Week 3b: Northern Rhône Flashcards
Which is larger: the Northern or Southern Rhône?
Southern
Physical geography of Northern Rhône?
Proximity to Rhône River
Very steep hillsides
What is the problem with the terrain? How is it addressed?
Erosion on very steep slopes
Solution:
1. Terracing
2. Tilling avoidance
3. Planting cover crops
Unique feature of Northern Rhône?
Mistral winds
Mistral problem? How is it rectified?
Vines can be blown over
Vines trained in pairs to single posts set like an A-Frame
Soil of Northern Rhône?
Granite and schist dominate but mix of soils
What is schist?
A coarse-grained metamorphic rock consisting of layers of different minerals
Can be split into thin irregular plates.
Predominant wine style of Northern Rhône:
Red
Percentage of wine produced in Northern Rhône compared to all of the Rhône Valley
10%
Northern Rhône climate:
Moderate
Hot summers
Snow in winters
What do the Northern and Southern Rhône have in common?
The Mistral
Winemaking habit in Northern Rhône:
Co-fermentation of white and red grapes
What does co-fermentation do?
- Fixes colour
- Aromatic lift
- Enhances florals
- Softens tannins
Carbonic / Whole Cluster fermentation in the Northern Rhône?
Yes.
Colour fixing
Aromatic lift
Northern Rhône core AOP’s from north to south:
- Côte Rôtie
- Condrieu / Château Grillet
- Saint Joseph
- Crozes Hermitage
- Hermitage
- Cornas
- Saint Péray
Northern Rhône AOP dedicated to 100% Viognier?
Condrieu
Monopole in Condrieu?
Château Grillet
Who owns Château Grillet?
Francois Pinault
Special soil in Château Grillet?
Mica soil called Arzelle
Château Grillet wine style:
White