Southern Rhone

Question 1

Southern Rhone Soils

Answer 1

• Alluvial clay

- Alluvial deposits w/ river rock stones (“galets” in CDNP)

Question 2

Rhone Valley Production

Answer 2

-95% of all rhone wine from Southern Rhone

Question 3

Southern Rhone Climate/Moderating

Answer 3

• Mediterranean [mild winters/dry summers]
• Mistral winds even fiercer here, cools vineyards but can damage sites
• Hot summers moderated by significant diurnal swings
• Rhone river moderates

Question 4

Southern Rhone Reds

Answer 4

(90% of production)

• Grenache
• Syrah
• Mouvedre
• Cinsault
• Carignan

Whites

• Roussanne
• Marsanne
• Clairette
• Grenache Blanc

Question 5

Southern Rhone Vinification

Answer 5

• blends predominate (few single variety wines)
• no chaptalization allowed
• oak depends on winemaker but typically large casks rather than barriques

Question 6

Southern Rhone Major AOPs

Answer 6

Cotes du Rhones AOP
Cotes du Rhones Villages AOP
Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Gigondas AOP
Vacqueyras AOP
Beaumes de Venise AOP
Carianne AOP
Tavel AOP
Lirac AOP
Rasteau AOP

Question 7

Cotes ru Rhones AOP Grapes/Style

Answer 7

• red/white/rose’
• Reds can be syrah Based in North but typically Grenache based
• over 2/3 of Rhone Valley wines released as Cotes Du Rhone AOP

Question 8

CDNP Grapes/Style

Answer 8

• 13 varieties [+ variations authorized]
• Reds:Grenache, Mouvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise,
• Whites: blend of local varieties

Question 9

CDNP Vinification

Answer 9

• 12.5% abv min [highest in france]
• must discard 2% of grapes (“le rápé”) to ensure grapes ripe
• estate bottled wines have papal crest on bottle
• traditionally old oak foudres

Question 10

What is “le rápé”

Answer 10

producers in CDNP must declassify or discard at least 2% of harvested grapes to safeguard against underripeness

Question 11

CDNP History

Answer 11

• first area to have AOC in France! [1936]
• name = “new castle of the pope” refers to when the pope lived in Avignon
• Papal Crest on bottle = Estate Bottled
• largest of the crus , east bank of Rhone

Question 12

Gigondas Location/Grapes

Answer 12

• east bank of rhone
• red clay alluvial soils
• grenache based blends [50% minimum] 10% max other grapes
• red/white/rose’

Question 13

Vacqueyras Location/Grapes

Answer 13

• east bank of rhone
• reds/whites/rose’
• Grenache based blends [50% minimum]

Question 14

Tavel Grapes/Style

Answer 14

• Rose’ only
• Grenache based/ sometimes Cinsault
• fuller bodied than Provence [and can age]

Question 15

Lirac Grapes/Style

Answer 15

• red/white/rose’s similiar to Cotes du Rhone

- left bank rhone

Question 16

Beaumes de Venise AOP / Vinsobres AOP Grapes/Style

Answer 16

-50% Grenache based [similiar to CDR]

Question 17

Carianne AOP Grapes/Style

Answer 17

• Dry red and whites

- newest AOP [2016]

Question 18

Muscat de Beaumes-de-venice AOP Grapes/Style

Answer 18

-VDNs from Muscat Blanc a Petis Grains/Muscat Rouge a Petis Grains

Question 19

Rasteau AOP Grapes/Style

Answer 19

• red, white, rose’ oak aged VDNs from grenache [blanc, gris, noir]
• can also make dry reds but only from Rasteau fruit

Question 20

Rasteau AOP addl labeling

Answer 20

• Ambré: white w/ more oxidative
• Tuilé: red w/ more oxidative
• Blanc: fresher white style
• Grenat: fresher red style
• Hors d’age- matured 5 years prior to release.
• Rancio: deliberately oxidative and maderized

Question 21

Luberon AOP, Ventoux AOP, and Côtes du Vivarais AOP

Answer 21

-red/white/rose’s similiar to Cotes du Rhone

Question 22

Southern Rhone Producers

Answer 22

• Chateau de Beaucastle [Mouvedre’ dominated cdnp but uses all 13]
• Chateau Rayas [often 100% grenache]
• Clos de Papes [also owns Chateau/Domaine Des Tours]
• Clos St Jean
• Domain du Vieux Telegraphe

Question 23

Which producer is Mouvedre Dominated

Answer 23

Chateau de Beaucastle

Question 24

Which producer is almost always 100% Grenache

Answer 24

Rayas