Rhone Valley And Southern France

Front 1

The Southern Rhône was the first quality region in France to be struck by phylloxera when it first appeared in __________ .

Back 1

1863

Front 2

Châteauneuf-du-Pape became the first AOC (now AOP) in France in _______ .

Back 2

1936

Front 3

Compare the climates of Northern and Southern Rhone.

Back 3

Northern is continental, while Southern is Mediterranean.

Front 4

Heat-retaining granitic and schistous soils define much of the (Northern/Southern) Rhone

Back 4

Northern

Front 5

Near the commune of Condrieu, the thin topsoil is rich with powdery, decomposed mica, known locally as __________ .

Back 5

Arzelle

Front 6

In the Northern Rhône, the __________ grape achieves its classic status.

Back 6

Syrah

Front 7

Name the five appellations for Syrah.

Back 7

Hermitage AOP, Crozes-Hermitage AOP, Cornas AOP, Cote-Rotie AOP and St.-Joseph AOP

Front 8

Which appellation restricts wine production to 100% Syrah?

Back 8

Cornas

Front 9

T or F: The appellations of Syrah (excluding Cornas) allow a small percentage of white grapes to be blended, and often fermented, with syrah during production.

Back 9

True, though generally speaking, a smaller percentage of white grapes than the allowable maximums are used, if at all.

Front 10

What is the northernmost appellation of the Norther Rhone Valley?

Back 10

Cote-Rotie

Front 11

What are the vineyards in Cote-Rotie known for?

Back 11

Very steep slopes

Front 12

Name the largest producer of Cote-Rotie

Back 12

E. Guigal

Front 13

Name the four major producers that dominate Hermitage.

Back 13

Jean-Louis Chave and the négociants Delas, M. Chapoutier and Jaboulet.

Front 14

What is physically the smallest red wine appellation of Northern Rhone?

Back 14

Cornas, though Hermitage produces less wine.

Front 15

T or F: Cornas and Côte-Rôtie may produce only red wine; St-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Hermitage also produce small amounts of white wines, from the Marsanne and Roussanne grapes.

Back 15

True

Front 16

What cool climate northern Rhone AOP produces exclusively Marsanne and Roussanne wines?

Back 16

St-Peray AOP

Front 17

In which appellation do producers have the traditional option of drying either grape for the rare dessert wine vin de paille?

Back 17

Hermitage

Front 18

________________ is a white wine appellation just south of Côte-Rôtie for the Viognier grape.

Back 18

Condrieu AOP

Front 19

What grapes wines tend toward honeyed lushness, intriguing floral aromas and rich texture; however, important stylistic decisions, such as the use of oak and the desirability of malolactic fermentation, vary widely by producer.

Back 19

Viognier

Front 20

What AOP, a monopole within Condrieu, is known for its Viognier wines, and is often incorrectly cited as the smallest appellation in France?

Back 20

Chateau Grillet AOP

Front 21

What is the smallest appellation in France?

Back 21

La Romanee in Burgundy

Front 22

List all AOPs of Northern Rhone

Back 22

Côte-Rôtie
St-Joseph
Hermitage
Crozes-Hermitage
Cornas
Condrieu
Château Grillet
St-Péray
Crémant de Die
Clairette de Die
Coteaux de Die
Châtillon-en-Diois
Côtes du Rhône

Front 23

Approximately what percentage of Rhone wine is produced in Southern Rhone?

Back 23

95%

Front 24

T or F: Like the Northern Rhone, wines in Southern Rhone are generally varietals.

Back 24

False

They are generally blended.

Front 25

What is the most planted grape in Southern Rhone?

Back 25

Grenache

Front 26

Besides Grenache, what other grape varieties are most commonly used in Southern Rhone?

Back 26

Mourvedre
Syrah
Cinsault
Carignan

Front 27

What is the name of the wind that blows fiercely across Southern Rhone?

Back 27

Mistral

Front 28

How do grape growers in the Southern Rhone combat the strong Mistral winds?

Back 28

Many plant their vines at an angle, so that the wind will blow them upright over time.

Front 29

Describe the soils of the Southern Rhone.

Back 29

A wealth of alluvial soils exists in the Southern Rhône, deposited over limestone subsoil in the river’s course. Sand, gravel, and clay have been left in the river’s wake, and larger stones have been dumped in the valley’s mounds by post-ice age glacial melt.

Front 30

What are the larger stones of Chateauneuf du Pape known as?

Back 30

Galets

Front 31

T or F: Chateauneuf du Pape offers only red wines.

Back 31

False.

Both red and white are produced in CDP.

Front 32

What is generally the principal variety found in CDP wines?

Back 32

Grenache

Front 33

Which producer often releases their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge as a 100% varietal Grenache?

Back 33

Chateau Rayas

Front 34

How do CDP reds compare to others in the Southern Rhone?

Back 34

The CDP red wines generally show more ripeness, richness, and alcohol than their northern counterparts.

Front 35

What is the minimum alcohol content of CDP?

Back 35

12.5%

This is the highest in France for dry AOP wines, and can result in surprisingly high-alcohol wines, reaching 15% or more in some producers' top-end cuvées.

Front 36

AOP regulations mandate that producers declassify or discard at least ____% of harvested grapes (le rapé), a process that serves as a safeguard against under-ripeness.

Back 36

2

Front 37

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

Back 37

Chateau La Nerthe

Front 38

In comparison to Cornas’ 100 hectares, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has over _______ .

Back 38

3000

Front 39

Traditional CDP producers tend to use old oak _________ for extended aging.

Back 39

foudres

Front 40

List the grapes of CDP.

Back 40

Grenache (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
Mourvèdre
Syrah
Cinsault
Counoise
Picpoul (Noir/Blanc/Gris)
Terret Noir
Bourboulenc
Clairette/Clairette Rosé
Roussanne
Vaccarèse
Picardan
Muscardin

Front 41

While Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most prestigious appellation, ________________________ AOP is the Southern Rhône’s largest appellation and the base designation for wines from the entire Rhône Valley.

Back 41

Côtes du Rhône

Front 42

While the Northern Rhône may release its generic Syrah–based blended wines as Côtes du Rhône, the wines issue overwhelmingly from the south, where ______________ is the principal component.

Back 42

Grenache

Front 43

What percentage of the Rhone Valley's wines are released as Cote du Rhone?

Back 43

More than 2/3rds

Front 44

Which AOP is a superior designation for red, white and rosé wine from a delimited area within the Southern Rhône?

Back 44

Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOP

Front 45

What are the principal red grapes for Côtes du Rhône-Villages?

Back 45

Grenache
Mourvedre
Syrah

Front 46

In 1971, which AOP was created for a former Cotes du Rhone-Villages commune that produces red and rosé wines sourced from the commune’s red clay alluvial soils?

Back 46

Gigondas AOP

Front 47

In 1990, ______________ AOP joined Gigondas as the second former Côtes du Rhône village to be promoted to full appellation status.

Back 47

Vacqueyras

Front 48

On the western shore of the Rhône, opposite Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is _________ AOP.

Back 48

Lirac

Front 49

Just south of Lirac, the ________ AOP is the only communal appellation in France exclusively dedicated to rosé wines.

Back 49

Tavel

Front 50

_______________________ , a sweet fortified wine, is found in greater quantities in Languedoc-Roussillon, but two appellations exist for the style in the Southern Rhône: Rasteau AOP and Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOP.

Back 50

Vin doux naturel

Front 51

The Southern Rhône Valley's northernmost appellation is ________________________ AOP, located directly south of Montélimar.

Back 51

Grignan-les-Adhémar

Front 52

List all appellations of Southern Rhone.

Back 52

Côtes du Rhone
Côtes du Rhone-Villages
Gigondas
Vacqueyras
Vinsobres
Beaumes-de-Venise
Rasteau
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Lirac
Tavel
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
Grignan-les-Adhémar
Côtes du Vivarais
Luberon
Ventoux
Pierrevert
Costières de Nîmes
Clairette de Bellegarde

Front 53

Which region is considered the birthplace of French wine?

Back 53

Provence

Front 54

What wine style is most common in Provence?

Back 54

Dry rose.

Front 55

Which AOP produces 3/4 of Provence wine?

Back 55

Cotes de Provence AOP

Front 56

While red and white wine is made, rosés account for over _____% of Cotes de Provence AOP's output.

Back 56

75

Front 57

Blending of white and red wines (is/is not) an approved method for still rosé production in Provence or elsewhere in France.

Back 57

Is NOT

Front 58

T or F: A Provence rose bottled in the traditional, hourglass-shaped skittle bottle nearly guarantees a great quality wine.

Back 58

False

Front 59

Although Provençal rosé occupies the public imagination, the red wines of __________ AOP are the true stars of the region.

Back 59

Bandol

Front 60

What is the primary grape of red Bandol AOP?

Back 60

Mourvedre

Front 61

Describe the general climate of Provence.

Back 61

Dry, warm Maritime

Front 62

Which AOP of Provence has pushed for mandates for organic viticulture?

Back 62

Les Baux de Provence AOP

Front 63

The appellations of Cassis AOP, Palette AOP, and Bellet AOP produce
a. reds only
b. whites only
c. roses only
d. All 3 types

Back 63

D. All 3 types (red, white, rose)

Front 64

What is Palette AOP's only notable producer?

Back 64

Chateau Simone

Front 65

_________________ AOP is the only French appellation outside of Bordeaux to publish a ranking of grand cru classé estates. 23 estates were originally classified in ______ .

Back 65

Cotes de Provence, 1955

Front 66

What is the generic, island-wide appellation of Corsica?

Back 66

Vin de Corse AOP

Front 67

Name the two communal appellations of Corsica

Back 67

Ajaccio AOP and Patrimonio AOP

Front 68

What Corsican AOP produces vin doux naturel wines?

Back 68

Muscat du Cap Corse AOP

Front 69

List the appellations of Provence

Back 69

Côtes de Provence
Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Les Baux de Provence
Coteaux Varois en Provence
Bandol
Bellet
Cassis
Palette

Front 70

List the 4 appellations of Corsica

Back 70

Vin de Corse
Muscat du Cap Corse
Patrimonio
Ajaccio

Front 71

When considered collectively, ______________________ has more acres planted to the vine than any other winegrowing region in the world, and is the only region in France to surpass Bordeaux in plantings.

Back 71

Languedoc-Roussillon

Front 72

Many of the quality appellations are clustered within the western side of Languedoc. __________ is one of the region’s oldest appellations, dating to 1948

Back 72

Fitou AOP

Front 73

The Fitou AOP is divided into two distinct, noncontiguous sectors:

1.
2.

Back 73

Fitou Maritime
Fitou Montagneux

Front 74

The wines of Fitou are red blends, usually dominated by what grape?

Back 74

Carignan

Front 75

Both sectors of Fitou are embedded within what larger appellation?

Back 75

Corbieres AOP, which produces reds, roses, and a small amount of whites

Front 76

Cabardès AOP and Malepère AOP produce red and ______ wines only.

Back 76

rose

Front 77

South of Malepère and Cabardès is the Limoux AOP. Like Malepère, Limoux red wines are ___________-based.

Back 77

Merlot

Front 78

Still whites from Limoux AOP are produced from _______________ , Chenin Blanc, and Mauzac, and must be fermented in oak.

Back 78

Chardonnay

Front 79

Blanquette de Limoux, a distinctive méthode traditionelle wine, lays claim to being France’s oldest purposefully made ____________ wine

Back 79

sparkling

Front 80

_______________________ AOP encompasses all of Languedoc-Roussillon, extending from the Spanish border to the city of Nîmes.

Back 80

Languedoc

Front 81

Languedoc AOP covers the production of red, rosé and white wine, and currently encompasses ________ sub-appellations: Terrasses du Larzac, La Clape and Pic-St-Loup are among the most prominent.

Back 81

15

Front 82

The Languedoc contains a number of small ________ wine appellations, including Muscat de Mireval AOP, Muscat de Lunel AOP, Muscat de St-Jean-de-Minervois AOP, and Muscat de Frontignan AOP.

Back 82

fortified

Front 83

Over 90% of France’s fortified wines are made in _____________ .

Back 83

Roussillon

Front 84

Much of the Roussillon fortified wines come from _______________ AOP, a vin doux naturel appellation representing a myriad number of styles.

Back 84

Rivesaltes

Front 85

Rivesaltes was the birthplace of what fortified wine style?

Back 85

Vin Doux Naturel

Front 86

Other than Rivesaltes AOP, what other appellations in Roussillon are known for vin doux naturel?

Back 86

Maury AOP
Banyuls AOP
Banyuls Grand Cru AOP

Front 87

What is the southernmost wine appellation in continental France?

Back 87

Banyuls AOP

Front 88

Unfortified red, white, and rosé wines from the producers of Banyuls are released as ____________ AOP

Back 88

Collioure

Front 89

Despite so many disparate AOPs and acres under vine, the Languedoc-Roussillon region produces only ____% of France’s AOP wine.

Back 89

10

Front 90

Vin de Pays d’Oc is the overarching classification for the entire ______________________ region.

Back 90

Languedoc-Roussillon

Front 91

Bergerac AOP produces all three colors of wine from what famous French region's varietals?

Back 91

Bordeaux

Front 92

Côtes de Bergerac AOP, in the absence of actual hills, requires a higher amount of minimum ____________ .

Back 92

alcohol

Front 93

The blended reds of ___________________ are the longest-lived wines of Bergerac.

Back 93

Pécharmant AOP

Front 94

Monbazillac is the most notable __________ wine appellation of Bergerac, generating botrytised wines from Bordeaux varietals.

Back 94

sweet

Front 95

South of the Bordeaux satellites of the ______________ river are numerous wine regions; the most important are Cahors AOP, Madiran AOP, Jurançon AOP, and Gaillac AOP.

Back 95

Dordogne

Front 96

On the Lot River, Cahors offers robust, sometimes-rustic red wines produced from a minimum 70% ______________ , with Tannat and Merlot.

Back 96

Malbec

Front 97

List the appellations of the Dordogne

Back 97

Bergerac
Côtes de Bergerac
Pécharmant
Montravel
Haut-Montravel
Côtes de Montravel
Rosette
Saussignac
Monbazillac