The Rhone Valley

Question 1

What is the climate of Northern Rhone

Answer 1

moderate/warm continental

Question 2

What is the climate of Southern Rhone

Answer 2

warm mediterranean

Question 3

How many cru appellations are in N.Rhone?

Answer 3

8

Question 4

What % of all Rhone wine is produced in the Northern Rhone?

Answer 4

5%

Question 5

What is the soil type in Northern Rhone?

Answer 5

Granite

Question 6

What is the name of wind, especially in S.Rhone, that has a cooling affect but can also damage the vines?

Answer 6

Mistral

Question 7

What is the name of the stones in Chateau Neuf de Pape?

Answer 7

Galets

Question 8

What is the main grape varietals in N Rhone?

Answer 8

Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne

Question 9

What are the key AC’s in N. Rhone?

Answer 9

Cote Rotie
Condrieu
St. Joseph
Crozes Hermitage
Hermitage
Cornas

Question 10

Describe Syrah from Northern Rhone

Answer 10

deeply coloured, high tannin, black fruit, black pepper, floral aromas, no obvious new oak.

They become more gamey as they mature

Question 11

What are the modern producer trends in Northern Rhone winemaking?

Answer 11

Canopy management, destemming leading to riper fruit and softer tannin. More dark fruit and less pepper. Increase in new oak use.

Question 12

Which appellation can co-ferment Viognier with Syrah?

Answer 12

Cote Rotie

Question 13

What does cofermentation of Viognier and Syrah do to cote Rotie wines?

Answer 13

Helps stabilize colour and tannin, adds aromatic intensity and viscosity

Question 14

Describe the wine style of Viognier in Cote do Rhone

Answer 14

low acid, high alcohol, exotic apricot, spice, rich mouth feel

Question 15

What makes N.Rhone Viognier so expensive?

Answer 15

It was almost extinct in the 1970’s.
New oak is increasingly used.
Low in regular yields

Question 16

Describe the wine style of Marsanne and Rousanne and what each contribute to a blend?

Answer 16

Marsanne has richness and weight and Rousanne has acidity and perfumed fruit. Can age well and develop complex honied and hazelnut aromas.

Question 17

Which N.Rhone AC translates to “roasted slope”

Answer 17

Cote Rotie

Question 18

T/F: Cote Rotie makes only red wine?

Answer 18

True.

up to 20% of the blend can be Viognier

Question 19

What is the only white wine appellation in N.Rhone?

Answer 19

Condrieu - Viognier

limited production and cult status make wines $$$$

Question 20

T/F: Chateau Grillet AC is found in Condrieu AC ?

Answer 20

True

Smallest AC in Rhone Valley.

Question 21

What wines are made in St. Joseph?

Answer 21

Mostly Syrah reds. Some Marsanne Rousanne White

Question 22

Describe the wines of St Joseph

Answer 22

among the lightest bodied of the Northern Rhone, raspberry and pepper perfumed.
Prices similar to Crozes-Hermitage

Question 23

T/F: The Hermitage vineyards is a divided into a number of Lieux dits?

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Up to 15% of which varietals can be blended with Syrah in Hermitage and Crozes Hermitage?

Answer 24

Marsanne and Rousanne

Question 25

What is the most important appellation in the N.Rhone for volume?

Answer 25

``` Crozes Hermitage med priced (least expensive of N.Rhone) ```

Question 26

T/F: Cornas Syrah can be blended with 15% Viognier?

Answer 26

False! Must be 100% red grapes

Question 27

Which grape dominated most S.Rhone?

Answer 27

Grenache

Question 28

What is the wine style of Grenache in S.Rhone?

Answer 28

concentrated red spiced red fruit, hot year can be baked and jammy, can reach high level of ripeness. abv 14.5%

Question 29

What do Syrah and Mourvedre bring the the GSM blend?

Answer 29

Syrah- extra colour and tannin | Mourvedre - colour, tannin, gamey, savoury aromas

Question 30

What can Cinsault provide to a GSMc blend?

Answer 30

provide fruit flavours (also used with Grenache to make Rose)

Question 31

Which is not a white grape in the southern Rhone? a) Clairette b) Grenache Blanc c) Carignan d) Bourboulenc

Answer 31

c

Question 32

T/F: new oak if commonly used in the whites of S Rhone?

Answer 32

False | new oak is rarely used

Question 33

Name the 7 AC's of S. Rhone

Answer 33

Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Tavel

Question 34

______ accounts for 50% of total production in S. Rhone?

Answer 34

Cotes du Rhone AC | -cheap bulk wine

Question 35

T/F: Villages can add their name to Cotes du Rhone village if 100% of the fruit comes from that village?

Answer 35

True. There are 18 eligible villages

Question 36

How many grape varietals can go into Chateauneuf de Pape?

Answer 36

13

Question 37

T/F: White Chateauneuf is made from Marsanne and Viognier?

Answer 37

False. | its made from Clairette, Rousanne, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc

Question 38

Which two Southern Crus in Rhone are most famous for rose and what are the main 2 grapes used?

Answer 38

Tavel and Lirac | Grenache and Cinsault

Question 39

T/F: Tavel can also make reds ?

Answer 39

False - it can only make roses

Question 40

Which villages in Rhone have separate ACs for their Vins Doux Natural?

Answer 40

Beaumes de Venise and Rasteau