Rhone Pt 3 -Northern Rhone General

Question 1

Where is the Northern Rhone sub-region located?

Answer 1

It begins 20 miles south of Lyon and stretches for 45 miles between Vienne and Valence.

Question 2

How large is the planting in the N.Rhone?

Answer 2

Around 10,000 acres/ 4000 ha. It represents 4% of the total production area of the entire Rhone Valley.

Question 3

What is the climate of the N.Rhone?

Answer 3

It is continental with some Mediterranean influences. It receives approximately 2350 hours of sunshine per annum.

Question 4

What are the climate hazards of the N.Rhone?

Answer 4

Fog and frost in spring, hail in autumn and snow in winter.

Question 5

Most years, autumn is good. What does this allow in N.Rhone?

Answer 5

In most years autumn is warm, dry and sunny. This allows for a rain-free harvest with no disease pressure.

Question 6

Why is the window of ripening conditions smaller in the Northern as against the Southern Rhone?

Answer 6

Temperatures drop earlier in the North as fall advances. Early ripening varieties such as Syrah and Viognier are therefore favoured.

Question 7

How was the Rhone Valley formed?

Answer 7

It is part of the rift system formed when the Alps rose. It was widened and deepened by the Rhone glacier. It created a steep gorge with some gradients of 60 deg.

Question 8

Why did the Romans cultivate the Northern Rhone first?

Answer 8

Hillsides were prized. They excavated the slopes and terraced them to retain soil and mitigate erosion.

Question 9

What are the main soils of the N.Rhone?

Answer 9

Granite subsoils with a fine topsoil of decomposed crystalline mica schist and granite sands. There are some pockets of limestone.

Question 10

What additional soils do Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage have?

Answer 10

CH - Pockets of GALETS, clay and loess/molasse.
H - Some clay and sand.

Question 11

What are Galets? Molasse?

Answer 11

Galets - large, round stones;
Molasse - windblown sediment.

Question 12

Which varieties are planted to stony soils? Clay and sandy soils?

Answer 12

Stony - Syrah;
Clay, sand - White varieties.

Question 13

What benefit for the vine do stony soils have?

Answer 13

They trap heat during the day and radiate this back to the vine at night prolonging the photosynthesis and boosting ripening.

Question 14

What are the main white grapes of the N.Rhone?

Answer 14

Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 15

What are the main red grapes of the N.Rhone?

Answer 15

Syrah is the sole red grape of N.Rhone.

Question 16

Which varieties are sometimes co-fermented and grown together in N.Rhone?

Answer 16

Syrah can be grown and co-fermented with the white grapes in specified amounts and some AOCs.

Question 17

What does Viognier contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?

Answer 17

It adds lift and perfume to the finished wine. It also helps set colour. It has compounds which can hold pigments in suspension and boost colour intensity.

Question 18

What does Marsanne contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?

Answer 18

It can add aromatic complexity and soften tannins.

Question 19

What does Roussane contribute to wines made from Syrah in N.Rhone?

Answer 19

It adds perfume to both white and red wines.

Question 20

How is Marsanne used in the N.Rhone?

Answer 20

It is usually blended with reds and with Roussanne to make the white blends. It is regarded as better quality as it has good extract levels.

Question 21

How are Syrah and Viognier trained in N. Rhone?

Answer 21

Guyot and supported by echalas structures. Modern trellising uses posts and wires to support and protect the canopy.

Question 22

Why must unterraced vineyards in N.Rhone be reset after harvest?

Answer 22

They can suffer erosion and the soil has to be transported back up the slopes.

Question 23

How is harvesting done in the N.Rhone?

Answer 23

Mostly by hand because of the steep slopes and terraces.

Question 24

What is the style of white wine from N.Rhone?

Answer 24

Most are still and dry. Some sparkling is made in Saint-Peray.

Question 25

How are N.Rhone white wines fermented and matured?

Answer 25

Typically fermented in neutral vessels. Some are aged in oak but this is usually old. Hermitage in particular see some wood.

Question 26

How is Hermitage Vin de Paille made?

Answer 26

Marsanne and/or Roussanne grapes are dried on straw mats for at least 45 days to dessicate the grapes and gain concentration.

Question 27

How common is late-harvest sweet wine from Condrieu?

Answer 27

Rare.

Question 28

What is the style of red wines from N.Rhone?

Answer 28

They are still red, with vivacious acidity. Tannin levels vary with AOC. All except the simplest are built to age.

Question 29

Which are regarded as the more structured wines of N.Rhone?

Answer 29

Cornas and Hermitage.

Question 30

Which are regarded as the elegantly structured wines of N.Rhone?

Answer 30

Cote-Rotie and St Joseph. (generally)

Question 31

In which vessels are wines aged in N.Rhone?

Answer 31

Beton, Inox, Demi-Muids or Foudres.

Question 32

What is Beton?

Answer 32

A concrete vessel.

Question 33

What is Inox?

Answer 33

A stainless steel tank.

Question 34

What is a Demi-muid?

Answer 34

A large oak cask holding 600 litres.

Question 35

What is a Foudre?

Answer 35

A very large, old oak cask which has been used often and imparts no flavours to wine.

Question 36

Is new oak used in the N.Rhone?

Answer 36

It is neither typical nor traditional to age the wines in new oak barrels however in Hermitage and Cote Rotie it is practiced now.

Question 37

What are the production numbers for N.Rhone?

Answer 37

Crozes-Hermitage - 41%;
St. Joseph - 35%;
Cote Rotie - 9%;
Condrieu - 5%;
Cornas - 4%;
Hermitage - 3%
St.Peray - 3%.