Rhone

Question 1

What is the climate of the Northern Rhône?

Answer 1

Continental with some Mediterranean influence.

Question 2

What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 2

Mediterranean

Question 3

There is no sparkling wine made in the Rhône Valley.

True or False?

Answer 3

FALSE.

Saint-Péray in the Northern Rhône and Clairette de Die and Crémant de Die in the Diois all make sparkling wines.

Question 4

What is the Mistral?

Answer 4

A strong, cold, north wind that blows through the Rhône Valley.

Question 5

The Tavel AOC

only produces rosé wines. True or False?

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

What are “galets”?

Answer 6

Rounded river stones, most famously found in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Question 7

Which two Southern Rhône crus are on the right bank of the Rhône River?

Answer 7

Tavel and Lirac

Question 7

Front of card
Which Rhône appellation is a monopole?

Answer 7

Château-Grillet

Question 8

How do vines benefit from being located in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail?

Answer 8

The Dentelles act as a wind block and sun trap and blanket the vines with cool air at night.

Question 8

The entire Rhône Valley produces Côtes du Rhône AOC.

True or False?

Answer 8

FALSE.

There are Rhône Valley appellations outside the Côtes du Rhône zone of production.

Question 8

Which Rhône AOCs produce VDN wines?

Answer 8

Rasteau and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Question 9

What is the southernmost appellation in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 9

Costières de Nimes

Question 10

Which Rhône AOC’s name means “burned earth” in Celtic?

Answer 10

Cornas

Question 11

In which century did the Papacy move to Avignon?

Answer 11

14th century

Question 12

What is the northernmost cru

in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 12

Côte Rôtie

Question 12

Southern Rhône white wines are typically aged in oak. True or False?

Answer 12

FALSE.

They are usually fermented in neutral vessels and consumed within 2-4 years.

Question 12

Which Northern Rhône appellations allow white grape varieties to be co-fermented with Syrah

in their red wines?

Answer 12

Côte Rôtie

– using Viognier.

Hermitage,

Crozes-Hermitage &

Saint-Joseph – all using Marsanne and Roussanne.

Question 12

Which three grape varieties dominate the red wine blends of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 12

Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (GSM) blends

Question 13

Which two “other Rhône Valley” appellations have UNESCO recognition?

Answer 13

Ventoux and Luberon

Question 14

What are the main soil types found in the Northern Rhône?

Answer 14

Granite and schist

Question 14

Which two Southern Rhône cru appellations are authorized to produce dry white, rosé and red wines?

Answer 14

Lirac and Vacqueyras

Question 15

What are the five soil types of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 15

Galets, garrigue, sandstone, clay and loess/molasse

Question 15

What is the Dentelles de Montmirail?

Answer 15

A mountain range on the eastern flank of the Southern Rhône.

Question 15

The Southern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?

Answer 15

Montélimar

and Nîmes

Question 15

Condrieu AOC may produce dry and sweet white wines from Viognier grapes. True or False?

Answer 15

TRUE

Question 15

The Northern Rhône is bookended by which two cities?

Answer 15

Vienne and Valence

Question 15

Southern Rhône cru appellations mandate hand harvesting. True or False?

Answer 15

FALSE. Only Beaumes de Venise AOC mandates hand harvesting.

Question 15

Which grape variety forms the backbone of most Côtes du Rhône white wines?

Answer 15

Grenache Blanc

Question 16

What is “loess”?

Answer 16

Fine wind-blown soil deposits usually comprised of silt and sand.

Question 16

There is tremendous consistency in the vintages of the wines of the Northern Rhône. True or False?

Answer 16

FALSE. There is high vintage variation in Northern Rhône wines

Question 17

Which Rhône appellation can make Vin de Paille?

Answer 17

Hermitage

Question 18

What is the most common vine training system in the Southern Rhône?

Answer 18

Gobelet

Question 18

Which appellation is responsible for the majority of production in the Diois?

Answer 18

Clairette de Die

Question 19

Which three Southern Rhône Crus surround hilltop towns?

Answer 19

Vinsobres Rasteau Cairanne

Question 20

What does “Méridionaux” mean?