The Rhône - The Southern Rhône Flashcards
What percentage of Rhône wines are produced in the Southern Rhône?
95%.
What is the most planted grape in the Southern Rhône?
Grenache
What are the major grape varieties of the Southern Rhône?
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan.
What type of climate conditions exist in the Southern Rhône?
Mediterranean.
Why do many Southern Rhône growers plant their vines on an angle?
Le mistral will blow them upright over time
What are the primary soil varieties of the Southern Rhône?
Alluvial deposits atop limestone subsoil with sand, clay and gravel.
What is the name of the large ‘pudding stones’ left by the last post-ice age glacial melt? What purpose do they serve?
Galets. They help to store heat during the day and release it at night to help warm the vines.
What percentage of grapes must be discarded/declassified under AOP regulations in the Southern Rhône?
At least 2% of harvested grapes.
Who released the first bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape? What was the vintage?
Château La Nerthe in 1785
What are the grapes allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris) Mourvèdre Sryah Cinsault Counoise Picpoul (Noir/Blanc/Gris) Terret Noir Bourboulenc Clairette/Clairette Rosé Roussanne Vaccarèse Picardan Muscardin
Which styles of wine are produced in Côtes du Rhône AOP? What are the acceptable blending practices?
Red, white and rosé.
Red: min. 40% Grenache EXCEPT vineyards north of Montélimar. At least one complimentary variety must be present (Sryah, Mourvèdre).
White: Principal varieites must comprise the majority of the blend (Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Viognier) with accessory varieties (Piquepoul Blanc and Ugni Blanc)
Rosé: as per red wine req’s.
Which styles of wine are produced in Grignan-les-Adhémar AOP? What are the acceptable blending practices?
Red, white and rosé.
Red: Principal varieties form the majority of the blend (Grenache and Syrah) and accessory varieties (Bourboulenc, Carignan, Cinsault, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Viognier and Marselan) may not exceed 10% of the blend
White: Bourboulenc and Clairette must be less than 50% of the blend with Viognier, Grenache Banc, Marsanne, Roussanne
**NO SINGLE VARIETY MAY EXCEED 80% OF THE BLEND
Rosé: As per red, white varieties can be up to 20% of the blend
**Until 2019 Syrah may be up to 10% of Red and rosé blends
What are the geographic designations of Côtes-du-Rhône Villages?
Chusclan Gadagne Laudun Massif d'Uchaux Plan de Dieu Puymeras Roaix Rochegude Rousset-les-Vignes Sablet Saint-Gervais Saint-Maurice Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes Saint-Cécile Séguret Signargues Suze-la-Rousse Valréas Visan
What are the acceptable blending practices for Côtes-du-Rhône Villages wines?
Red: Min. 50% Grenache with at least one complimentary variety present (Brun Argenté, Carignan, Counoise, Cinsault, Muscardin, Piquepoul Noir and Terret Noir)
White: Min. 50% principal varieties (Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, Grenache Blanc) with accessory varieties (Piquepoul Blanc and Ugni Blanc)
Rosé: As per reds
