Rhône (wine region)

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An overview of the individual appellations in the Rhône wine-growing region. Zoom A shows the appellations to the south of Avignon and Zoom B shows the wine-growing regions near Lyon

A whole range of high-quality wines come from the 200 km long section of the Rhône between Vienne and Avignon , France . The Rhône wine region is considered the oldest wine region in France. The total area under vines is around 61,172 hectares , and wine production is around 2.51 million hl / year (as of 2008).

history

A page from the Geographica edition of Isaac Casaubon 'from 1620

It is said that the Phocians (Greeks) tribe brought the grapevine from Asia Minor to the Rhône about 2,400 years ago. The fact is that viticulture was already practiced in Roman times. The wines of the northern Rhône are closely linked to the cities of Lyon and Vienne . Lyon, located at the confluence of the Rhône and the Saône , was built in 43 BC. Founded by the Romans under the Celtic name Lugdunum ( hill of light or hill of ravens ; the etymology is still controversial) as the administrative center of Gaul . Before that there was already a Celtic settlement in the same place. Due to its geographical location, Lyon became a hub for transports to Paris, the northern Alpine region and the Mediterranean. Remains of a transport route between Lyon and today's Narbonne can still be found between Cornas and Guilherand-Granges . Strabo already pointed out in his work Geographica the fact that the Rhône played an important role. From the Mediterranean it is possible to get to the Atlantic and the English Channel by water. However, Strabon was of the opinion that viticulture is only possible in a Mediterranean climate. He used the evergreen Quercus ilex as an indicator . The holm oak is a character tree of the Mediterranean climate zone. It is widespread from Portugal to Turkey (Aegean and Black Sea coasts) and from Morocco to Tunisia .

Vienne was originally the capital of the Celtic Allobrogans . In 121 BC In BC Quintus Fabius Maximus defeated the allies Allobroger and Arverni near Vienne . As a result, Roman legionaries settled in the city. Under Emperor Caligula , Vienne became a Roman colony in AD 41. The city known as Vienna flourished and became the second capital of southern Gaul during the Roman Empire .

In the 9th century, Benedictines worked vineyards near Cornas. In 1137, Cistercians took over the cultivation of Gigondas and Vacqueyras and Pope Clement V founded Chateauneuf (the new castle , as a contrast to the old one in Avignon).

geography

The Rhône made its way between the Massif Central on one side and the foothills of the Alps on the other. In the north the granite bedrock of volcanic origin from the Massif Central predominates. This soil ensures good drainage. The vineyards are usually found on the steep slopes of the region, which are less endangered by fog and frost. The vineyards are terraced in many places. In the south the valley becomes much wider. The sub-floors are made of limestone, sand and clay. In topsoil who glacier stones left. These stones support drainage and store heat.

Grape varieties

Within the Rhône wine-growing region, 21 grape varieties , 13 red and 8 white, are permitted for quality viticulture. Some varieties make as leading grape represents the lion's share of the stocked area, other varieties may only modest degree in the waste flow.

Red grape varieties

  • The red grape variety Grenache is very vigorous and productive, but often tends to be heavily irrigated . On the Rhône, the variety blooms between June 5th and 15th (see also the article BBCH scale for grapevines ). The harvest time is between September 15th and October 10th, depending on the vintage and location. The Grenache is well adapted to the dry and windy conditions of the southern Rhône. It represents the basic structure of many red wines as well as some rosé wines of the southern Rhône. There it occupies 55–60% of the area under vines. Grenache delivers high-alcohol wines with low acidity . The wines are spicy and powerful and have an aroma of black fruits. Despite the light color, the wines can be stored for a long time.
  • The flowering time of the Syrah is also between June 5th and 15th.
    Syrah (Shiraz) grapes
    However, the required ripening time is slightly shorter than in Grenache, so that the harvest can be collected between September 10th and October 5th. The Syrah variety especially loves the comparatively low-contrast climate of the northern Rhône with mild winters and not too hot summers. It is the only permitted red variety in this part of the river section and thus determines the well-known wines of the Côte-Rôtie , Cornas , Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage . The wines are deeply dark in color, very aromatic and have an aroma note of blackcurrant. The red wines are elegant and have good aging potential.
  • Mourvèdre also blooms between June 5th and 15th, but cannot be harvested on the Rhône before the beginning of October. The late-ripening variety needs a lot of heat and light to reach full maturity. Their area of ​​application is therefore limited to the wine-growing regions of the southern Rhône. It is satisfied with a small but even amount of precipitation. The Mourvèdre wine is intense, heavy and rich in tannins . He ages well. The variety gives some rosé wines more freshness and a wider range of aromas. It is used in the AOC wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Luberon, Côtes du Ventoux, Gigondas , Lirac, Tavel and Vacqueyras as well as in Côtes du Rhône wines from the southern Rhône.
  • The rich Carignan variety may only be used in small percentages in the Rhône appellations. Depending on the vineyard, the grapes can be collected between September 25th and October 25th. Carignan tolerates drought and wind well and requires a very warm location. In barren soils as well as on slopes, the yield of the mass carrier is severely limited and under these conditions produces well-structured wines with a deep color that are well suited for blending.
  • The grape variety Cinsault (other spelling Cinsaut ) also bears abundantly and regularly. It loves warm locations, tolerates drought and wind well. The lion's share of this variety can therefore be found in the vineyards of the Vaucluse department . Cinsault produces fruity, light red wines, which, however, lack structure due to their low acidity and low tannin content. However, it gives rosé wines and the red wines marketed under the name Primeur the fruit. Cinsault can be found in the wines of Tavel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in many bottlings of the Côtes du Rhône appellation.
  • Counoise was also known under the name Moustardier in the past . Although it is part of the official mix of 13 grape varieties from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it is hardly grown any more. The varietal wines are similar to those of the Carignan, but have less tannins.
  • The Muscardin grape variety is also rarely grown. Thanks to its strong acidity, the base wine of this variety gives Châteauneuf-du-Pape a floral note and greater freshness. The yields are very low and partly explain the low distribution of the Muscardin variety.
  • The Brun Argenté grape variety is cultivated on the Rhône under the name Vaccarèse or Camarèse . The wines made from this variety are similar to those of Syrah. Especially when blended with Grenache wines, they give the end product more structure and finesse.
  • Piquepoul Noir finds its way into the red wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Côtes du Rhône from the Gard department . The light red but full wines with their strong acidity give the blend more structure as well as flowery and fruity aromas.
  • Although it is mentioned in the appellation regulations of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Terret Noir grape variety is practically hardly grown any more. The light red wines are light and pleasant, but hardly give the blend any additional qualities.

White grape varieties

  • The white Grenache Blanc is the light mutation of the red Grenache. Similarly vigorous, it results in round and strong white wines with a long-lasting taste, which, however, lack structural acidity. It has been used increasingly in the appellations of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Tavel and Vacqueyras as well as in the white wines of the Côtes du Rhône since the 1990s.
  • The vigorous Clairette Blanche ripens on the Rhône between September 25th and October 25th. Due to its rapid growth, it is sensitive to strong winds. She loves dry and poor soils with a high proportion of pebbles. It delivers fine wines with a flowery aroma, but which tend to oxidize quickly. On the southern Rhône, it is harvested early to give the blend freshness and fruit. It is approved in the appellations Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Tavel, Vacqueyras and in the white wines of the Côtes du Rhône. In the sparkling Clairette de Die plays only a minor role despite the name.
  • The high-yielding Marsanne (also called Marsanne Blanche) produces full-bodied and fragrant wines with low acid values. The extremely deep-colored white wines age well and form suitable blending partners with the Roussanne or Viognier varieties. Marsanne can be found in the wines of Saint Joseph, Saint Peray, Crozes-Hermitage and, to a modest extent, in the Hermitage. It is excluded from the wines of Condrieu and Château Grillet. Depending on the location, the grapes can be collected from September 15th.
  • The white grape variety Roussanne is moderately vigorous and probably got its name from the rust-red color ( roux is the French-language expression of this color) of the berries when fully ripe. She loves warm, gravelly soils. It only delivers irregularly good yields and has a low wind resistance. Their cultivation area is therefore severely limited due to the geographical and climatic conditions. The wines of the Roussanne variety are elegant, at best complex and fine. When blended with the Marsanne variety, the wine gets more body. Appropriate clone selection made it possible to mitigate some of the viticultural disadvantages, so that the grape variety has become more popular again since the 1990s. In particular Château Beaucastel proved that Roussanne can bring in good vineyard management and full ripeness of the grapes excellent wines. The top white wine of this estate, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc AC Vieilles Vignes, is a single-variety Roussanne, which is made exclusively from grapes that should come from vines with a minimum age of 65 years. The wines can have a long shelf life if stored properly in the bottle.
  • The area of ​​application of the late-ripening Bourboulenc is limited to the appellations of the southern Rhône. In the warm climate near Avignon, the variety can be harvested between September 25th and October 25th. Bourboulenc produces fresh, flowery wines with a moderate alcohol content and good acidity values. A slight smoke tone in good quality wines. There are vineyards in the growing areas of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac, Tavel and Vacqueyras as well as in the white wines of southern locations in the Côtes du Rhône appellation.
  • In
    Viognier grapes and leaves; the picture was taken in California in August.
    At the beginning of the 1970s, the Viognier grape variety was almost extinct. In 1971, only 13.7 hectares of vineyards were collected on the Rhône (and thus worldwide). However, especially since the 1990s, the variety has come back into fashion. In the northern Rhône it is again the most important white grape variety. Viognier is content with dry and barren soils. The wine of this variety has a strong color and usually has a high alcohol content. When young, scents with floral notes of violets and acacia predominate in the wines. With age, a more complex bouquet evolves, reminiscent of peach and apricot. Viognier is cultivated in the Denominations of Origin Condrieu and Château Grillet. In the red wines of the Syrah-dominated appellations, a maximum of 20% of the variety may be added.
  • The mass carrier Ugni Blanc only plays a subordinate role in the wines of the Rhône. The most important variety for the brandy, Cognac , gives a few wines from the Côtes du Rhône and Lirac appellation freshness and liveliness.
  • Piquepoul Blanc is a bright mutation of Piquepoul Noir. It is permitted in the white wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône. The wine of this variety is dry, tastes rather neutral and of moderate quality. It only gives the blends a lot of freshness because of the crisp acidity. Occasionally, a modest amount of Piquepoul Blanc is added to the wines of Lirac and Tavel.

Northern Rhône

The wine-growing region of the northern Rhône near Tournon-sur-Rhône. The Hermitage grows on the southern slope of the mountain on the other side of the river .

climate

In the northern Rhône valley, the continental climate of Burgundy and Lyonnais is mixed with Mediterranean influences from the mouth of the Rhône. The cool and dry north wind prevails, warm south winds are rare and usually bring rain. The amount of precipitation is between 700 and 800 mm per year. Summers are warm and dry. Due to the large north-south expansion of the area, however, the climate is not homogeneous, and microclimates play a major role. The vineyards are located where maximum solar radiation is combined with protection from cold north winds and fog formation. Orientation to the south-southeast is ideal here.

The northern Rhône is the ideal area for growing the Syrah grape variety : Hermitage and Côte Rôtie are among the great wines of the world. In addition, the red varieties Cinsaut and Mourvèdre are also used on a smaller scale . In the area of ​​white wines, the Viognier variety is used at Condrieu, there are also some white Hermitage from Marsanne blanche and Roussanne .


Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for Lyon
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 5.9 8th 12.5 15.8 20.2 24 26.8 26.1 22.4 16.8 10.3 6.2 O 16.3
Min. Temperature (° C) -0.4 0.5 3.1 5.7 9.6 13 15.2 14.7 11.8 8th 3.5 0.6 O 7.1
Temperature (° C) 2.8 4.3 7.8 10.8 14.9 18.5 21.0 20.4 17.2 12.4 6.9 3.4 O 11.7
Precipitation ( mm ) 51.9 47.1 56.4 64.8 81.3 78.4 63.4 83.1 86.4 84.4 80.3 56.6 Σ 834.1
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
5.9
-0.4
8th
0.5
12.5
3.1
15.8
5.7
20.2
9.6
24
13
26.8
15.2
26.1
14.7
22.4
11.8
16.8
8th
10.3
3.5
6.2
0.6
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
i
e
d
e
r
s
c
h
l
a
g 		51.9
47.1
56.4
64.8
81.3
78.4
63.4
83.1
86.4
84.4
80.3
56.6
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: lameteo.org

Appellations

The following appellations are assigned to this part of the Rhône:

South Rhône

A vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape , part of the southern Rhône

climate

This part of the region from Montélimar is much more Mediterranean, although the Mistral , a cold north wind, is typical for this area. Burgundian traders had recommended the winemakers to use Grenache . In addition, all grape varieties are grown that are typical for southern France, such as. B. Mourvèdre , Cinsaut , Syrah , Carignan etc. In contrast to the pure Syrahs from the north, cuvées are assembled (put together) in the south. 13 grape varieties are permitted for the red Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the main component being Grenache. Grenache Blanc , Bourboulenc , Piquepoul Blanc , Clairette Blanche and Picardon predominate among the white grape varieties .


Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for Avignon
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 10.0 12.0 16.0 18.0 23.0 27.0 30.0 30.0 25.0 20.0 13.0 10.0 O 19.5
Min. Temperature (° C) 2.0 3.0 6.0 8.0 12.0 15.0 18.0 18.0 14.0 11.0 6.0 3.0 O 9.7
Temperature (° C) 6.0 7.5 11.0 13.0 17.5 21.0 24.0 24.0 19.5 15.5 8.5 7.5 O 14.6
Precipitation ( mm ) 36.5 23.3 24.9 47.5 45.6 25.4 20.9 29.1 65.8 59.6 52.8 34.0 Σ 465.4
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
10.0
2.0
12.0
3.0
16.0
6.0
18.0
8.0
23.0
12.0
27.0
15.0
30.0
18.0
30.0
18.0
25.0
14.0
20.0
11.0
13.0
6.0
10.0
3.0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
i
e
d
e
r
s
c
h
l
a
g 		36.5
23.3
24.9
47.5
45.6
25.4
20.9
29.1
65.8
59.6
52.8
34.0
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

The Mistral is a year-round weather event.

Mistral. Jan. Feb March. April. May Jun Jul. Aug Sept Okct. Nov Dec
Maximum measured wind speed per month 96 km / h 97 km / h 112 km / h 97 km / h 94 km / h 100 km / h 90 km / h 90 km / h 90 km / h 87 km / h 91 km / h 118 km / h
Trend: days
with a wind speed
> 16 m / s (58 km / h) 		- +++ --- ++++ ++++ = = ++++ + --- = ++
Legend: «=»: normal; «+»: Less than normal; «-»: more than normal.

Appellations

The following appellations are assigned to this part of the Rhône:

Sometimes the Costières de Nîmes and Clairette de Bellegarde wine-growing regions are also counted as part of the Rhône wine-growing region, although they are in the Languedoc region. However, while those in charge of the AOC Costières de Nîmes formally decided in 2004 to belong to the Rhône wine-growing region, the Clairette de Bellegarde enclave there remained within the jurisdiction of Languedoc.

Vintage assessments

A distinction is made in the vintage ratings: exceptionally good year *****, great year ****, good year ***, moderate year **, bad year *.

2000s vintages 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
Year rating ***** *** *** **** ***** **** **** *** **** ****
1990s vintages 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
Year rating *** *** ** *** **** ** ** ** *** *****
1980s vintages 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980
Year rating ***** ***** **** *** ***** ** **** *** **** *****
1970s vintages 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970
Year rating **** ***** **** ** *** **** *** ** ** *****
1960s vintages 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960
Year rating ** * ***** ***** *** *** ** ** *** *****
1950s vintages 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950
Year rating **** **** ***** **** **** *** **** ***** ** *****
1940s vintages 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940
Year rating ***** ***** ***** **** ***** ** ***** **** ** **
1930s vintages 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930
Year rating * **** **** *** ** ***** ***** ** ** **
1920s vintages 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920
Year rating ***** ***** ** **** ** **** **** ** **** ****
Sources : Yves Renouil (ed.): Dictionnaire du vin . Ed. Féret et fils Bordeaux, 1962. Alexis Lichine : Encyclopédie des vins et alcools de tous les pays . Ed. Robert Laffont-Bouquins, Paris 1984. Les millésimes de la vallée du Rhône . (French). Les grands millésimes de la vallée du Rhône . (French).

Within the last 90 years there have been 24 exceptionally good years, 26 great years, 16 good years, 22 moderate years and 2 bad years.

Web links

Commons : Wines of the Rhône Valley  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Le guide Hachette des vins 2010 . ISBN 978-2-01-237514-7 , p. 1070
  2. ^ Peter Hadland Davis (ed.): Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands . Vol. 7 [Orobanchaceae to Rubiaceae]. Edinburgh Univ. Press, Edinburgh 1982, xxi + 947 pp
  3. ↑ Werner Greuter, HM Burdet, G. Long: Med Checklist. A critical inventory of vascular plants of the circum-Mediterranean countries . Vol. 3 (Dicotyledones: Convolvulaceae-Labiatae), Conservatoire et Jardin Botanique, Geneva 1986, cxxix + 395 p., Bgbm.org
  4. ↑ Jancis Robinson: The Oxford Wine Lexicon. Hallwag Verlag, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7742-0914-6 , pp. 145 f.
  5. ↑ Weather data Lyon ( Memento of the original from October 8, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.lameteo.org