Southern Rhone

Question 1

Chateauneuf du Pape AOP permitted varieties

Answer 1

Grenache (Noir, blanc, gris)
Syrah
Mourvedre
Cinsault
Counoise
Picpoul (Noir, blanc gris)
Terret Noir
Bourboulenc
Clairette (and Clairette Rose)
Roussanne
Vaccarese
Picardin
Muscardin

Question 2

Chateauneuf du Pape AOP minimum alcohol

Answer 2

12.5%

Question 3

Describe râpé

Answer 3

2% of grapes must be discarded in CDP to prevent underripeness

Question 4

Chateauneuf du Pape soil

Answer 4

Principal soil types include clay (argillaceous), sand (siliceous), limestone (calcareous), and marl (molasse). Topsoils are diverse, and include several sizes and types of stones. In the north and northwest, galets roulés are common. These 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.

Question 5

Over ___________ of the Rhone valley’s wine is released as ______

Answer 5

⅔, Cotes du Rhone AOP

Question 6

Name the southern rhone appellations upgraded and the years

Answer 6

Gigondas 1971

Vacqueyras 1990

Beaumes-de Venise 2005

Vinsobres 2006

Cairanne 2016

Question 7

Minimum Grenache in Gigondas

Answer 7

50%

Question 8

Minimum Grenache in Beaumes de Venise and Vinsobres

Answer 8

50%

Question 9

Varietal excluded from Gigondas

Answer 9

Carignan

Question 10

Which appellation is on the western bank of the Rhone river, opposite Chateauneuf du Pape? What is permitted there?

Answer 10

Lirac AOC

Red, White, Rose

Grenache Noir and Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulence

Sandy soils, but may have served as France’s doorway to Phylloxera.

Question 11

Tavel AOP relative location, production, and grapes

Answer 11

South of Lirac

Devoted only to Rose production

Grenache

Question 12

Rasteau AOP production, grapes, and other communes able to label under the appellation

Answer 12

White, rose or red (still and fortified)

Grenache blanc, gris, noir

Rasteau, Cairanne, Sablet communes

Question 13

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise production, grapes, and communes of production

Answer 13

White, red, rose

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains

Beaumes-de-Venise, Avignon

Question 14

Northernmost appellation in the Southern Rhone

Answer 14

Grignan-les-Adhemar AOP

Question 15

Hectareage of CDP

Answer 15

3,000

Question 16

Luberon AOP cepage requirements

Answer 16

R, W, & Rose

B: Principal Varieties: Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Rolle (Vermentino)
Complementary Variety: Max. 50% Ugni Blanc
Accessory Variety: Max. 10% Viognier

R: Min. 60% combined Grenache and Syrah (both grapes must be present with a min. 20% Syrah), plus Mourvèdre

Accessory Varieties: Max. 20% Cinsault, max. 20% Carignan, max. 10% Marselan, and a max. 10% combined white varieties

At least 2 grapes must be present in the blend

Question 17

Ventoux AOP Cepage requirements

Answer 17

R, W & Rose

B: Principal Varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne
Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% combined Marsanne, Vermentino, and Viognier
R: Principal Varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah
Accessory Varieties: Max. 20% combined Counoise, Piquepoul Noir, Marselan (max. 10%), and white varieties (max. 10% Vermentino)

Question 18

Cotes du Vivarais AOP cepage requriements

Answer 18

R, W, & Rose

Blanc: Min. 50% Grenache Blanc, min. 30% combined Marsanne and Clairette; max. 10% combined Viognier and Roussanne
Rouge: Min. 40% Syrah, min. 30% Grenache, max. 10% combined Marselan and Cinsault
Rosé: 60-80% Grenache, min. 10% Syrah, max. 10% combined Marselan and Cinsault

Question 19

Costieres de Nimes AOP location, cepage requirements, and featured single-commune appellation

Answer 19

Joins the regions of the southern Rhone, Provence, and the Languedoc. Was a part of the Languedoc until 2004

B: Principal Varieties: Min. 50% combined Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussane (no single variety may exceed 80% of the vineyard, and at least two principal varieties must be planted)
Accessory Varieties: Bourboulenc, Macabeu, Vermentino, Clairette, and a max. 20% Viognier
R: Principal Varieties: Min. 60% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 20% combined Syrah and Mourvèdre)
Accessory Varieties: Carignan, Cinsault, and a max. 10% Marselan
Rosé: As for Rouge wines, with a max. 20% white varieties

Clairette de Bellegarde AOP is a WW producing commune from 100% Clairette within the Costieres de Nimes

Question 20

Which producer makes 100% varietal Grenache? Where?

Answer 20

Chateau Rayas in Chateauneuf du Pape

Question 21

Gigondas soil

Answer 21

Red clay, alluvial

Question 22

Producers in CDP who sit on sand rather than galets

Answer 22

Chateau Rayas

Question 23

Demi Muid barrel size

Answer 23

600L

Question 24

Most famous terroir in CDP. Describe it

Answer 24

La Crau

located to the east of the village. Around Vieux Telegraphe

Question 25

Name the 10 most important producers of Chateauneuf du Pape

Answer 25

Chateau Rayas

Chateau de Beaucastel

Domaine de Vieux Telegraphe

Domaine du Pegau

Henri Bonneau

Clos des Papes

Pierre Useglio

Domaine de la Janasse

Chateau la Nerthe

Chateau de la Font de Loup

Question 26

Best vintages in CDP 80’s and 90s

Answer 26

‘81, ’83, ‘85, ’88

‘90, ’92, ‘95, ’97, ‘98, ’99

Question 27

Best vintages in CDP 2000s

Answer 27

00, 01, 04, 05, 06, 07, 09,

Question 28

Best vintages in CDP 2010s

Answer 28

10, 12, 15, 16