Rhone Master Flashcards
(113 cards)
1
Q
When was “La Cote du Rhone” created and what is it?
A
1600 - Administrative district in the Vicariate of Uzes (w/i Southern Rhone department of Gard, the right bank of the Rhone River. Around 1650 regulations to make guarantee of origin due to great quality
2
Q
who created CDR and when
A
1737 King Louis XV gave edict to control quality and fraud. 1800 LA became LES Cotes du Rhone becoming regional moniker. Vienne to Avignon.
3
Q
Cotes du Rhone Septentrionales
A
Northern Rhone
4
Q
Cotes du Rhone Meridionales
A
Southern Rhone
5
Q
Number of Rhone Crus AOCs
A
16 (8 northern, 8 southern)
6
Q
Number of Vins Doux Naturel AOCs
A
2, both Southern Beaumes de Venise, Rasteau
7
Q
Number of Rhone Valley wine producing villages that produce CDR wines
A
171 of the Rhone Valley’s 300 wine-producing villages produce SDR wines.
92% Red, 4% Rose, 4% White
8
Q
When did phylloxera devastate the region
A
1870, switched to American Rootstock. Syrah and Grenache easy to graft. Mourvedre very hard to graft. Lost footing
9
Q
Who created the first wine Appellation d’Origine Controle (AOC) system?
A
Baron Pierre le Roy Boiseaumarie in 1935
10
Q
Who co-founded the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO)?
A
Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie in 1935
11
Q
What is an AOC?
A
A clearly defined area of origin (Origine) from which a specifically named (Appellation) product can be created and labeled under strictly regulated (Controlee) production methods.
12
Q
When and what was the INAO’s first regulation text for French AOC wines
A
May 15th 1936
Arbois, Cassis, Chateaunerf-du-Pape
13
Q
Year of Cotes du Rhone AOC status
A
1937
14
Q
Year of Cotes du Rhone Villages Appellation
A
1967
15
Q
Year of Cotes du Rhone Villages-Named appellations
A
1999
16
Q
What year did the Great Winter Freeze hit Rhone
A
1956
5F for 3 weeks with Mistral Winds. Most fruit and Olive trees died, vines did not. Many farmers turned to vines after that
17
Q
What region is France’s second largest producers of AOC wines?
A
Rhone Valley
18
Q
Define regional boundaries of Rhone Valley
A
Lyon & Beaujolais on the North Languedoc on SW Provence on SE Pre-Alp on East Mtns of Massif Central on W
19
Q
Length of Rhone Region
A
120 miles Vienne to Nimes
30 mile stretch between Northern & Southern sub-regions with no vines
20
Q
What parallels bookend the Rhone Valley
A
44 & 45th parallels north
Halfway between the equator and the pole. The same as Willamette Valley
21
Q
Les Cotes du Rhone is a sub-section of what Valley
A
Rhone Valley
At first, the singular “Côte du Rhône” was used in the 1600s for wines specific to one area of the Southern Rhône within the Vicariate of Uzès, in the Gard department. Then, the plural form was gradually adopted by the 1800s for a much larger zone.
22
Q
Name two common climatic denominators for both Northern and Southern Rhone
A
The Rhone River
The Mistral wind
23
Q
Describe the Rhone River effect
A
Moderates temperature
Equalize diurnal and seasonal temperature swings
Aid in bud break
Reduce risk of frost
More effect in North due to close proximity of vines to the river. In Southern Rhone, some vineyards are 30 miles away from river bed
24
Q
Describe the Mistral Effect Benefits
A
Clears clouds and dust bring sunny skies dry weather Prevents frost Chases humidity, reduces disease pressure Drops temp to keep grapes from baking
25
Describe the Mistral Effect Risks
```
Breaks shoots
Rips off leaves and berries
uproots vines
damages crops
Desiccates grapes
```
Blows harder in Southern Rhone, vines untrellised
To protect vines in the Northern Rhone, vines planted on Southeast slope
26
Length and boundaries of Northern Rhone
45 Mile N to S btwn Vienne and Valence
8,100 acres of vineyards
5% total Les Cotes du Rhone production and 4% total production w/i Rhone Valley
27
Northern Rhone Climate
Continental (Significant diurnal and seasonal temperature swings)
Rhone temps drop earlier than in the south so earlier ripening grapes are favored
28
What is coulure?
Cool temp at bud break decreasing yield
29
Location of vineyards in Northern Rhone
Flank the Rhone River on steep slopes
30
Soils of Northern Rhone
Mostly granite sub-soils with a topsoil of decomposed crystalline mica-schist and granitic sands
pockets of calcareous soils with galets and patches of shingle-clay (good for reflecting heat after sun set)
Some vineyards are pure sand or pure clay - BEST for WHITE wines
31
Name primary grapes of Northern Rhone
Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne
32
Are there sweet wines from Northern Rhone
No AOC burt some late-harvest (sometimes botrytized) dessert wine from Viognier in Condrieu and Vin de Paille from Marsanne and Roussanne in Hermitage
33
Characteristics of Rhone grown Syrah
```
Early ripening
densely pigmented
tannic
moderate in alcohol
Moderate in acidity
Reductive in nature (doesn't bond well with oxygen) hence gamy, leather notes
```
34
Characteristics of Rhone grown Viognier
```
Vigorous and hardy
Thrives in poor, dry, stony soils
Early-ripener
Aromatic
High in alcohol
Moderate in acidity
```
35
Characteristics of Rhone grown Marsanne
```
Vigorous and hardy
Generous producer
Early-ripener
prefers warm stony infertile sites
High in alcohol
High in extract
Moderately low in acidity
```
36
Characteristics of Rhone grown Roussanne
Moderately vigorous
Early-ripener
Prefers warm, stony, well-drained soils; arid hillsides
37
Name the Cru AOCs in Northern Rhone
```
Cote-Rotie
Condrieu
Chateau-Grillet
Saint-Joseph
Crozes-Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas
Saint-Peray
```
38
Minimum alcohol levels for Northern Cru
Northern Cru Whites - 10-11%
Northern Cru Reds - 10-10.5%
Lower than in the South due to cooler temperature producing less ripe grapes
39
Blending limits for Cote-Rotie
(Baked Slope)
100% red cru SYRAH
up to 20% Viognier
40
Blending limits for Condrieu
100% white cru consisting of Viognier only
41
Blending limits for Chateau-Grillet
100% white cru consisting of Viognier only
42
Size of Chateau-Grillet
7.4 acres!!!
43
Blending limits for Saint-Joseph
Predominately red cru Syrah
up to 10% Rousanne and/or Marsanne into red bottlings
Whites are Roussanne/Marsanne blends
44
Blending limits for Crozes-Hermitage
Mostly red cry consisting of Syrah and up to 15% of Roussanne-Marsanne
Whites are Roussanne-Marsanne blends
45
Blending limits for Hermitage
Mostly red cry of Syrah with up to 15% Rousanne-Marsanne
25% of the cru is white: Roussanne-Marsanne blends & rare vins de paille
46
Blending limits for Cornas
100% red cru consisting of Syrah
NO BLENDING ALLOWED - only cru to forbid
Cornas means burnt soils in Cletic
47
Blending limits for Saint-Peray
100% White cru of Roussanne and Marsanne blends
Still white Saint-Peray
Sparkling white Saint-Peray Mousseux
48
What is Echalas
two sticks, two vines, in a teepee-like growing structure to protect and support vines. Syrah tends to droop
49
What is the region of Diois
ONE OF FRANCE'S HIGHEST wine Regions
Considered part of the Northern Rhone but NOT included in Les Cotes du Rhone
SW edge of Pre-Alpine region known as Massif du Vercors
Limestone and clay soils
50
Location of Southern Rhone
Montelimar to Nimes 66 miles N to S
51
What are the Northern and southern most cities for Les Cotes du Rhone
Vienne N
| Avignon S
52
Southern Rhone climate
Mediterranean
2,700 hours of sunshine
Grapes get full ripeness. Many grapes thrive in this climate
53
Describe landscape of Southern Rhone
rolling hills, rocky plains and jagged mountain peaks
| glacial melt-waters eroded and smoothed the rocks and reduced their size to still large galets
54
Name the Southern Rhone Soil Types
```
5 hence the large number of appellations
Galets
Shingle Clay
Stony Clay Limestone
Loess and Molasse
Red Sandstone
```
55
Galets soil yields what type of wine
Dense, layered powerful wine
56
Shingle clay soil yields what type of wine
Powerful, tannic, age-worthy wine
57
Stony Clay Limestone soil yields what type of wine
Long-lived wines with distinct minerality, good acidity and sleek polished tannins
58
Loess and Molasse soils yields what type of wine
Wind blown silts and sands
Bright whites, roses and simple reds that are fruit forward
59
Red sandstone soil yields what type of wine
Wines full of black fruit, spice and leather
60
Describe wine style of southern rhone
Typically blended products
| 27 Grape varieties grown in Southern Rhone, (31 grapes total in entire Rhone Valley)
61
Number of grapes permitted in Les Cotes du Rhone wines
```
24 grapes
ONLY 21 of the 24 permitted in Cotes du Rhone AOC wines
Grenache Blanc
Clairette Blanche
Viognier
Bourboulenc
Roussanne
Marsanne
Muscat a Petits Grains (AOC Muscat de Beaumes de Venise ONLY)
Piquepoul Blanc (lip stinger)
Ugni Blanc (trebbiano)
Grenache Noir
Syrah
Carignan
Cinsault
Mourvedre
Counoise
Muscardin
Vaccarese-Camarese
Terret Noir
Picpoul Noir
Grenache Gris
Clairette Rose
(NOT PERMITTED - Picardan, Rolle (aka Vermentino) , Maccabeu (aka Viura in Rioja), Pascal, Calitor)
```
62
Southern Rhone White Wine Styles
Dry whites
| Sweet Fortified Whites (Vins Doux Naturels - VDN)
63
Southern Rhone Red Wine Styles
Dry red, Sweet fortified red (VDN)
64
Where is the Calitor grape found
Tavel only
65
Training system typical to Southern Rhone
Older vineyards use Gobelet - low to the ground to protect vines from mistral winds. New vineyards are trellised to better sun exposure, easy pruning, air flow, structural support agains the Mistral
66
Name two categories of the Rhone Valley AOCs
AOCs that can produce regional Cotes du Rhone (they lie within the Cotes du Rhone zone of production.
Rhone Valley AOCs that lie outside the Cotes du Rhone thus not allowed the regional appellation
67
Name the 5 categories of Cotes du Rhone Zone AOC
Cotes du Rhone AOC (171 villages both N and S)
Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC (95 villages, SOUTH ONLY)
17 Cotes du Rhone Villages-Named Villages (SOUTH ONLY)
16 Crus AOCs (8 N, 8 S)
2 Vins Doux Naturals AOCs (Fortified wines, SOUTH ONLY)
68
What are the Other Rhone Valley AOCs
often same grapes and styles but located out of the Cotes du Rhone zone
Northern Rhone - Diois AOC
Southern Rhone - Cotes du Vivarais, Grignon Les Adhemar, Ventoux, Luberon, Costieres de Nimes, Clairette de Bellgarde
69
Describe the Cotes du Rhone AOC
```
Largest in vineyard acerage and volume
Focused mostly (95%) in the Southern Rhone sub-region. Grapes can be sourced from anywhere in the designated Cotes du Rhone region
```
70
Describe the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC
95 villages all located in the South flanked on both sides of the river
71
Describe the Cotes du Rhone Village-Named Villages AOC
```
17 villages (zones of production)
Consistently produced wines with such unique and distinct characteristics they they have been awarded their own AOC
```
72
Describe the Vin Doux Natural AOC
Two villages only, both Southern
Beaumes-de-Venise & Rasteau
Must contain at least 11% residual sugar and 15% Alcohol
73
What are the CDR White Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Wine must be 80% Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier
Other grapes - Ugni Blanc & Piquepoul Blanc - can NOT exceed 20% of the blend
11% alcohol minimum
74
What are the CDR Villages Red & Rose Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Grenache >50%
Syrah and Morvedre (mandated) together or separate >20%
Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, Camarese, Vaccarese, Picpoul Noir, Terret, Grenache Gris, Clairette Rose - together or Separate <20%
75
What are the CDR Red/Rose Wine Blend alcohol minimum for Southern Rhone
11%
76
What are the CDR Villages White Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
Grenache Blanc, Cairette, Marsanne, rousanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier - together or separate >80%
Ugni Blanc, Picpoul Blanc - together or separate <20%
77
What are the CDRV-Named Villages Wine Blend requirements for Southern Rhone
White & Rose 12% alcohol Minimums
Red 12.5% alcohol minimums
WHITES - Grenache Blanc, Cairette, Marsanne, rousanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier - together or separate >80%
Ugni Blanc, Picpoul Blanc - together or separate 50%
Syrah and Morvedre (mandated) together or separate >20%
Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, Camarese, Vaccarese, Picpoul Noir, Terret, Grenache Gris, Clairette Rose - together or Separate <20%
78
Name the 17 CDRV-Named Villages
```
SOUTHERN RHONE ONLY
Cairanne
Chusclan
Laudun
Massif d'Uchaux
Plan de Dieu
Puymeras
Roaix
Rochegude
Rousset-les-Vignes
Sablet
Saint-Gervais
Saint-Maurice
Saint-Pantaleon-les-Vignes
Seguret
Signargues
Valreas
Visan
```
79
Name the Crus AOCs of the Southern Rhone
```
Vinsobres
Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Rasteau
Beaumes de Vinise
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Lirac
Tavel
```
80
Core Red Blends for Southern Crus AOCs
Core Red Blend - Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre + any othe 10 red varieties grown in Southern CDR. Some whites may be added depending on specific AOCS
12.5% alcohol minimum for reds
12-12.5% for rose
81
Core White Blends for Southern Crus AOCs
Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne and Rousanne + any of the 6 other white varieties grown in Southern CDR
12-12.5% for white
82
Describe blend and location of Vinsobres
100% red cru
| Left Bank
83
Describe blends and location of Gigondas
95% red, 5% Rose
| Left Bank
84
Describe blend and location of Vacqueyras
97% red, 2% White, 1% rose
| Left Bank
85
Describe blend and location of Rasteau
100% red for Dry wine
(same zone of production makes red, white and rose vin doux natural)
Left bank
86
Describe blend and location of Beaumes de Venise
100% red
Left Bank
DO NOT Confuse with VDN Muscat de Beames de Venise!!!
87
Describe blend and location of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
95% red, 5% white
| Left Bank
88
Describe blend and location of Lirac
80% red, 15% Rose, 5% White
| Right bank
89
Describe blend and location of Tavel
100% Rose
| Right Bank
90
Name the vins doux naturels in the Rhone Valley
2
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (white,sweet)
Rasteau (red, sweet)
91
Describe blend of VDN Rasteau
Grapes: Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris & Grenache Blanc with up to 10% other CDR varieties
Mostly red VDN but there is som White and Rose VDN also
92
Describe blend of VDN Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Grapes: Muscat a Petits Grains only
93
Mutage
adding neutral grape spirits (95% alcohol) to partially fermented grape must
94
Saignee
For Rose production
- After destemming and crushing, the slurry of skins, pulp, seeds and juice is tanked
- Maceration averages 4-12 hours then the liquid is pulled off of the solids (bleeding)
- Pink juice is fermented as if it were a white wine (no skin contact)
- Malo-lactic fermentation is avoided
95
Who founded Massalia (today's Marseilles) and when
Phocaeans in 600BC
| NOT TO CONFUSE WITH Phoencians - Mariniers from Anatolia (present-day Turkey)
96
Name the ancient grape variety planted in the Rhone near Vienne and mentioned by Roman chroniclers
Allobrogica
97
What is the name of the historical heartland of Rhone Valley vineyard
Les Cotes du Rhone
98
What is Allobrogica
grape associated with the native Allobrogres tribe who were defeated by the Romans, and then worked with them in developing some of the most celebrated vineyards of the Northern Rhône.
99
When approximately did the Rhône glacier carve the Valley of the Rhône?
2 million years ago
100
The Northern Rhône Valley vineyards on the right bank of the River from Côte-Rôtie to Saint-Péray are primarily found on soils of granite and schist with localized top soils of limestone, marl and sand. True or false
True
101
Garrigue
- An infertile rocky limestone soil found in the Southern Rhône
- Wild plants and herbs such as thyme, rosemary and lavender
- A highly distinctive aroma emitted by resinous wild plants in the Southern Rhône
102
Approximate annual hours of sunshine in the Southern Rhône.
2,700 annual hours
103
winds of the Rhône Valley include:
Mistral/Bise
Vent du Sud
Sirocco
104
climate of the Northern Rhône
is classified as continental, with four distinct seasons and regular rainfall.
105
What training systems are authorized in Southern Rhone vineyards
Gobelet
| Cordon de Royat
106
Describe Gobelet
Short, vertical trunk with divergent branches and spurs to bear fruit and provide next years spurs
No stake or trellis
107
Describe Cordon de Royat
Long trunk trained horizontally on wire with short spurs/canes
Positions fruit at same height
Favors consistent development
Controls yields
Trellised for better sun exposure, eliminate humidity, facilitate pruning, aids in harvesting
108
Are Southern Rhone vines planted closer or wider apart? Why?
Wider apart due to depleted soil and shortage of water. Northern Rhone has half the density than the South.
109
Is irrigation allowed in Southern Rhone
Yes, with conditions.
- By special request only
- until the grape begin to change color ( Verasion)
- No later than August 15th
110
Roughly how many vineyards are certified organic/in conversion in Rhone Valley
4,600 ha (6% of Rhone Valley AOC vineyard) 2010
111
Syrah is a vigorous vine and relatively early ripener (2nd Epoch) which customarily needs a trellis or stake for support. True or False?
True
112
Name the 5 principal soil types of the Southern Rhone
```
Limestone
Red Sandstone
Shingle Clay
Galet
Loess/Molasse
```
112
How many grape varieties are permitted in the historical heartland known as Les Côtes du Rhône?
23
