Rhone Valley

Question 1

The prime viticultural areas of the Rhone Valley lie on either side of what river?

Answer 1

The Rhone

Question 2

What city lies to the north of the Rhone Valley?

Answer 2

Lyon (20 miles north)

Question 3

What city lies at the south of the Rhone Valley?

Answer 3

Avignon

Question 4

How many miles from north to south is the Rhone Valley?

Answer 4

120 miles

Question 5

How many miles are in the gap between the Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone?

Answer 5

30 miles

Question 6

What are the 3 major apps in Southern Rhone?

Answer 6

Chateuaneuf du Pape, Gigondas & Vacqueyras

Question 7

The climate in Southern Rhone is

Answer 7

Mediterranean

Question 8

What is the name of the cold wind that blows down from the Alps and through the Rhone Valley?

Answer 8

The mistral.

Question 9

How does the mistral help the Southern rhone grapes?

Answer 9

Cools down the vines so the grapes retain their acidity, and works as a blow-dryer to keep humidity & mold off the grapes at harvest time.

Question 10

Because of the mistral, the best vineyards are located where?

Answer 10

In sheltered areas.

Question 11

Because of the mistral, how are the vines pruned?

Answer 11

Low to the ground.

Question 12

Which part of the Rhone Valley has vineyards venturing out away from the Rhone River and on flatter land and hills?

Answer 12

Southern Rhone

Question 13

What are the soils in the Southern Rhome?

Answer 13

clay, sandy limestone, gravel, or stones

Question 14

Why does Southern Rhone blend it’s wine?

Answer 14

The hot dry climate can make classic Syrah lose it’s focus & intensity so blending can create a whole wine that’s more than a sum of it’s parts.

Question 15

How many red grapes are permitted in Southern Rhone?

Answer 15

12

Question 16

How many grape varieties are allowed in Southern Rhone?

Answer 16

23

Question 17

How many grape varieties are allowed in C du Pape?

Answer 17

13

Question 18

What is the most important grape in Southern Rhone?

Answer 18

Grenache

Question 19

List 4 other Southern Rhone red grapes?

Answer 19

Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsaut

Question 20

What white grapes are found in Southern Rhone?

Answer 20

Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier, Clairette, Muscat

Question 21

What grape variety is often a key component of Rhone rose’s?

Answer 21

Grenache

Question 22

Tavel is located in what part of the Rhone Valley?

Answer 22

Southern Rhone

Question 23

What app in the Southern Rhone produces only roses?

Answer 23

Tavel

Question 24

What regional app covers most of the Southern Rhone?

Answer 24

Cotes du Rhone.

Question 25

How many villages are within the Southern Rhone Cotes du Rhone app?

Answer 25

90

Question 26

What app is best known of the Cotes du Rhone-Villages?

Answer 26

Cairanne

Question 27

What Southern Rhone AOCs are known for hearty red blends?

Answer 27

C du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac & Rasteau

Question 28

What best known vin doux natural or sweet wine is made in Southern Rhone?

Answer 28

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Question 29

What is the alcohol level and minimum % of sugar in a Muscat de B-de-V?

Answer 29

15% alcohol and 10% residual sugar

Question 30

What is another vin doux natural from Southern Rhone is based on Grenache and is mostly red but can be white, tawny and rose versions?

Answer 30

Rasteau vin doux naturel

Question 31

What grapes are used for Tavel roses?

Answer 31

Grenache & Cinsault

Question 32

Where is Clairette de Die AOC and what style wine is produced there?

Answer 32

Apart from the Rhone Valley. Produces a sweet sparkling wine using the Method Ancestrale Dioise.

Question 33

List the AOC's in the Southern Rhone clockwise

Answer 33

Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, one at the top, Vinsoble, Rasteau, Gigondas, Vaqueyres, Beaumes de Venise, large app starts with a V, Luberon, Chat. du Pape, Cost. de Nimes, Tavel, Lirac

Question 34

The Northern Rhone passes through what?

Answer 34

The Massiff Central and the French Alps

Question 35

The vineyards are steep and must be terraced in what part of the Rhone Valley

Answer 35

Northern

Question 36

What is the climate in the Northern Rhone

Answer 36

Continental

Question 37

What are galets and where are they found.

Answer 37

Stones in Southern Rhone, esp. Chat. du Pape

Question 38

What are the white varietals found in Northern Rhone?

Answer 38

Marsanne, Rousanne, Viognier

Question 39

Full bodied, viscous and aromatic describes what Northern Rhone grape variety?

Answer 39

Viognier

Question 40

What Northern Rhone AOC is 100% syrah?

Answer 40

Cornas

Question 41

What Northern Rhone AOCs are dry whites from 100% viognier?

Answer 41

Condrieu and Chateau Grillet

Question 42

List the Northern Rhone AOCs north to south

Answer 42

Cote Rotie, Condrieu, Chateaux Grillet, St. Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas, St. Peray