Southern Rhone Flashcards
(41 cards)
How many grapes are allowed in Chateauneuf du Pape AOC?
13, although its 18 if you count the multicolored grenache, picpoul, and clairette separately.
Name the red grapes allowed in the CdP blend. (9)
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarese, Muscardin, Picpoul Noir
Name the white grapes allowed in the CdP blend. (9)
Grenache Bl x2, Picpoul Bl x2, Bourboulenc, Clairette x2, Roussanne, Picardin
What percent of the Rhone’s total production does the South produce?
What percent of the Rhone’s total production is released as Cotes du Rhone?
95%
over 66%
Producers from the Northern Rhone can release a generic Syrah under Cotes du Rhone AOC, true or false?
True
What color and style wines are allowed under the Cotes du Rhone AOC?
How about Cotes du Rhone-Villages AOC?
How many villages can append their name to CdR-V?
dry, still, white, red, and rose
same
22
What is the highest minimum alcohol for dry wines in any French AOC?
Which AOC is it?
12.5%, Chateauneuf du Pape AOC
What is “le Rape” and why is it done?
The 2% of a producers harvest required to be declassified or discarded in CdP, it is a safeguard against underripe fruit.
In what year, and in what AOC is it believed phylloxera first emerged in France?
1863, Lirac AOC
In what century was the Vatican relocated to France, and to what city?
14th (1309-1378), Avignon
Why did growers in Chateauneuf du Pape develop their own set of rules for production, and in what year did their efforts lead to it becoming the first AOC in France?
After phylloxera struck, while growers took decades to replant and graft their vineyards to American rootstock, wine fraud was rampant. The producers developed the rules to combat this, elevating the quality of their wines. 1936
What is the climate of Southern Rhone?
What is Le Mistral and what does it do?
Mediterranean, with hot summers, large diurnal swings, autumn rain, mild winters.
A strong, cold and dry wind that blows down from Massif Central, helping prevent mildew and mold.
In 2004, this AOC switched sides, moving from Languedoc to the Rhone. What kinds of wine are made there?
What small AOC within it highlights 100% Clairette wines?
Costieres de Nimes AOC, white, red, and rose.
Clairette de Bellegarde AOC
What color wines are made in Lirac AOC and Cotes du Vivarais AOC?
Which AOC is further North?
Red, White, Rose
C-d-Vivarais is due North of Lirac
Whats the AOC dedicated exclusively to rose, across the Rhone river from CDP?
Tavel AOC
Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cairanne, Rasteau, Vinsobres, and Beaumes de Venise are all based on what grape for Rouge?
Which of these make ONLY rouge?
Grenache, minimum encepagement for all is 50%
Vinsobres and Beaumes de Venise
Which AOC’s are my 2 best bets for Vin Doux Naturel in Southern Rhone?
Rasteau AOC
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOC
What is a Vin Doux Naturel?
A sweet fortified wine produced using the mutage process.
At what 2 points during production would I use the ‘mutage’ process? What would the end result be in each case?
Fortifying during maceration is used to make a ‘vin de liqueur’. Unfermented.
Fortifying after maceration and pressing is for ‘vin doux naturel’. Partially fermented.
A Vin Doux Naturel from Rasteau with Ambre or Tuile on the label is indicating what about the wine? (3)
The color grape used, ambre for white, tuile for red
that there is oxidation
aged a minimum 3 years
A Vin Doux Naturel from Rasteau with Blanc or Grenat on the label is indicating what about the wine? (2)
What grape is being used for all styles?
The color grape used, Grenat for red.
A fresher style without oxidation
Grenache Noir/Blanc
For Rasteau vin doux naturel, Hors d’Age requires how many years of ageing?
Rancio means what?
5 years
Oxidation and maderization, literally throw it in a barrel and let the elements have at it. Like in Sherry, terroir is a part of ageing the wine.
What 2 large AOC’s sprawl East of CdP, and North of this river, making white red and rose wines.
Ventoux AOC
Luberon AOC
Durance River
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOC
name the type of muscat, what colors, minimum r.s.
blanc a petit grains
comes in red, white, and rose versions
min 100g/L r.s.
