Southern Rhône Valley

Question 1

Which AOC has the highest min abv for France?

Answer 1

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, along with Vacqueyrs, Vinsobres, Cairanne, Rasteau, Beaumes-de-Venise & Gigondas at 12.5%, min alcohol are the highest in France.

Question 2

What is rapé?

Answer 2

In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a min of 2% of harvest must be discarded, which is referred to as rapé. This can be used for table wine or distillation.

Question 3

What does a papal crest on a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape indicate?

Answer 3

The papal crest indicates estate bottling in CDP.

Question 4

What styles of wine are permitted for Gigondas?

Answer 4

Only Red & Rosé are permitted in Gigondas.

Question 5

What styles of wine are permitted in Vacqueyras?

Answer 5

Blanc, Rosé, & Rouge are all permitted in Vacqueyras.

Question 6

What styles of wine are permitted in Beaumes-de-Venise?

Answer 6

Dry red is the only permitted style in Beaumes-de-Venise (hint, Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise is a different AOP).

Question 7

What styles of wine are permitted for Tavel?

Answer 7

Rosé is the only style permitted in Tavel.

Question 8

Name a few of the villages that can append their name t Côtes du Rhône.

Answer 8

Red-Only (5): Massif d’Uchaux, Signargues, Plan de Dieu, Puyméras, Gadagne
Red & Rosé (1): Chusclan
W/R/Rosé (14): Laudun, Roaix, Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Sablet, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Maurice, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes, Sainte-Cécile, Séguret, Suze-la-Rousse, Vaison-la-Romaine, Valréas, Visan

Question 9

What was Grignan les Adhémar previously called?

Answer 9

Coteaux du Tricastin AOC was established in 1973 and later changed to Grignan les Adhémar.

Question 10

What larger region was Costières de Nimes previously part of?

Answer 10

Costières de Nimes was originally part of the Languedoc, then transferred to Rhône Valley in 2004.

Question 11

Where is Clairette de Bellegarde and what does it produce?

Answer 11

Clairette de Bellegarde is a single commune AOP within Costières de Nimes and produces white wine only from the Clairette grape.

Question 12

What styles are permitted for Rasteau AOP?

Answer 12

Rouge, along with Vin Doux Naturel (blanc, ambré, grenat, tuilé) and VDN rancio are permitted for Rasteau AOP.
Grapes can come from the communes of Rasteau, Sablet, or Cairanne for VDN, but only from Rasteau if unfortified, dry red.

Question 13

Name 2 sub AOPs of Costières de Nimes.

Answer 13

Duché d’Uzes & Clairette de Bellegarde are sub AOPs of Costières de Nimes.

Question 14

What are the communes permitted for CDP production?

Answer 14

CDP, Oranges, Sorgues, Bedarrides, Courthezon

Question 15

Describe the 2002 vintage in the Southern Rhone from 1-5.

Answer 15

1 because of massive flooding

Question 16

Which estate produced the first ‘special cuvee’ for CDP?

Answer 16

Chateau La Nerth ‘Cuvee des Cadettes’ in the 1800s!

Question 17

Name at least 2 special cuvees in CDP.

Answer 17

Ch La Nerthe Cuvee des Cadettes (1800s)
Bonneau Cuvee Celestins (1927)
Beaucastel Hommage a Perrin (1989)
*Clos de Papes & Rayas do not produce a special cuvee.

Question 18

Who promoted CDP early helping it gain appellation status (first AOP in France!)?

Answer 18

Baron Puerre Le Roy - he owned Fortia, La Nerthe, & Vaudieu.
They drew the boundaries to CDP in 1919, applied for appellation status in 1924, and became the first AOC in France in 1936.

Question 19

Name all 18 varieties permitted for Chateauneuf du Pape.

Answer 19

Grenache (Blanc, Gris, Noir), Picquepoul (Blanc, Gris, Noir), Clairette (and Clairette Rose), Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise, Cinsault, Terret Noir, Vaccarese (= Brun Argente), Roussanne, Bourbolenc, Picardan, Muscardin

Question 20

What berry color is Muscardin? Picardan?

Answer 20

black & white respectively

Question 21

Name the worst vintage in CDP between 2000 and 2010. Why?

Answer 21

2002. There was massive flooding.

Question 22

Which Pope moved to Avignon and when?

Answer 22

Pope Clement V in 1309. The papacy stayed there until 1378.

He also had Chateau Pape Clement in Graves named after him!

Question 23

What is the minimum planting density for CDP vines?

Answer 23

En Ligne - 3,000 vines per hectare

Au Carre - 2,500 vines per hectare

Question 24

Is Chaptalization allowed in CDP?

Answer 24

Not for reds. Whites can be enriched, but not past 14.5% abv.