Climate & Grape Growing

Question 1

What is the terrain of the Rhône Valley?

Answer 1

Narrow and Steep

Question 2

Where are vineyards planted?
how much is under vine?

Answer 2

Close to the Rhône River
4,000 ha (vs 66,000 Southern Rhone)

Question 3

Where are the best sites

Answer 3

Steep slopes with south-facing aspect

Question 4

What do the valleys that feed into the Rhone protect the vines from?

Answer 4

Mistral wind (cold, north)

Question 5

What is the climate of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 5

Moderate continental climate = cold winters, warm summers and adequate rainfall during autumn/winter

Question 6

What is the key weather influence?

Answer 6

Mistral Wind - cold, blows from the North. Reduces fungal disease, decreases vigour and leads to lower yields and higher concentration in the wines, but also lower production.

Question 7

Key difference in temperature of Northern Rhône vs Southern Rhône

Answer 7

Noticeably cooler in the North

Question 8

What does planting on steep slopes in the N. Rhône result in?

Answer 8

Better light interception and better drainage = more work in vineyard, by hand, raising cost

Question 9

What is the distance between the most northerly and southerly vineyards?

Answer 9

65km - better ripening in southern area of N Rhône

Question 10

Describe the Syrah grape

Answer 10

Vigorous
requires careful training and tying to protect from Mistral
On steep slopes individual vines are tied to 1 or 2 poles - trellising not possible
Susceptible to mites and botrytis bunch rot
Disease called Syrah Decline or Disorder - leaves turn red, graft point breaks up, vine dies

Question 11

Wines that Syrah produces?

Answer 11

Only black grape allowed in N Rhône Crus
Deep ruby
med to pronounced intensity aromas
violet, plum (red/black - depending on cold/warm year) blackberry and black pepper and herbal notes
Acidity and tannins from med to high
Syrah adds structure, fruit and colour to Southern Rhone reds

Question 12

Describe Côte Rotie AOC

Answer 12

small AOC, more northerly appellation, produces only red wines
vineyards on steep slopes, often terraced, making most of east/south-east facing for high sunlight interception and wind shelter.
High sunlight, heat, good drainage, poor stony soils = fully ripe grapes

Question 13

Describe the vineyard for Cote Rotie and size

Answer 13

Steep slopes, often terraced, worked by hand
Individual vines are single or double guyot trained and tied to 1 or 2 poles
Vineyard size shrunk to 70 ha in 1970s
Propagated by mass selection
Rootstock 3309 preferred
Typical planting density 10,000 vines per ha = competition between vines, reducing yields = concentrated fruit
Max yield 40 hL/ha

Question 14

What is the size of the Cote Rotie vineyard(s) now, who revived the area?

Answer 14

250 ha
Single Vineyard La Mouline and La Landonne Revived by Guigal - high score by Robert Parker

Question 15

Describe the wines from Cote Rôtie?

Answer 15

All red, made from Syrah
Up to 20% Viognier permitted, tho often 0% added
If Syrah & Viognier used must be co-fermented
Deeply coloured, full bodied, spicy and the best have floral freshness and textural elegance that distinguishes them from Hermitage - Pronounced aromas, typically softer and less full-bodied than other appellations

Question 16

Describe Winemaking in Cote Rotie

Answer 16

winemaking emphasises aromatic potential of wines
most choose to destem and then cold soak, but use % of stems in ferments becoming common
Warm fermentation 26-30℃, for full extraction
Viognier adds floral and fruity aromas
natural yeasts used (terroir expression)
MLF takes place in cask
Maturation in small barrels (225 l barriques or 500-600 L for less overt oak

Question 17

Describe Condrieu AOC

Answer 17

close to Northern end of North Rhone

Question 18

Describe Condrieu wine

Answer 18

must be 100% Viognier
Full-bodied white wines
aromas of blossom and apricots
flavours of stone fruits
low acidity, high alcohol - as grapes do not develop signature flavours until v late in season = high level of sugar ripeness
careful handling to avoid oily character
new oak increasing used, but easy to overwhelm primary aromas
small number made in an off-dry style from late-harvested grapes

Question 19

describe Condrieu vineyards

Answer 19

197 ha
Often south facing (river turns southwest) = enhanced fruit ripening
steep, low fertility, rocky slopes, terraced vineyards, challenging soil erosion and wind
Max 41 hL/ha = medium to pronounced flavour intensity

Question 20

Describe winemaking in Condrieu AOC

Answer 20

Fermented in S/S or large wooden vessels, some small barrel
MLF can be chosen by producer, but normally carried out
Aged on lees 10-12 months with lees stirring
Good to outstanding quality, premium to super-premium in price.
model for Viognier around the world.

Question 21

what is the small AOC within Condrieu?

Answer 21

Château Grillet AOC 3.5ha, created the reputation for Viognier before it came back in fashion in 1980s

Question 22

Describe Saint Joseph AOC

Answer 22

Long appellation runs from Condrieu to Cornas 50 km on westerner bank of the Rhone river
90% of wines are Red made from Syrah
Max yield 40 hL/ha
Marsanne/Roussanne allowed in small amounts
Large volumes of more light-bodied wines come from more flatter, fertile sites.

Question 23

Describe winemaking / wine style of Saint Joseph

Answer 23

Often lightest-style of N Rhone Syrah
S/S and large wood tanks for fermentation, ageing in larger wood tanks/barrels, occasionally barriques
Wide range of quality/price
good wines at mid-price
very good wines to premium and super premium

Question 24

Describe Hermitage AOC

Answer 24

on a Hill, located above town of Tain L’Hermitage
Small appellation of 137ha
Divided into a number of Lieu-dits - named sites not part of appellation system - Chapoutier
On East of river = catches the sun and protection from Mistral
1/3 planted to white wine production

Question 25

Describe the Terroir of Hermitage

Answer 25

hot, dry vineyards, thin, stony soils
South-facing slope, catches sun , protected from Mistral
Yields limited to 40 hL/ha (45 hL/ha for whites)

Question 26

Describe wines of Hermitage

Answer 26

pronounced flavour intensity
high tannins in red wine and longevity
1/5 white wines

Question 27

Describe winemaking in Hermitage AOC

Answer 27

Proportion of stems included in ripe vintages
warm fermentation (30℃) used for maximum extraction of flavour and tannins
lengthy oak ageing 912-18m)
new oak common, large wooden vessels used

Question 28

Describe white wines in Hermitage

Answer 28

1/5 of production is white wine
typically blend of Marsanne / Roussane
Fermentation in old wood vats, new/old oak S/S
Maturation in old oak (some new oak)
Aged on less 10-12m,

Question 29

Describe the resulting white wine in hermitage

Answer 29

After long bottle ageing wines develop rich, creamy and nutty flavours with outstanding complexity
In very ripe years a rare Vin de Paille is made (sweet wine made by drying grapes off the vine).

Question 30

Key Producers in Hermitage

Answer 30

Negociant houses - Chapoutier and Jaboulet
Significant holdings by co-op Cave de Tain (owns 15% of appellation) and Jean Louis Chave.

Question 31

Describe Crozes-Hermitage AOC

Answer 31

Largest of northern appellations
1,700 ha on east bank of river
Soils are deeper and more fertile vs Hermitage = lower concentration

Question 32

What is the climate in Crozes-Hermitage?

Answer 32

Continental climate with Alpine influences, extremely cold in winter
strong influence from Mistral
Long growing season, hi diurnal = moderate sugar, retained acidity

Question 33

Describe the Vineyard in Crozes-Hermitage

Answer 33

Deeper fertile soils vs Hermitage
max yield 45 hL/ha
on flatter land machine harvest possible
Marsanne / Roussane also grown

Question 34

Describe winemaking in Crozes-Hermitage

Answer 34

Carbonic and Semi/carbonic maceration used to enhance fruitiness of young wines - but rare
9% white wines marsanne/roussane
traditional fermentation of wines on skins for white wine for aged wines
destemming widely practiced
Fermentation in S/S, large oak vessels

Question 35

Quality of wines from Crozes-Hermitage

Answer 35

Reds - good to v good, plus some premium super-premium priced high quality wines
Whites: aged in old wood, v good in quality mid priced to premium, some outstanding.

Question 36

Describe Cornas AOC

Answer 36

Most southerly of red wine Crus, 145 ha
Warmest - warm Mediterranean climate
vineyards in sheltered sun-baked, south-facing slopes
Must be 100% Syrah
Max yield 40 Hl/ha

Question 37

Describe wines from Cornas

Answer 37

Deeply coloured, full-bodied, tannic intensity
current trend towards robust and long-lived wines.
v good to outstanding quality, premium to s-premium in price

Question 38

Describe Saint-Péray AOC

Answer 38

Most southerly of N. Rhone appellations
Dedicated to white wines from Marsanne and some Roussanne
Limestone/Granitic soil = good water holding/drainage
max yield 45 hL/ha
S/S or oak barrels
Higher quality wines aged on lees for 10-12 months, plus stirring to add body
good to v good, mid to premium priced
sparkling wine also made

Question 39

Describe Collines Rhodaniennes IGP

Answer 39

‘Hills of the Rhône
Makes red, white and rosé wines from grapes grown outside AOCs in N. Rhône.
higher yields allowed 80 hL/ha
Allows producers to make wines from other grape varieties allowed by AOC rules and offer less expensive wines than AOC wines.
Mid to premium priced