France - Southern Rhône - Wine Regions Flashcards
(80 cards)
1
Q
What is the climate and rain?
A
- Warm, Mediterranean
- Adequate rainfall, but dry summers
2
Q
Is irrigation permitted?
A
- Yes, if drought is severe
- But only under strict conditions
3
Q
How is the topography compared to Northern Rhône? What does that mean for vine training?
A
- Flatter land
- Little protection from Mistral wind
- Low bush-trained vines
4
Q
How are Grenache Noir and Syrah trained?
A
- Grenache Noir: Bush vines
- Syrah: tied to wires on trellises
5
Q
Describe the hierarchy of appellations from lowest to highest
A
- Côtes du Rhône
- Côtes du Rhône Villages
- Côtes du Rhône Villages + named village (currently 22 villages)
- Individual appellations for the top villages, e.g., Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Gigondas AOC, Cairanne AOC etc.
6
Q
What are the regulations (except in Châteauneuf-du-Pape) regarding varieties for red wines?
A
- Grenache Noir-dominant blends
- Typically with Mourvèdre and Syrah
- Other varieties, e.g., Carignan and Cinsault
7
Q
How are grapes for red, white and rosé wines categorized for the final blends?
A
- Principal
- Complementary (i.e. the main blending varieties)
- Other permitted varieties
8
Q
Côtes du Rhône
Where can the grapes come from and how is it in practice?
A
- All vineyard land suitable for grape growing in the southern Rhône and northern Rhône
- Except! “Other appellations”
- In practice, majority from the south as producers in the north can usually sell their wines under more valuable appellations
9
Q
Côtes du Rhône
How large is this area?
A
2nd largest in France after Bordeaux AOC
10
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What are the principal varieties for red and rosé wines?
A
- Grenache Noir
- Mourvèdre
- Syrah
11
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What are the requirements for principal varieties?
A
- Min 60%
- If from southern Rhône, additionally:
- Min 30% Grenache Noir
- Min 20% Mourvèdre and Syrah
12
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What other varieties are allowed for red and rosé wines?
A
Local varieties, e.g., Carignan and Cinsault
13
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What is the max yield for red, white, and rosé wines?
A
51 hL/ha
14
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What are the principal varieties for white wines and what is the min of them in the final blend?
A
- Min 80%
- Bourboulenc
- Clairette
- Grenache Blanc
- Marsanne
- Roussanne
- Viognier
15
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What other varieties are allowed for white wines?
A
Local varieties, e.g., Piquepoul Blanc
16
Q
What are the max yields for Côtes du Rhône Villages, Côtes du Rhône Villages + named village, other village, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
A
- Côtes du Rhône Villages: 44 hL/ha
- Côtes du Rhône Villages + named village: 41 hL/ha
- Other villages: 36–38 hL/ha
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape: 35 hL/ha
17
Q
Côtes du Rhône
What are the requirements for Côtes du Rhône Villages regarding principal grape varieties?
A
- Min 66% of at least two of the three principal varieties
- Grenache Noir must be included
18
Q
Côtes du Rhône
Describe the typical style of wine (color, intensity, aromas, acidity, tannin, alcohol, quality, price)
A
- Medium ruby
- Medium intensity
- Red plum, blackberry, no oak flavours
- Medium acidity
- Medium tannin
- Medium alcohol
- Good quality
- Inexpensive
19
Q
Gigondas
Where are the vineyards located and what effect does it have on grape growing?
A
- Vineyards up to 600 m above sea level
- Shaded by mountains, reducing temperature in the mornings
- Extends period of maturation and increases the flavour
20
Q
Gigondas
What are the effects of the cooler temperature on grape varieties?
A
- Better balanced wine from Grenache Noir
- As warmer temperatures would result in high alcohol wines
21
Q
Gigondas & Vacqueyras
What does the final blend consist of?
A
- Principal variety: Grenache Noir (min 50%)
- At least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
22
Q
Vacqueyras
Where are the vineyard located?
A
- A bit lower than Gigondas (up to 440m)
- Diurnal shift, but warm enough to ripen
23
Q
What is the typical quality and price of all Crus besides Châteauneuf-du-Pape?
A
- Good to very good quality
- Mid- to premium priced
24
Q
Vacqueyras
What types of wines are made?
A
- Red
- Small amounts of white and rosé
25
**Vinsobres**
Where is the region located?
Most northerly cru
26
**Vinsobres**
What are the two most important varieties and what wines are produced?
* Grenache (dominates)
* Syrah (increasing)
* Red ONLY
27
**Vinsobres**
What does the final blend consist of?
* Principal variety: Grenache Noir (min 50%)
* At least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
28
**Vinsobres**
Where are the vineyards located? And what are the influences on grape growing?
* South, south-east facing slopes
* 200–500m
* Good sunlight interception
* Good drainage
* Protection from Mistral
* Higher slopes: cooler, longer ripening, and increasing flavour intensity
29
**Rasteau**
What types of wines are produced?
* Red
* Small amounts of Vin Doux Naturel
30
**Rasteau**
What does the final blend consist of?
* Principal variety: Grenache Noir (min 50%)
* At least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
31
**Rasteau**
Where are the vineyards located? And what are the influences on the finale wine (ripeness, body)?
* Low south-facing slopes (100 m)
* Warm enclave
* Sheltered from the Mistral
* Ripe, full-bodied wines
32
**Cairanne**
How does it compare to Gigondas and Rasteau in terms of steepness and temperature?
* Not as steep as Gigondas
* Not as warm as Rasteau
33
**Cairanne**
What types of wines are produced?
* Red
* Small amounts of high quality whites
34
**Cairanne**
What does the final blend consist of?
* Principal variety: Grenache Noir (min **40%**)
* At least one of Syrah or Mourvèdre
35
**Beaumes-de-Venise**
What types of wines does it produce?
* Vin Doux Naturel
* Red wine
36
**Beaumes-de-Venise**
Where are vineyards located?
* Mostly on slopes
* Shaded from mountains
37
**Beaumes-de-Venise**
What does the final blend consist of?
Min 50% of Grenache Noir and Syrah
38
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
Where does the name come from?
* Summer residence of the Pope
* 14th century
* Papacy relocated to the nearby city of Avignon
39
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What types of wines are produced (incl. %)
* Red (90%)
* White (10%)
40
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
Why is it historic?
* Was the first prototype for an appellation
* 13 (18) varieties allowed, min alcohol of 12.5%
41
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are the main varieties for red wines?
* Grenache Noir
* Mourvèdre
* Syrah
42
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are the main varieties for white wines?
* Grenache Blanc
* Clairette
* Bourboulenc
* Roussanne
43
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What varieties are NOT allowed?
* Marsanne
* Viognier
44
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What is the area under vine?
* Large
* 3,000 ha
45
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are the soils and their impact on grape growing?
* Limestone, clay, sandstone, and sandy soils
* Clay helpful in water-holding capacity
* Low fertility
* Fast-draining soils -> low vegetative vigor
* -> Smaller crops of ripe grapes
46
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are requirements regarding grapes in the final blend?
* NO requirements
* Could be single varietal
47
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
How are the grapes harvested?
Hand harvest only
48
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What effect do the large pebbles have on grape growing?
* Radiate heat at night -> warming effect
* Was valued in the past, but leads increasingly to higher alcohol levels
49
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are the differences between wines from sandy soil and soil with large pebbles?
* Sandy: finer and lighter
* Pebble: More structured
50
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
Describe the typical style of red wines (color, intensity, aromas, acidity, alcohol, tannin, quality, price)
* Medium ruby
* Medium(+) to pronounced intensity
* Ripe red plum, blackberry, spice notes and sometimes new oak
* Medium acidity
* High alcohol
* Medium(-) to high tannins (depending on varietal mix)
* Good to outstanding quality
* Mid- to super-premium priced
51
**Châteauneuf-du-Pape**
What are options for producing white wines?
* Some high quality: fermented in oak barrels
* Others try to preserve freshness and primary fruit character
* Ageing: either in tanks or oak barrels (some new oak)
* Trend: lighter wines, more floral and fresher in style
52
**Lirac**
What types of wines does it produce?
* Mainly red
* Some rosé and white
53
**Lirac**
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red wines?
* **Min 90%** of
* Grenache Noir
* Mourvèdre
* Syrah
* Cinsault
54
**Lirac**
What are the conditions for grape growing?
* High sunlight hours
* Well-drained and infertile soils
* **Good conditions**
55
**Tavel**
What types of wines does it produce?
Rosé only
56
**Tavel**
What are the requirements regarding varieties?
* 12 permitted black and white varieties
* Grenache Noir must be included
* No principal varieties may contribute more than 60%
57
**Tavel**
What is the max yield?
46 hL/ha
58
**Tavel**
Describe the typical style of wine (color, intensity, aromas, body, alcohol, quality, price)
* Medium pink-orange
* Medium to medium(+) intensity
* Strawberry, raspberry
* Medium(+) to full body
* Medium alcohol
* Good to very good quality
* Mid- to premium priced
59
**Tavel**
What is the current trend?
* Very high reputation in last 2 centuries
* Now challenged by paler style from Provence
60
How many satellite appellations outside Côtes-du-Rhône exist?
7
61
What are the 4 largest other Rhône appellations (outside Côtes- du-Rhône)?
* Costières de Nîmes
* Grignan les Adhémar
* Ventoux
* Luberon
62
**Costières de Nîmes**
Where is the appellation located?
South-west limit of Rhône
63
**Costières de Nîmes**
Where are the vineyards located and what are effects on grape growing?
* South-west facing slopes -> good sunlight interception
* Breezes from the Mediterranean
64
**Costières de Nîmes**
What types of wines are produced?
* Red (2/3)
* Rosé (1/3)
* Tiny amount of whites
65
**Costières de Nîmes**
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red wines?
* Principal varieties: Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Syrah
* Min 50% of final blend
66
**Costières de Nîmes**
What is the max yield?
60 hL/ha
67
**Grignan-les-Adhémar**
Where is the appellation located?
Northern end of the southern Rhône
68
**Grignan-les-Adhémar**
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red wines?
* Principal varieties: Grenache Noir and Syrah
* Min 50% of final blend
69
**Grignan-les-Adhémar**
What types of wines are produced?
* Mainly red blends
* Some white and rosé
70
**Ventoux**
Where is the appellation located?
South-east of southern Rhône
71
**Ventoux**
Where are the vineyards located and what are the effects on grape growing?
* Southern and western slope below the high Mont Ventoux (up to 450m)
* Cooling influence due to the altitude and cool air from the mountain
72
**Ventoux**
What types of wines are produced?
* Red (2/3)
* Rosé (1/3)
* Tiny amount of whites
73
**Ventoux**
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red wines?
* Principal varieties: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Cinsaut
* Min 50% of final blend
* At least two varieties must be included
74
**Ventoux**
What is the max yield?
60 hL/ha
75
**Luberon**
Where is the appellation located?
* South-east Rhône
* Borders to Provence
76
**Luberon**
Where are the vineyards located?
Gentle slopes or flat land
77
**Luberon**
What are the requirements regarding varieties for red wines?
* Principal varieties: Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre
* Min 50% of final blend
* At least two varieties must be included
78
**Luberon**
What is the max yield?
55 hL/ha
79
What is the general quality and price for the four satellite appellations?
* Good to very good quality
* Inexpensive to mid-priced (some premium)
80
**IGP wines**
What other varieties are often used for IGP wines?
* Merlot
* Cabernet Sauvignon
