France - Rhone Valley Flashcards

1
Q

Which are the 2 main regions of the Rhone Valley?

A

Northern Rhone
Southern Rhone

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2
Q

Describe the climate and what influences it
(In the Northern Rhone)

A

Continental climate, with less sunshine than southern regions.
Cold Mistral winds are not as strong as in the south, but helps drying grapes and avoid molds, fungal diseases and mildew.

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3
Q

What is the defining soil of the Northern Rhone?

A

Granite
Schist

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4
Q

List the main 9 regions of the Northern Rhone, from north to south

A

Cote Rotie
Condrieu
Saint-Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Cornas
Saint-Peray
Clairette de Die
Chatillon-en-Diois

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5
Q

Describe geographically the Cote Rotie

A

Steepest slopes in the north of the Northern Rhone.
South facing and protected from cold winds

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6
Q

Which are the 2 main regions of the Cote Rotie?

A

Cote Brune (South)
Cote Blonde (South)

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7
Q

Which soil can we find in the Cote Brune?

A

High clay content, rich in ironstone and dark in color

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8
Q

Which soil can we find in the Cote Blonde?

A

Granite and high limestone content

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9
Q

Which are the permitted grapes in Cote Rotie?

A

Syrah
max 20% Viognier

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10
Q

What does Viognier impart in the blend with Syrah of the Cote Rotie?

A

Helps stabilizing the color of Syrah.
In bad vintages it acts as a natural chaptalization.

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11
Q

Name a top producer in the Cote Rotie

A

Guigal

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12
Q

Which is the grape of Condrieu?

A

Viognier

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13
Q

What can we expect from Condrieu’s wines?

A

Highly concentrated fruit flavor.
Peach, apricot, gold color, dry and spicy

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14
Q

Name a TOP estate of Condrieu?

A

Chateau-Grillet

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15
Q

Describe Saint-Joseph wines

A

Syrah and 10% Roussanne/Marsanne.
Wines don’t have body and concentration of Cote Rotie and Hermitage

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16
Q

Where is Hermitage situated?

A

South facing granite slopes, on the east bank of the river Rhone

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17
Q

Why is it called ‘Hermitage’?

A

Because of the Chevalier de Sterimberg, that after the crusades retired as a ‘hermit’ in a Chapelle on the hill

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18
Q

Which grape are used in Hermitage?

A

Syrah
max 15% Roussanne/Marsanne

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19
Q

Which sweet wine is produced in Hermitage?

A

Vin de Paille
sold under Hermitage Vin de Paille AOC

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20
Q

Name a TOP Hermitage producer

A

Charpoutier

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21
Q

Which wines are produced in Crozes-Hermitage?

A

Primarily reds from Syrah with max 15% Marsanna/Roussanne

22
Q

Describe Cornas wines

A

100% Syrah
Very concentrated
Unapproachable young

23
Q

Which wines are produced in Saint Peray?

A

Still and sparkling whites from Marsanne/Roussanne

24
Q

Which wines can we find in Clairette de Die?

A

Light dry sparkling wines from 100% Clairette grape.
Methode Traditionelle
Methode Dioise Ancestrale

25
Q

Which wines are produced in Chatillon-en-Diois?

A

Red, rose from Gamay
Whites from Aligote/Chardonnay

26
Q

Describe the climate and what influences it in the Northern Rhone

A

Mediterranean climate
Mistral winds is the major aspect.
Powerful cold winds that blows from North to South

27
Q

How does the Mistral wind affects the grapes?

A

Reduces humidity, avoid molds, fungal diseases, mildew, insects, dries the soil quickly after the rain.
Breaks shoots during spring, increasing quality but reducing yields.
Dry grapes during ripening, reducing yields but increasing concentration of flavor

28
Q

Which are the predominant grapes of the Southern Rhone blend?

A

Grenache (predominant)
Syrah
Mourvedre

29
Q

Which wines can we find in Beaume-de-Venise?

A

Table wines min. 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC are sweet VDN wines from Muscat a petit grains noir et blanc
100g/L residual sugar and min. 15%abv

30
Q

What does VDN means?

A

Vin Doux Naturel
addition of grape spirit (brandy) to arrest fermentation.

31
Q

Which wines can we find in Cairanne?

A

Good reds from min. 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah and/or Mourvedre

32
Q

What is the main characteristic of the soil in Chateauneuf-de-Pape?

A

‘Galets’
Large smooth rounded pebbles that help drain the ground, prevent the soil to dry out and store heat to release it at night

33
Q

Which are the 5 most important grapes for Chatoneuf-de-Pape blend?

A

Grenache
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Mourvedre

34
Q

Name some TOP producers of Chateauneuf-de-Pape

A

Chateau Beaucastel
Chateau Rayas
Vieux Telegraph
Domaine du Pegau
Clos des Papes

35
Q

Which wines are produced in Cote de Luberon?

A

Reds and rose with 60% Grenache and Syrah.
Some whites

36
Q

Wich wines are produced in Costieres de Nimes?

A

Reds from min. 60% Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
Whites from min. 50% Grenache Blanc

37
Q

Which wines can we find in Cotes de Vivarais?

A

Red, white, rose
Mainly from Syrah and Grenache

38
Q

Which wines are produced in Cotes du Ventoux?

A

Lighter reds from Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
with Cinsault and Carignan

39
Q

Describe the soil in Gigondas

A

Some sedimentary with limestone and pebbles.
Some with higher % of clay

40
Q

Which grapes are used for Gigondas wines?

A

80% Grenache
15% Syrah and Mourvedre

41
Q

Which wines are produced in Grignan-Les-Adhemar?

A

Very good reds from Syrah/Grenache
Good rose from the Saignee methode

42
Q

What is the ‘Saignee’ method?

A

It’s the removal (bleeding off) of a portion of the juice from a tank of crushed grapes.
Increases skin amount relative to juice.

43
Q

Which wines can we find in Lirac?

A

Deep colored reds with min. 40% Grenache, min.25% Mourvedre and Syrah.
Rose similar to Tavel AOC
Small quantity of whites

44
Q

Which are the characteristic wines of Rasteau?

A

VDN from 90% Old Vines Grenache Noir grapes.
Rose and amber colored are done with saignee method
min. 252 g/L residual sugar
min. 15%abv

45
Q

What is a Rancio in Rasteau?

A

When the VDN from Rasteau AOC mature and maderize, it’s called Rancio

46
Q

What is the famous aspect of the soil in Tavel AOC?

A

Flat white stones called ‘Lauzes’

47
Q

Describe the wines of Tavel AOC

A

Deep colored rose that can mature 5 to 10 years.
From Grenache and Cinsault, followed by Mourvedre and Picpoul.

48
Q

Describe the wines of Vacqueyras

A

Similar wines to Gigondas
min. 50% Grenache

49
Q

Describe the wines of Vinsobres

A

Reds with min. 50% Grenache, min. 25% Mourvedre or Syrah
Some rose produced

50
Q

How many villages can have their name on the label as a Cote du Rhone AOC?

A

21

51
Q

How would you pair Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Northern Rhone reds?

A

Roasts and dark meat dishes.
CDP and Gigondas also with game and stronger flavored stews

52
Q

What is Coteaux de Pierrevert?

A

Appellation in the middle between Rhone and Provence.
High altitude (450mt) and very small.
Produces reds, whites and rose.
Rose are the best