs of Southern Rhône
Vinsobres AOP; Beaumes de Venise AOP
Max yields for CDP
35 hl/ha (42 including the rapé)
Grapes of Rayas Blanc
Clairette and Grenache Blanc (50/50)
Name 2 100% red Grenache CDPs
- Clos St Jean “Sanctus Sanatorium”
- Rayas
- Domaine de Marcoux Vieilles Vignes
What are the wine styles of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?
- Red and Rosé
- Sweet, fortified white
Which mountain is known as the “Giant of Provence”?
Mount Ventoux
Name the Clairette-based AOPs of France
- Coteaux de Die AOP
- Clairette de Die AOP
- Cremant de Die AOP
- Clairette de Bellegard AOP,
- Clairette du Languedoc AOP
- Bandol AOP
“Hommage a Jean Perrin” is based on what grape?
Mourvèdre
What current AOP was the first to be affected by phylloxera in 1863?
Lirac
How are vines planted in much of the Southern Rhone to offset effects of Le Mistral?
At an angle
How are the grapes of CDP harvested?
By hand . . .those rocks can’t be good on machines
Who bottled the first estate CDP?
Château la Nerthe, 1785
Who produces “Cuvée de Celestins” and what vineyard would you find it in?
Henri Bonneau, La Crau
What three subzones of CDP does La Crau overlap?
Corthezon, Bedarrides, CDP
What was the inaugural vintage of “Cuvée de Capo” by Domaine de Pegau?
1988
What winery houses all of its vineyards within a single block of La Crau in Bedarrides?
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Put the following in order of freshest style, with the first being freshest, and the last being most oxidized: Rasteau Hors d’Age, Rasteau Grenat, Rasteau Tuile
Grenat, Tuilé, Hors d’Age
What is the minimum RS, alc % of, and min must weigh of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise?
- Min 100 g/L
- Min 15% alc actual (21.5% potential)
- Min must weight 252 g/l
Which town is noted as the break between northern and southern Rhône?
Montélimar
What is S. Rhône’s largest appellation?
Côtes du Rhone AOP
T or F? S. Rhône accounts for about 95% of ALL wine produced in the Rhône Valley, mostly red (comes from its southern 100mi merging into Provence)
True!
Name the “dry white only” AOP in Southern Rhône
Clairette de Bellegarde AOP
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée des Felix” made by which producer?
Domaine Bois de Boursan
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée du Papet” made by which producer?
Clos du Mont-Olivet
Prestige cuvée “Sanctus Sancturum” made by which producer?
Clos St Jean
Prestige cuvée “Oratorio” made by which producer?
Ogier
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée da Capo” made by which producer?
Domaine du Pegau
Who makes “Cuvée Inspiration” and which (2) years was it made only?
a special selection of “Cuvée de Capo” from Domaine du Pegau and only bottled in Mag for 2 vintages (2003 and 2010)
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée de Mon Aïeul” made by which producer?
Domaine Pierre Usseglio
Prestige cuvée “Le Secret des Sabon” made by which producer?
Domaine Roger Sabon
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée des Cadettes” made by which producer?
Château la Nerthe
Prestige cuvée from Le Vieux Donjon?
“Vieux Donjon Cuvée Especiale”; special bottling in 1990 and 1998 only
2nd label of Vieux Télégraphe?
Vieux Mas des Papes
Prestige cuvée “Cuvée Imperiale” made by which producer?
Domaine Raymond Usseglio
First AOP for wine in France?
CDP in 1936
In CDP, galets roulés are common. What are these stones made of and where did they come from?
Large round stones comprised of quartzite and silica are the remnants of retreating Alpine glaciers from thousands of years ago, polished smooth by the Rhône River. The galets help to retain daytime heat and moderate temperatures in the vineyard
Minimum alc % in CDP and Gigondas?
CDP, min 12.5%
From 2000 to current, name the two worst vintages
2002, 2008 (flood and rain)
What is Le râpé?
min 2% of the grapes harvested within the max yield are rejected and may be used to make only vin de table. Process that serves as a safeguard against under-ripeness
Name 2 estates that uses all 13 grapes in CDP
Beaucastel, Domaine de Nalys, Mont Redon
Name 2 estates that uses only 1 grape in their CDP
- Rayas (grenache)
- Domaine de la Janasse — Cuvée Chaupin (grenache)
- Château de Beaucastel VV (Roussanne)
- Chapoutier (Barbe Rac)
- Clos St Jean (Sanctus Sanctorum)
First and second AOP to break away from CDR Villages?
Gigondas (1971); Vacqueyras (1990)
“En ligne” and “Au carré” are terms indicating what in CDP?
- Minimum planting density
- “En Ligne” (line): 3,000 vines per hectare
- “Au Carré” (square): although not explicitly stated, the vine spacing corresponds to 2,500 vines per hectare
What is the mountain range in Gigondas that protects it from the mistral and divides the appellation?
Dentelles de Montmirail (this name denotes the western outpost of the Ventoux mountain)
What is the river near Gigondas?
Ouvèze
What is the northernmost AOP on the left bank in the Southern Rhône and what was its previous name?
Grignan-les-Adhémar (was called Coteaux du Tricastin until 2010)
What is the northernmost AOP on the right bank in the Southern Rhône?
Côtes du Vivarais
This AOP is directly across the river from CDP (due West) and is considered “the other half” of CDP
Lirac
T or F? Gigondas is the only southern Rhône AOP that makes only rosé and red
True!
Name (3) AOPS that makes dry wines in all 3 colors
- CDR
- CDR Villages
- Côtes du Vivarais
- Lirac
- Luberon
- Costières de Nîmes
Newest cru elevated in the Côtes du Rhone?
Cairanne (approved in 2016, effective in 2015)
This tributary of the Rhône river __________ flows into the Rhône near Avignon. It is the second largest tributary (after the Saône) and hugs around this AOP __________.
Durance, Luberon
The ubiquitous “Vieille Ferme” brand (based in Ventoux AOP) is made by which famous producer? Their sparkling wine debuted in 2018
Beaucastel
This is the most southerly AOP of the Rhône wine region in southeastern France
Costières de Nîmes
The old historical AOP Claudette de Bellegarde is enclosed in this other AOP
Costières de Nîmes
Name 2 Gigondas producers
- Modernists: Domaine Santa Duc Château de St-Cosme - Traditionalists: Domaine Raspail-Ay Domaine Saint Gayan
What is the commune for dry Rasteau red wines?
Rasteau only
T or F? Rasteau AOP VDN can be red, white or rose while Rasteau AOP for dry wines can only be red
True!
Min % Grenache for Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel Grenat and Tuilé (Rouge)
Min 75% Grenache
Min % Grenache for dry red Rasteau AOP
Min 50% Grenache (plus min 20% combined Mourvèdre and Syrah)
Grapes for Gigondas and Vacqueyras?
Min 50% Grenache (overall min 90% combined grenache, syrah and mourvèdre)
T or F? Southern Rhône was the first quality region in France to be struck by phylloxera (1863)
True!
T or F? For Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP, wines can be made from both colors of Muscat à Petits Grains (red and white)
True!
Cross of the Marselan grape?
CS x Grenache
Which AOP has a higher minimum R/S, Sauternes or Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise?
- Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise: min 100 g/l
- Sauternes: min 45 g/l
AOP that makes dry reds and VDN wines in all 3 colors?
Rasteau AOP