Southern Rhône Flashcards
Percentage of the Rhône Valley wine produced in the Southern Rhône
95%
Most planted grape in the Southern Rhône
Grenache
Major grapes of the Southern Rhône
Grenache
Mouvèdre
Syrah
Cinsault
Carignan
Climate of the Southern Rhône
Mediterranean
What is a galet?
Large stones made of quartzite deposited in the Rhône river after the last ice age. They store heat during the day and release the heat at night to keep vines warm
Soil composition of the Southern Rhône
Limestone covered by gravel, sand, and clay
Allowed color(s) of wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Red
White
Encépagement requirement for red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Blend of permitted grapes
Encépagement requirement for white wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Blend of permitted grapes
Permitted grapes of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Grenache (noir, blanc, gris)
Mouvèdre
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
Brun Argenté
Clairette (noir, rose)
Muscardin
Picardin
Piquepoul (noir, blanc, gris)
Terret Noir
Which wine is famously produced from all authorized varietals in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Château de Beaucastel Rouge
Which grape does Château Rayas tend to use in its wines?
100% Grenache
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP minimum potential alcohol
12.5% (Highest in France for dry AOP wines)
What is le râpé in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Appellation requirement stating that all producers must discard at least 2% of harvested grapes. Meant to act as a safeguard against under-ripeness
First producer to release estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Château La Nerthe
1785
Châteauneuf-du-Pape size in hectares
3161 hectares
Soil composition of Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
Varied. Some parts have galets. Others have gravel, calcareous clay, and sand
Southern Rhône’s largest appellation
Côtes du Rhône AOP
Base designation for wines from the entire Rhône Valley
Côtes du Rhône AOP
Proportion of Rhône Valley wines released as Côtes du Rhône AOP
> 2/3
of communes that may append their name to Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOP wines
20
First Côtes du Rhône-Villages commune to be elevated to its own appellation
Gigondas
1971
Soil composition of Gigondas AOP
Stony red clay alluvium
of Côtes du Rhône-Villages communes elevated to AOP status
5
Style of wine Rasteau AOP and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP are best known for
Vin doux naturel
Describe mutage
The act of adding pure grape spirit to arrest fermentation at a proportion of 5-10%. Often found in the vins doux naturel of the Southern Rhône
Decribe ambré in Rasteau AOP
A white vin doux naturel wine that is more oxidative than usual and has been aged for at least three years prior to release
Describe tuilé in Rasteau AOP
A red vin doux naturel wine that is more oxidative than usual and has been aged for at least three years prior to release
Describe blanc in Rasteau AOP
Fresher white vin doux naturel from Rasteau AOP
Describe grenat in Rasteau AOP
Fresher red vin doux naturel from Rasteau AOP
Describe hors d’age in Rasteau AOP
Vin doux naturel that has aged for at least 5 years prior to being released
Describe rancio in Rasteau AOP
A vin doux naturel wine made in a deliberatively oxidative and maderized style in which the wine barrels are left open and exposed to sunlight and temperature
Percentage of red Southern Rhône plantings
93%
Beaumes-de-Venise AOP location
France
Southern Rhône
Allowed color(s) of wine Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
Red
Red wine encépagement requirement in Beaumes-de-Venise AOP
Minimum 50% Grenache
25-50% Syrah
Remainder comprised of Rhône varietals
Cairanne AOP location
France
Southern Rhône
Allowed color(s) of wine in Cairanne AOP
Red
White