Rhone Pt 1 - General & Viticultural History Flashcards

1
Q

Where does the Rhone River begin?

A

As a glacial melt in Switzerland. It is the 4th longest river in France. It is 338 ml long in French territory.

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2
Q

Which French river joins the Rhone at Lyon?

A

The Saone augments the Rhone flow when it joins at Lyon and pours towards the Mediterrenean.

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3
Q

In geological terms, what happens at the Rhone.

A

The granite and schist of the Massif Central (west) collide with the sedimentary soils of the Alps and its foothills to the east.

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4
Q

Where does the Rhone ranks as producer in France?

A

It is the second largest AOC producer with 2.8 million hl.

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5
Q

How much of the Rhone’s production is labelled Cotes du Rhone (CDR) AOC?

A

Almost 50%.

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6
Q

Which tribes occupied Rhone first?

A

Probably Gallic/Celtic tribes.

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7
Q

Which tribes brought viticulture to the Mediterranean coast and used the Rhone for transport?

A

The Phocaens (Greeks) arrived in Marseille in 600 BCE. They used the Rhone for transporting commerce including wine.

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8
Q

When did the Romans arrive in the Rhone?

A

Around 121 BCE and began planting vineyards further inland.

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9
Q

How has the roman influence continued in the Rhone valley.

A

They firstly built and planted the terraces on the steep slopes of the Northern Rhone valley.

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10
Q

Why did the Romans plant the lowlands of the Rhone after the valleys?

A

In their experience the lowlands were frost pockets.

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11
Q

How did the Rhone gain more commercial and political importance after the Roman era ended?

A

The church maintained the vineyards and in the 14th century the popes located to Avignon. From 1309 to 1376 seven french popes lived there.

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12
Q

Which area near Avignon was considered by the popes to be special?

A

An obscure village area 11 ml north of Avignon.

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13
Q

What did Pope John XXII do for the wine area of Rhone?

A

He built a summer residence 11 ml north of Avignon. This was named the Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This became the name of the village itself.

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14
Q

How were the wines of Chateauneuf originally known?

A

Vins du Pape.

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15
Q

Which church-held administrative area in the Rhone became famous for its wines in the 1600’s?

A

Vicariate of Uzes.

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16
Q

What did Vicariate of Uzes earn fame for?

A

Its growers began calling their wines Coste du Rhone. They were regulated in 1650 to guarantee origin and quality to protect their renown.

17
Q

What did Louis XV do in 1737 for wines of Uzes?

A

In an effort to combat fraud and control quality all Coste du Rhone barrels had to be branded with “CDR”.

18
Q

How successful was Louis XV edict of 1737 for Uzes wines?

A

Not very. Copying continued by neighbouring vineyards without punishment.

19
Q

When was Les Cotes du Rhone begun?

A

In the 19th century the Coste du Rhone became Les Cotes du Rhone. It was extended to include vineyards on the left bank of the Rhone.

20
Q

What is the difference between Cotes du Rhone AOC and Les Cotes du Rhone?

A

Les Cotes is a very large sub-region and the AOC is one of many appellations within that.

21
Q

Which two natural events changed the viticultural industry in the Rhone?

A

Phylloxera in 1870’s;
The great freeze of 1956.

22
Q

Which grape variety was almost wiped out by phylloxera in the 1870’s? Why?

A

Mourvedre. It proved difficult to get a suitable rootstock partner. Other more easily grafted varieties took over.(Grenache and Syrah)

23
Q

What % of plantings is Mourvedre in the Rhone?

A

Around 4% of Cotes du Rhone production zone. It was 33% pre-phylloxera.

24
Q

What did the great freeze of 1956 do to the agricultural landscape of the Rhone?

A

The winter temperatures dropped to -15C for three weeks. It was compounded by the frigid Mistral which blew at 60 mph and devastated the olive and fruit trees. Vines were the main survivors. They became the focus of farmers from then on.

25
Q

What brought the Rhone wines to the fore of world recognition in the 1900’s?

A

Major wine publications championed the wines. Robert Parker et al.

26
Q

What are “Rhone Rangers”?

A

Californian producers who produced Rhone-styled blends.

27
Q

Which Rhone-style wines did Australia produce?

A

Inexpensive Cote-Rotie-styled with Syrah and Viognier