The Rhône Valley

Question 1

Where is the Rhône Valley? Describe its location and then correlate your description to a map.

Answer 1

Between Burgundy and Provence. There is a 30-mile gap between the Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône sections.

Lyon to the north. Montélimar is the unofficial dividing line between the two regions.Avignon is the main city of the south.

Question 2

What’s the climate like in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 2

Northern Rhône: Moderate Continental
Southern Rhône: Mediterranean

Question 3

What’s the soil type/name in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 3

Northern Rhône: Decomposed granite, schist
Southern Rhône: Galets, alluvial, limestone

Question 3

What are the physical features/ topography of the Rhône Valley?

Answer 3

The Rhône river originates in Switzerland, flows south through France to the Mediterranean Sea.

Northern Rhône: Steep hillsides, the Rhône River reflects light and provides more exposure. It also concentrates the effects of Mistral.

Southern Rhône: Flatter terrain. Rolling hills, the Rhône River provides cooling impact and less slope.

Question 4

What role does slope and aspect play on each appellation? What even is slope and aspect?

Question 5

How are grapes grown in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 5

Northern Rhône: Terraced slopes with staked vines to reinforce from Mistral wind.

Southern Rhône: Traditionally bush vines to conserve water and provide shade from the sun. Modern plantings in the south are often trellised and often dictated by economics.

Question 6

How’s wine made in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 6

Northern Rhône: Co-fermented wines in the north.

Southern Rhône: Blended wines in the south.

Question 7

In Northern Rhône, what are the causes and effects of co-fermentation?

Question 8

Why are wines blended in the South which includes a deeper dive into Grenache and its strengths and weaknesses.

Question 9

What are the white grape variety names in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 9

Northern Rhône: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne

Southern Rhône: Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, Picpoul

Question 10

What are the red grape variety names in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 10

Northern Rhône: Syrah
Southern Rhône: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault

Question 11

What are the Northern Rhône AOPs?

Answer 11

• Côte Rôtie AOP
• Crozes-Hermitage AOP
• Hermitage AOP
• St.-Joseph AOP
• Condrieu AOP
• Cornas AOP
• Château Grillet AOP

Question 12

What are the Southern Rhône classification tiers?

Answer 12

• Côtes-du-Rhône AOP
• Côtes-du-Rhône Villages AOP (named villages)
• Crus/Single Village Examples:
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOP
• Tavel AOP - Gigondas AOP
• Vacqueyras AOP
• Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP

Question 13

What styles of wine are made in each Northern Rhône AOP and which grape varieties are permitted in each Northern Rhône AOP?

Question 14

What are the primary grape varieties and the primary style of wine made in each Southern Rhône AOP?

Question 15

Name examples of Côtes-du-Rhône Villages.

Question 16

What’s the elevation differences between Côtes-du-Rhône, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Cru AOP (single villages)?

Question 17

What’s the minimum abv. in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and why?

Question 18

What’s the minimum Grenache requirements of Southern Rhône AOPs?

Question 19

What does cru mean?

Answer 19

Single village. Verify this.

Question 20

What’s Vins Doux Naturels? Name some examples.

Answer 20

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. Name other.

Question 21

Again, what does co-fermentation mean? And which northern Rhône AOP uses co-fermentation?

Question 22

What’s the general style Rhône Valley wines?

Answer 22

Spicy, meaty reds; rich, aromatic whites

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise: lightly fortified, unoaked

Question 23

What are some Rhône Valley producers?

Answer 23

Chave, Chapoutier, Guigal, Beaucastel, Rayas

Question 24

Tell me about this papal occupation and the papal crest on bottles.

Question 25

What glassware do you use for Syrah and Grenache?

Question 26

Food pairings with Rhône wines?

Answer 26

Pair Rhône wines with meaty dishes involving herbs, bacon, peppercorn.Choose appropriate weights, intensity (i.e., Côtes-du-Rhône vs Châteauneuf-du-Pape).White Rhône wines can be a Chardonnay alternative.