Southern Rhone

Question 1

How many appellations are there in the Southern Rhone?

Answer 1

17 (assuming I can count)

Question 2

How many of the Southern Rhone appellations can you name?

Answer 2

• Beaumes-de-Venise
• Cairanne
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape
• Clariette de Bellegarde
• Costieres de Nimes
• Côtes du Rhône-Villages
• Côtes du Vivarais
• Duche d’Uzes
• Gigondas
• Grignan-les-Adhemar
• Lirac
• Lubéron
• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
• Rasteau
• Tavel
• Vacqueyras
• Ventoux
• Vinsobres

Question 3

What is the name of the soil type found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 3

Galets, small quartzite rocks that were deposited at the end of the last ice age that were then smoothed by rivers

Question 4

How many of the grapes approved for use in Chateauneuf-du-Pape can you name?

Answer 4

• Grenache
• Mourvedre
• Syrah
• Cinsault
• Counoise
• Bourboulenc
• Roussanne
• Brun Argente (Vaccarese)
• Clairette
• Clairette Rose
• Muscadin
• Picardan
• Piquepoul
• Terret Noir

Question 5

Which famous winery is known for breaking the mold in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and uses Mourvedre as the base of their wines?

Answer 5

Chateau Beaucastel

Question 6

What is something very specific that producers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape must do during harvest, and why do they do it?

Answer 6

Producers must discard or declassify 2% of their total harvest, the process called râpé. This is done as a way to protect the quality of the wines from Chateauneuf-du-Pape by forcing producers to discard under ripe fruit.

Question 7

What winery released the first commercially bottled Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and when did they do it?

Answer 7

Chateau La Nerthe in 1785

Question 8

Aside from Galets, what other soil types are found in small clusters in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 8

• Calcareous
• Clay
• Sand
• Gravel

Question 9

When was Gigondas promoted to an AOP?

Answer 9

1971

Question 10

What styles of wine are produced in Gigondas?

Answer 10

Red and Rose

Question 11

What is the main soil type found in Gigondas?

Answer 11

Red clay alluvial soils

Question 12

Gigondas is partially shaded by what mountain range in the Southern Rhone? What effect do those mountains have on the region

Answer 12

Dentelles de Montmirails partially shade Gigondas, helping to reduce the morning temperatures and extends the maturation time for the grapes

Question 13

Is chaptalization allowed in Chateauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 13

It is not

Question 14

Name the blending requirements for wines for red wines from Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Beaumes-de-Venise and Vinsobres?

Answer 14

Minimum 50% Grenache, with at least one of the two complementary varieties (Syrah/Mourvedre)

Question 15

Name the newest AOP in the southern Rhone?

Answer 15

Cairanne

Question 16

Name the Rose only AOP in the Southern Rhone

Answer 16

Tavel

Question 17

Gigondas has vineyards as high up as ____

Answer 17

600m/2,000ft

Question 18

Vacqueyras vineyards rise up to what elevation

Answer 18

440m/1,450ft

Question 19

The vineyards of Vinsobres lie between what elevations?

Answer 19

200-500m/650-1,650ft

Question 20

Cairanne is known for the small quantities of ____ wine

Answer 20

White

Question 21

What two Northern Rhone white grape varieties are not allowed for use in CDP?

Answer 21

• Marsanne

- Viognier

Question 22

What is the assemblage for the red wines of Lirac?

Answer 22

• Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre must compose 90% of the blend