Southern Rhône Flashcards
What percentage of wine production does the Southern Rhône account for in the Rhône Valley?
95%
What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?
Mediteranean
What is the largest appellation of the Southern Rhône?
Côtes du Rhône AOP
-over 2/3 of the Rhône Valley’s wines are released as
Côtes du Rhône AOP
How many communes may append their name to the
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP?
20 as of 2016
What are the 20 geographic designations of Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP?
Chusclan Gadagne Laudun Massif d'Uchaux Plan de Dieu Puymeras Roaix Rochegude Rousset-les-Vignes Sablet Saint-Gervais Saint-Maurice Saint-Pantaleon-les-Vignes Sainte-Cécile Séguret Sinargues Suze-la- Rousse Vaison-La-Romaine Valréas Visan
What is the mandatory encepagement of Gigondas AOP from 2014 forward?
Min. 90% total GSM:
- Min. 50% Grenache
- Min. 15% Syrah and Mourvedre
What were the first 4 former Côtes du Rhône-Villages to be promoted to full AOP status?
Gigondas -1971 Vacqueras- 1990 Beaumes-de-Venise-2005 Vinsobres-2006 -all min. 50% Grenache -all min. 12.5% abv
What is the most recent AOP upgrade from Côtes du Rhône-Villages?
Cairanne in 2016
What are the main grape varietals of Lirac AOP?
- Grenache Noir/Blanc
- whites may see Clairette and Bourblenc
What appellation served as France’s doorway to the phylloxera incursion?
Lirac in 1863
What is one of the only communal appellations in France exclusively dedicated to rose?
Tavel AOP
-Grenache based
Name the 2 appellations that exist for Vin Doux Naturel in the Southern Rhône.
Rasteau AOP
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
Who produces 90% of the wine labeled as Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOP?
the local co-op Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise.
What is the main grape (or grapes) of Rasteau AOP?
Grenache Blanc/Noir/Gris
-may be white, rose or red
What communes are eligible for the Rasteau AOP?
Rasteau
Cairanne
Sablet
Describe the wines of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau.
Muscat de Beaume de Venise-fresher and more aromatic
Rasteau-more tawny flavors
In 2011, vignerons in Rasteau adopted what 2 label terms that were established by the producers of Rivesaltes.
ambré-white
tuilé-red
VDN wines displaying a more oxidative character and subject to at lest 3 years of aging prior to release
Fresher versions of Rasteau white and red VDN wines are now labled as:
blanc and grenat
What does “Hors d’age” indicate on a Rasteau VDN label?
wines that have matured for at least 5 years prior to release
Describe “rancio”.
a deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature.
Rasteau AOP wines may be produced in this way.
As of what year may dry, unfortified red wines be produced as Rasteau AOP?
2010
-only from fruit grown in Rasteau itself
What is the Southern Rhône’s northernmost appellation?
Grignan-les-Adhèmar AOP
What was the former name of Grignan- les- Adhèmar AOP?
Côtes du Tricastin
-Re-branded in 2010, hoping to rebound sales and avoid an unsavory association with the troubled Tricastin nuclear plant.
Which Southern Rhône appellation was formerly considered an appellation of Languedoc?
Costières de Nimes in 2004
What is Clairette de Bellgarde?
a single commune appellation within Costieres de Nimes
-produces white wines from Clairette
What are “galets”?
‘pudding stones” of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- larger stones made of quartzite and smoothed by the river
- serve to restore heat, releasing it to the vines at night
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
12.5%
Describe the blend of Château de Beaucastel Rouge.
Dominated by Mourvedre.
famously produced by a blend of every authorized varietal.
What is the dominate grape of Château Rayas?
Grenache
-often releases their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as 100% Grenache
Define “le râpe”.
The AOP regulation mandtory that producers declassify or discard at least 2% of the hrvested grapes. This process safeguards against under-ripeness.
Name the 13 grape varietals of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Grenache(blanc/noir/gris) Mourvedre Syrah Cinsault Counoise Picpoul(blanc/noir/gris) Terret Noir Bourboulenc Clairette/Clairette Rose Roussane Vaccarese Picardin Muscardin
Who released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1785?
Chateau La Nerthe
Name the 5 communes of production for Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Orange Bedarrides Courthezon Sorgues
What are the grape varietals of Châtillon-en-Diois AOP?
Gamay-reds/rose
Aligote and Chardonnay-whites
