The Northern Rhone

Question 1

Where are the best sites in Northern Rhone?

Answer 1

Planted close to the river, on steep slopes with a south facing aspect. Often lie in lateral valleys that feed into the Rhone as it protects them from the cold north winds known as the mistral.

Question 2

What is the climate of northern rhone?

Answer 2

moderate continetal

Question 3

What is the only black grape vareity permitted in northern rhone?

Answer 3

Syrah

Question 4

What are the most prized locations for Syrah Vineyards in Northern Rhone?

Answer 4

Southerly exposures on very steep slopes. This is even more important in cooler regions.

Question 5

What are the syrahs that come out of Northern Rhone like?

Answer 5

Deeply coloured, medium to high tannin with black fruit and sometimes black pepper and floral aromas.

Question 6

Why do some wine makers in Northern Rhone add white grapes to their Syrah?

Answer 6

Find that the addition of white grapes can help with the stablisiation of colour extraction from black grapes and that Viognier in particular can also add extra aromatic intensity to the wine.

Question 7

What white varities are found in Northern Rhone?

Answer 7

1. Viognier
2. 2. Marsanne
3. Roussanne

Question 8

What type of wine does Viognier from Northern Rhone make?

Answer 8

Full bodied white wines with perfumed aromas of blossom and apricots and flavours of stone fruit. Tend to have low acidity and high alcohol as they do not develop their signature aromas until late in the season when they achieved full ripeness.

Question 9

What can happen to the Viognier grapes in the winery if they are not handled correctly?

Answer 9

1. They can develop an overtly oily characteristic that can overwhelm varietal aromas

Question 10

Why are Marsanne and roussane often blended together in Northern Rhone?

Answer 10

Marsanne provides richness and weight, whereas roussane offers acidity and a perfurmed fruit characteristic.

Question 11

What are the 6 main crus in northern rhone from north to south?

Answer 11

1. Cote Rotie
2. Condrieu
3. Saint Joseph
4. Hermitage
5. Crozes-Hermitage
6. Cornas

Question 12

Talk about the site and vines from Cote Rotie.

Answer 12

1. Most northern vineyards in Northern Rhone surrounding the town of Ampuis
2. Cote Rotie – roasted slope. High sun exposure.
3. Only red wines produced but 20% viognier can be added.
4. Wines are deeply coloured, full bodied and spicy. The best have an aromatic floral freshness that distinguuises them from hermitage.

Question 13

Talk about the site and wines from Condrieu.

Answer 13

1. White wine solely made from the viognier grape
2. Best wines come from low yielding old vines grown on steep, well exposed terraced vineyards.
3. Chateau-Grillet is a single property appellation that produces similar wines.

Question 14

Talk about the site and wines from Hermitage.

Answer 14

• Located on a steep south facing slope behind the town of Tain-l’hermitage.
• They are divided into a number of Lieux-sits (named sites).
• Tradionally been a blend of Lieux-dits but now producers are doing specific lieux-dits.
• Usually the fullest bodied reds in Northern Rhone.
• Able to add 15% of Marsanne/Roussane

Question 15

Talk about the site and wines from Saint-Joesph.

Answer 15

1. Runs along the western bank of the rhone.
2. Vast majority of wines are made from red.
3. Some white wines from Marsanne and Roussane.
4. Best wines come from a terraced vineyard near Tournon

Question 16

Talk about the inexpensive wines from Saint-Joesph.

Answer 16

• They are light bodied and often made using the process of carbonic maceration.
• Grapes come from the fertile flatter sites and plateau of slopes.
• These can be the lightest bodied coming out of northern rhone expressing pepper-perfumed aspects.

Question 17

Talk about the site and wines from Crozes-Hermitage.

Answer 17

1. Most important appellation in regards to volume.
2. Vineyards in north are are on slopes where vineyards in south are on the plain.
3. Made from Syrah (can add up to 15% Marsanne/Roussane)
4. Large different in quality and price depending on vineyard site.
5. Lighter wines from south and more concentrated from North.

Question 18

Talk about the site and wines from Cornas.

Answer 18

1. Most southerly of red wine crus.
2. Vineyards lie on sheltered well-exposed south facing slopes.
3. Must be 100% Syrah.
4. Similar wines to hermitage (full bodied, deeply coloured)