Rhône

The Rhône Valley

The wines of the Rhône Valley are divided into two sub-regions. The Northern Rhône is bordered to the south by the town of Tain l'Hermitage: these are wines from steep slopes on granite or schist soils, predominantly made from Syrah for the reds. The white wines are made from Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. Here you will find Condrieu , Côte-Rôtie , Saint-Joseph , Crozes-Hermitage , Hermitage , and Saint-Péray .

The Southern Rhône Valley has Avignon as its capital, around which a great many appellations radiate. The predominantly red wines are the result of subtle blends based on Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Grenache, to name just a few grape varieties. The white wines, produced in smaller quantities, are often magnificent when the vines face north. The best-known appellations are Châteauneuf-du-Pape , Gigondas , Vacqueyras , Lirac , Côtes du Ventoux, and Côtes du Rhône .

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines come from vines planted in soils of rolled pebbles and can include up to 13 grape varieties in their blend. Here, the mistral wind dries and prolongs the life of the old vines that take root in this poor soil. On the palate, the wines are generous and balanced. With age, the tannins of the great wines soften, revealing their most velvety texture, perfect for pairing with meats in sauce.

Hermitage

The renowned Hermitage hill is home to some of the world's greatest Syrah wines. The great Hermitage reds and whites produced at the hilltop can age for half a century, retaining the delightful freshness of tender, dark fruit. Savoring a Pavillon Rouge or tasting a legendary cuvée from La Chapelle is sure to leave a lasting impression!

Côte-Rôtie

While there is no official classification within the Côte-Rôtie appellation, there are indeed three categories that connoisseurs can distinguish. These are single-vineyard selections like La Landonne, premium cuvées like Les Grandes Places or Château d'Ampuis, and finally, more generic cuvées like Blonde and Brune. 100% red wine, Côte-Rôtie wines are best enjoyed young or after aging for 7 to 30 years.

The iconic producers of the Rhône Valley

The iconic producers of the Rhône Valley are large, high-quality estates with emblematic terroirs, which Robert Parker has consistently recognized by awarding them perfect 100/100 scores—a feat unmatched by any other wine region in the world. These estates include the Perrin family with their Château de Beaucastel , the Brunier family with their Vieux-Télégraphe , M. Chapoutier and Jaboulet Père et Fils in Hermitage , and further north, the renowned Maison Guigal . But younger producers have also made their mark in the world of quality wines: Yves Cuilleron , Georges Vernay , Stéphane Ogier , Alain Voge , and Stéphane Montez .

The flagship vintages of the Rhône

The flagship vintages in the Rhône Valley are 1961 (historic auction record for La Chapelle 1961) and more recently 2010 , 2015 and 2016 .