Southern Rhone Flashcards
Which Pope moved his court from Rome to Avignon and in what year?
Pope Clement V; 1309
Pope Clement V’s successor who began construction on a new summer papal palace, Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Pope John XXII
Wine sourced from the papal vineyards (vin d’Avignon) was not bottled as Chateauneuf-du-Pape until what century?
19th century
This was the first region in France to be struck by phylloxera (what year)
Southern Rhone; 1863
The first AOC in France (what year)
Chateauneuf-du-Pape; 1906
The Southern Rhone accounts for about __% of wine produced in the Rhone Valley.
95%
Why do many growers plant their vines at an angle in the Southern Rhone?
So that Le Mistral will blow them upright in time.
The stones of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Galets roules
What are galets roules?
Stones of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Made of Quartzite
Smoothed by the river
Heat retaining
This producer famously utilizes every authorized variety in their Chateauneuf-du-Pape blend.
Beaucastel
What is the main variety in Chateau du Beaucastel CdP?
Mourvedre
What is the min ABV for CdP blanc?
12.5% (!) - highest in France
T/F: In CdP, producers are legally obligated to declassify or discard 2% of harvested grapes.
True
The first estate-bottled CdP
Chateau la Nerthe; 1785
Soil of CdP
Limestone subsoil
Gravel
Calcareous clay
Sand
Traditional aging vessel in CdP
Old oak foudres
What is a foudre?
Large oak cask, traditional of the Southern Rhone (often holding over 1000 liters)
Thirteen grapes of CdP
Grenache
Syrah
Mourvedre
Cinsault
Mouscardin
Counoise
Clairette
Bourbelenc
Picpoul
Roussane
Teret Noir
Picardin
Vaccarese
T/F: Whites and roses are allowed in Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone-Villages
True
How many villages may append their name to Cotes du Rhone-Villages in the Southern Rhone?
22
Soils of Gigondas
Red clay & alluvial
Red wines of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise, Cairanne, and Vinsobres must contain what % Grenache?
50%
What does the term rape refer to?
In CdP, the minimum of 2% harvested grapes must be declassified or discarded
In what department is CdP?
Vaucluse
This Southern Rhone appellation was granted AOC status in 2016
Cairanne
T/F: Hand-harvesting in CdP is mandatory
True
T/F: In Carianne, reds, whites, & roses are permitted
False: no roses
What styles of wine may be produced in Vinsobres?
Red only (Grenache min. 50%)
This Southern Rhone appellation is strictly dedicated to rose wine
Tavel
Name two Southern Rhone AOCs for vin doux naturel
Rasteau
Muscat de Beame de Venise
90% of Muscat de Beaume de Venise is produced by whom?
Vignerons de Beaumes-de-Venise (co-op)
What is mutage
In vin doux naturel, pure grape spirit is added to arrest fermentation in a proportion of 5-10%
This region makes vin doux naturel in red, white, and rose based on all three colors of Grenache (rouge, blanc, gris).
Rasteau
Styles of wine made in Rasteau
Vin doux naturel
Can be red, white, or rose, based on Grenache rouge, blanc, gris.
What is the general difference in flavor between Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau?
Rasteau tends to show more tawny flavors, whereas Muscat de Beames-de-Venise is typically fresher and more aromatic
What do ambre and tuile indicate?
White and red VDN wine (from Rasteau in Southern Rhone or Rivesaltes in Roussillon) with oxidative character and 3 yrs of aging prior to release
Which style of VDN is white; ambre or tuile?
Ambre (tuile being red)
What do the terms blanc and grenat refer to in Rasteau?
White and red VDN wines fresher than ambre and tuile (less oxidative character)
What does the term Hors d’Age mean on a bottle of Rasteau?
indicates at least 5 years of aging
What does the term rancio indicate?
A style of Rasteau in which the wine is deliberately oxidized in open barrels, subject to sunlight and temperature fluctuations, etc
T/F: Rasteau makes dry wine
True: only dry reds and the fruit must be grown in the commune of Rasteau itself
What is the northernmost appellation in Southern Rhone?
Grignan-les-Adhemar
Prior to 2010 Grignan-les-Adhemar was known as
Cotes du Tricastin
This region adjoins Southern Rhone, Provence, and Languedoc
Costieres-de-Nimes
What is gress
Alluvial rounded pebbles in sand associated with Costieres-de-Nimes