Rhone Valley Flashcards

1
Q

The French popes ruled in Avignon from when to when?

A

1305 - 1429

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2
Q

Who were the 5 French popes and what are they famous for?

A

“JOIN US BEFORE I CRY”

John 22: developed Châteauneuf-du-Pape (CDP)

Urbain 5: introduced Muscat grape to Beaumes-de-Venise

Benoit 12: built Avignon’s Pope Palace

Innocent 6: initiated production of CDP whites

Clement 5: first to plant vines in Bordeaux near Mt. Ventoux

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3
Q

Who created “Côte du Rhône” brand? When?

A

Louis XV, 1737

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4
Q

When did Phylloxera strike Rhône Valley? Where?

A

1863, Lirac

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5
Q

T or F: Rhône Valley is the largest wine region in FR by VOLUME

A

False, 2nd largest

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6
Q

T or F: Rhône Valley is the largest wine region in world in VINEYARD AREA

A

False, 2nd largest

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7
Q

What percentage of Rhône Valley wines are red? Rosé? White?

A

75%, 15%, 10%

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8
Q

What is climate and soil of Northern Rhône (5%)?

A

Temperate, Continental

Steep hillsides: granite, schist

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9
Q

What is climate and soil of Southern Rhône (9%)?

A

Mediterranean

Flat valleys: alluvium, river pebbles

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10
Q

When was Côtes-du-Rhône (CDR) regional AOP created?

A

1937

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11
Q

What are main red grapes in AOP CDR?

A

Grenache N (min 65% for red, min 60% for rosé )

Syrah

Mourvèdre

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12
Q

What are main white grapes for AOP CDR?

A

BUY CHEAP GRAPES MR VO

Bourboulenc
Clairette
Grenache
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier

Whites must have min 80% of main grape

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13
Q

AOP CDR Villages + village name (1966) can only come from how many villages?

A

21

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14
Q

What are main red grapes for CDR Villages + village name (1966)?

A

Grenache N (blend min 40%)
Syrah (blend min 25%)
Mourvèdre (blend min 25%)

Reds, whites, and rosé must all have min 80% of main grape

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15
Q

What are main white grapes for CDR Villages + village name (1966)?

A

“BUY CHEAP GRAPES MR VO”

Bourboulenc
Clairette
Grenache
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier

Whites must have min 80% of main grape

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16
Q

How many village AOPs in Northern and Southern Rhône, respectively?

A

Northern: 8
Southern: 9

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17
Q

Name the Northern Rhône village AOPs from North to South:

A

“CRUNCHY CONDIMENTS on GRILLED JAMON and CHEESE with HARD CORE PORN”

  1. Côte-Rôtie
  2. Condrieu
  3. Chateau Grillet
  4. Saint-Joseph
  5. Crozes-Hermitage
  6. Hermitage
  7. Cornas
  8. Saint-Péray
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18
Q

T or F: Northern Rhône is birthplace of Syrah

A

True

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19
Q

Northern Rhône village AOPs are made exclusively with what grape?

A

Syrah

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20
Q

T or F: Southern Rhône village AOPs are mostly blends

A

True

21
Q

What is unique about Côte-Rôtie?

A

ONLY reds
ONLY AOP that allows co-vinification of Syrah and Viognier, if co-planted (latter max 20%)

60% inclined slopes

22
Q

What is unique about Condrieu?

A

ONLY whites, dry & sweet
ONLY Viognier

23
Q

What is unique about Château-Grillet (1936)?

A

ONLY dry whites
ONLY Viognier
ONLY 1 winemaker (Pinault)

Located within Condrieu
South-facing, warmer

24
Q

What is unique about Saint-Joseph (1956)?

A

86% reds (min 90% Syrah) and whites

25
Q

What is unique about Crozes-Hermitage (1937, 1952)?

A

90% reds, 10% whites
ONLY Syrah for reds
ONLY M & R for whites

Flat land, round river rock, cold northern Mistral

26
Q

What is unique about Hermitage (1937)?

A

Allows co-vinification of Syrah and Marsanne/Roussanne if co-planted (latter max 15%)

Rare, sweet white (grapes dried in sun 45 days) “Hermitage Vin de Paille”

South facing, granite

27
Q

What is unique about Cornas (1938)?

A

ONLY reds
ONLY Syrah

Steep granite slopes to sand/clay

28
Q

What is unique about Saint-Péray (1936)?

A

ONLY whites, still, dry and sparking (15%, traditional method)
ONLY Marsanne & Roussanne

29
Q

Which Northern Rhône village AOPs only make reds?

A

Côte-Rôtie
Cornas

30
Q

Which Northern Rhône village AOPs only make whites?

A

Condrieu: ONLY Viognier

Château-Grillet: ONLY Viognier

Saint-Péray: ONLY Marsanne & Roussanne

31
Q

Name the Southern Rhône village AOPs from North to South:

A

“VERY ROUND CRUSHED GRAPES in VINEYARD BELOW CHATEAU’s LOOMING TURRET”

  1. Vinsobres
  2. Rasteau
  3. Cairanne
  4. Gigondas
  5. Vacqueyras
  6. Beaumes-de-Venise
  7. Châteauneuf-du-Pape
  8. Lirac
  9. Tavel
32
Q

T or F: Southern Rhône village AOPs are made with Syrah

A

False, made mostly with Grenache (blends)

33
Q

What is unique about Vinsobres (2006)?

A

ONLY reds (min 50% Grenache, min 25% Syrah, Mourvèdre)

North of Mt. Ventoux; strong, cold Mistral

34
Q

What is unique about Rasteau (2010)?

A

ONLY reds (min 50% Grenache, min 20% Syrah, Mourvèdre)

South-facing, hidden from Mistral

Historically known for fortified red wines (“Rasteau Vins Doux Naturels”)

min 216 g/L RS at harvest

35
Q

What is unique about Cairanne (2016)?

A

96% reds (min 50% Grenache), 4% whites (min 30% Clairette)

Round river rock, located at foothills of Mt. Ventoux

Rising star, excellent value

36
Q

What is unique about Gigondas (1971)?

A

95% reds (min 50% Grenache), 1% rosé

Approved to make whites from 2023

Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s “little brother”

37
Q

What is unique about Vacqueyras (1990)?

A

95% reds (min 50% Grenache, min 15% Syrah, Mourvèdre), 4% whites, 1% rosé

Reds must have >= 90% GSM

West side of “Dentelles de Montmirail”

38
Q

What is unique about Beaumes-de-Venise (2005)?

A

ONLY dry, red wines

Very hot climate, poor marl soil

AOP Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise (1945): 83% white (min RS 252 g/L at harvest)

39
Q

What is unique about Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

A

Allows dry reds and whites

One of first 6 appellations in FR (1936)

Bottles carry symbol of papal tiara over keys of St. Peter since 1937

Can blend all 13 varietals

40
Q

Name all 13 varietals that can be blended in CDP:

A
  1. Grenache
  2. Syrah
  3. Mourvèdre

“BUY CHEAP CLEAN CASTLE MINIMUM PRICE PLEASE”

  1. Bourboulenc
  2. Cinsault
  3. Clairette
  4. Counoise
  5. Muscardin
  6. Picpoul
  7. Picardan

“RYAN THUAN VO”

  1. Roussanne
  2. Terret
  3. Vaccarèse
41
Q

What is unique about Lirac (1947)?

A

85% reds
10% whites
5% rosé

Epicenter of the phylloxera epidemic in 1863

“Châteauneuf of the poor”

42
Q

What is unique about Tavel (1936)?

A

One of first 6 appellations in FR (1936)

100% “hematuric” rosé wines

24-36hr skin maceration

43
Q

What are the other Southern Rhône AOPs that are NOT village AOPs?

A

Ventoux (1973) (Mediterranean climate, 55% red, 40% white)

Luberon (1988) (Mediterranean climate, 60% rosé, 25% red)

44
Q

Which Southern Rhône village AOPs only make reds?

A

Vinsobres
Rasteau
Beaumes-de-Venise

45
Q

Which Southern Rhône village AOPs only make rosé ?

A

Tavel

46
Q

Which Southern Rhône village AOPs only make reds?

A

Vinsobres (2006)
Rasteau (2010)
Beaumes-de-Venise (2005)

47
Q

Which Southern Rhône village AOPs only make rosé?

A

Tavel

48
Q

What are the main climate and soil differences between the Northern and Southern Rhône?

A

NORTH
- Temperate Continental
- Steep hills
- Granite, schist

SOUTH
- Mediterranean
- Flat valleys
- Alluvium, sand, limestone pebbles, round river rock

49
Q

What are 2 the south-facing Northern Rhône village AOPs?

A

Chateau-Grillet
Hermitage