Southern Rhône

Question 1

What percentage of wine production does the Southern Rhône account for in the Rhône Valley?

Answer 1

95%

Question 2

What is the climate of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 2

Mediteranean

Question 3

What is the largest appellation of the Southern Rhône?

Answer 3

Côtes du Rhône AOP
-over 2/3 of the Rhône Valley’s wines are released as
Côtes du Rhône AOP

Question 4

How many communes may append their name to the

Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP?

Answer 4

20 as of 2016

Question 5

What are the 20 geographic designations of Côtes du Rhône Villages AOP?

Answer 5

Chusclan
Gadagne
Laudun
Massif d'Uchaux
Plan de Dieu
Puymeras
Roaix
Rochegude
Rousset-les-Vignes
Sablet
Saint-Gervais
Saint-Maurice
Saint-Pantaleon-les-Vignes
Sainte-Cécile
Séguret
Sinargues
Suze-la- Rousse
Vaison-La-Romaine
Valréas
Visan

Question 6

What is the mandatory encepagement of Gigondas AOP from 2014 forward?

Answer 6

Min. 90% total GSM:

• Min. 50% Grenache
• Min. 15% Syrah and Mourvedre

Question 7

What were the first 4 former Côtes du Rhône-Villages to be promoted to full AOP status?

Answer 7

Gigondas -1971
Vacqueras- 1990
Beaumes-de-Venise-2005
Vinsobres-2006
-all min. 50% Grenache
-all min. 12.5% abv

Question 8

What is the most recent AOP upgrade from Côtes du Rhône-Villages?

Answer 8

Cairanne in 2016

Question 9

What are the main grape varietals of Lirac AOP?

Answer 9

• Grenache Noir/Blanc

- whites may see Clairette and Bourblenc

Question 10

What appellation served as France’s doorway to the phylloxera incursion?

Answer 10

Lirac in 1863

Question 11

What is one of the only communal appellations in France exclusively dedicated to rose?

Answer 11

Tavel AOP

-Grenache based

Question 12

Name the 2 appellations that exist for Vin Doux Naturel in the Southern Rhône.

Answer 12

Rasteau AOP

Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP

Question 13

Who produces 90% of the wine labeled as Muscat de Beaumes de Venise AOP?

Answer 13

the local co-op Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise.

Question 14

What is the main grape (or grapes) of Rasteau AOP?

Answer 14

Grenache Blanc/Noir/Gris

-may be white, rose or red

Question 15

What communes are eligible for the Rasteau AOP?

Answer 15

Rasteau
Cairanne
Sablet

Question 16

Describe the wines of Muscat Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau.

Answer 16

Muscat de Beaume de Venise-fresher and more aromatic

Rasteau-more tawny flavors

Question 17

In 2011, vignerons in Rasteau adopted what 2 label terms that were established by the producers of Rivesaltes.

Answer 17

ambré-white
tuilé-red
VDN wines displaying a more oxidative character and subject to at lest 3 years of aging prior to release

Question 18

Fresher versions of Rasteau white and red VDN wines are now labled as:

Answer 18

blanc and grenat

Question 19

What does “Hors d’age” indicate on a Rasteau VDN label?

Answer 19

wines that have matured for at least 5 years prior to release

Question 20

Describe “rancio”.

Answer 20

a deliberately oxidative and maderized style in which the wine is left in open barrels, exposed to the ravages of sunlight and temperature.
Rasteau AOP wines may be produced in this way.

Question 21

As of what year may dry, unfortified red wines be produced as Rasteau AOP?

Answer 21

2010

-only from fruit grown in Rasteau itself

Question 22

What is the Southern Rhône’s northernmost appellation?

Answer 22

Grignan-les-Adhèmar AOP

Question 23

What was the former name of Grignan- les- Adhèmar AOP?

Answer 23

Côtes du Tricastin
-Re-branded in 2010, hoping to rebound sales and avoid an unsavory association with the troubled Tricastin nuclear plant.

Question 24

Which Southern Rhône appellation was formerly considered an appellation of Languedoc?

Answer 24

Costières de Nimes in 2004

Question 25

What is Clairette de Bellgarde?

Answer 25

a single commune appellation within Costieres de Nimes | -produces white wines from Clairette

Question 26

What are "galets"?

Answer 26

'pudding stones" of Chateauneuf-du-Pape - larger stones made of quartzite and smoothed by the river - serve to restore heat, releasing it to the vines at night

Question 27

What is the minimum potential alcohol for Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

Answer 27

12.5%

Question 28

Describe the blend of Château de Beaucastel Rouge.

Answer 28

Dominated by Mourvedre. | famously produced by a blend of every authorized varietal.

Question 29

What is the dominate grape of Château Rayas?

Answer 29

Grenache | -often releases their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as 100% Grenache

Question 30

Define "le râpe".

Answer 30

The AOP regulation mandtory that producers declassify or discard at least 2% of the hrvested grapes. This process safeguards against under-ripeness.

Question 31

Name the 13 grape varietals of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Answer 31

``` Grenache(blanc/noir/gris) Mourvedre Syrah Cinsault Counoise Picpoul(blanc/noir/gris) Terret Noir Bourboulenc Clairette/Clairette Rose Roussane Vaccarese Picardin Muscardin ```

Question 32

Who released the first estate-bottled Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 1785?

Answer 32

Chateau La Nerthe

Question 33

Name the 5 communes of production for Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Answer 33

``` Châteauneuf-du-Pape Orange Bedarrides Courthezon Sorgues ```

Question 34

What are the grape varietals of Châtillon-en-Diois AOP?

Answer 34

Gamay-reds/rose | Aligote and Chardonnay-whites