Northern Rhone

Question 1

Northmost & Southmost part of the Rhone Valley?

Answer 1

North: Cote Rotie
South: Avignon

Question 2

What is the Mistral? Explain its significance?

Answer 2

The Mistral Winds define the climatic element of the Rhone Valley & Provence, blowing down from the Massif Central and affecting the Northern Rhone in Winter & spring.
During the growing season it cools down the vines, helping the grapes retain acidity. However, they can be voilent and rip apart the vines.

Question 3

What is the soil type of Northern Rhone?

Answer 3

Granite and Schist.

Question 4

A specific top-soil in the Condrieu?

Answer 4

Arzelle. The thin topsoil is rich with powdery decomposed Mica.

Question 5

What are wines typically fermented and aged in?

Answer 5

Large Oak Foudres. Foudre a generic French wine term used to describe a large wooden vat, which is between 20-120 hectolitres in size

Question 6

Name all the major appellations of Northern Rhone.

Answer 6

Cote Rotie ( Cote Brune and Cote Blonde)
Condrieu
Chateau Grillet
Saint Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
St. Peray

Question 7

What are the five Northern Rhone appellations for Syrah?

Answer 7

Cote-Rotie
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Cornas
St. Joseph

Question 8

Only Northern Rhone AOP with 100 % varital syrah?

Answer 8

Cornas

Question 9

What is Syrah blended with in Cote Rotie?

Answer 9

Viognier (up to 20%)

Question 10

What appellations allows for blending of up to 15% Marsanne and Roussane to Syrah?

Answer 10

Crozes-Hermitage & Hermitage

Question 11

What appellations allows for 10% blending of Marsanne and Roussane with Syrah?

Answer 11

St. Joseph

Question 12

What is the advantage of Co-Fermentation?

Answer 12

Stablizing red wine color and moderating tannin extraction. (Syrah & Viognier)

Question 13

What does Cote-Rotie mean?

Answer 13

The Roasted Slope.

Question 14

What town is home to E Guigal?

Answer 14

Ampuis

Question 15

What two slopes nearest to Ampuis are considered to be the heart of Cote-Rotie?

Answer 15

Cote Brune (Clay) 
Cote Blonde (Schist, limestone and silica)

Question 16

What town is at the bottom of the Hermitage hill?

Answer 16

Tain l’Hermitage

Question 17

What direction does Hermitage hill face?

Answer 17

South

Question 18

Name the top four producers of Hermitage.

Answer 18

Paul Jaboulet, M Chaputier, Jean-Louis Chave and Delas

Question 19

What is Jaboulet’s premier wine?

Answer 19

La Chapelle

Question 20

The chapel of Hermitage is located within what climat?

Answer 20

L’Hermite

Question 21

What are the important Climats of Hermitage?

Answer 21

Le meal, Les Bessards, Greffieux, Beaume, Peleat, L’Hermite

Question 22

How many appellations are in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 22

12

Question 23

What is the naked granitic soil in Cornas known as?

Answer 23

Gore

Question 24

Smallest red wine appellation of Northern Rhone?

Answer 24

Cornas

Question 25

Cornas is divided into what four lieux-dits?

Answer 25

Les Reynards, La Cote, Les Chaillot and Les Mazards

Question 26

Who is the standard bearer for traditional wines of Cornas?

Answer 26

Auguste Clape

Question 27

What are the barrels used in Cornas called?

Answer 27

Demi-muids.A French term for 600-liter capacity oak barrels, typically used in the Rhône Valley.

Question 28

What AOP is north of St. Joseph?

Answer 28

Condrieu

Question 29

What are the two red wine only appellations of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 29

Cote-Rotie and Cornas

Question 30

What is the largest appellation of the Northern Rhone?

Answer 30

Crozes-Hermitage

Question 31

What are rivers that run in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 31

Rhone River and Valence.

Question 32

Wahat grapes are used in St. Peray?

Answer 32

Marsanne and Roussane (80% sparkling)

Question 33

What dessert wine may be made in Hermitage?

Answer 33

Vin de Paille (Straw Wine)

Question 34

What Northern Rhone appellations may produce sparkling wine?

Answer 34

St. Peray, Clairette de Die, Crement de Die

Question 35

What is the white wine appellation south of Cote-Rotie?

Answer 35

Condrieu

Question 36

What are some of the top Condrieu producers?

Answer 36

Georges Vernay, Yves Cuilleron, Andre Perret

Question 37

What AOP is a monopole within Condrieu?

Answer 37

Chateau Grillet

Question 38

The four minor appellations in the southern portoin of Northern Rhone lie on what tributary of the Rhone River?

Answer 38

Drome

Question 39

What is the grape of Coteaux de Die AOP?

Answer 39

Clairette

Question 40

What is the grape of Crement de Die AOP?

Answer 40

Clairette

Question 41

What is the grape of Clairette de Die AOP when made Methode Tradionalle?

Answer 41

Clairette

Question 42

What is the grape of Clairette de Die AOP when made Methode Diose Ancestrale?

Answer 42

Muscat a petit grains

Question 43

What is the maximum amount of residual sugar for Methode Traditionale Clairette de Die AOP wines?

Answer 43

15 g/l

Question 44

What is the maximum amount of residual sugar for methode dioise ancestrale Clairette de Die AOP?

Answer 44

35 g/l

Question 45

How long must Clairette de Die AOP age on lees?

Answer 45

9 months

Question 46

How long must Methode Dioise Ancestrale Clairette de Die AOP wines age of lees?

Answer 46

4 months

Question 47

What AOP is east of Clairette de Die AOP?

Answer 47

Chatillon-en-Diois

Question 48

What is the primary grape for Chatillon-en-diois?

Answer 48

Gamay

Question 49

Other grapes produced by Chatillon-en-Diois?

Answer 49

Chardonnay and Aligote

Question 50

What are E. Guigal's three famous Vineyards in Cote-Rotie?

Answer 50

La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne

Question 51

What is the largest climat of Hermitage?

Answer 51

Les Bessards

Question 52

What two famous sites in Hermitage will almost always determine the character of a producer's Hermitage?

Answer 52

Les Bessards and Le Meal