The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

The Rhone Valley wine region looks to a fair degree like a miniature Italy as it stretches roughly 125 miles from south of Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this area the weather varies from the warm summers and cold winters of the Rhone to classical Mediterranean weather where winters are mild and summers are hot.

The relatively more constant sunshine combines with granite soil in the north of the region and limestone soil in the south of the region to produce Grenache, Carignan and Syrah grapes used to produce red wines and Ugni Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc for white wines.

The Grenache is the major grape grown with 55 percent of the total red wine grapes while the Clairette makes up just over one third of white wine grapes grown in the region. Overall some 8,000 to 10,000 winemakers produce 450 million bottles of wine on an enormous 170,000 acres of land of which three-quarters is given over to the fruity reds of Ch�teauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied C�te R�tie in the north.

One particular village, Chartreuse de Valbonne, enjoys a quite different climate from that of the surrounding area. Guarded by forest atop horseshoe-shaped hills there are numberless terraces composed of a mix of stony chalk and limestone. Some wine barrels from this area date clear back to the thirteenth century and the area around the village is home to plump Viognier, Grenache noir and spicy Syrah grapes with aromas of acacia honey and violet.

Considered some of the best C�tes du Rh�ne villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic Domaine du Trapadis being the preference of those who seek a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by the easy-going.

From the C�tes du Rh�ne villages clay and stony limestone earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that produce approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium-bodied fruity reds.

The history of Gigondas wine can be traced back to the Roman Empire and advantage is taken today of the Mediterranean weather and the red clay soil to ferment an fragrant alternative to the costly Ch�teauneuf du Pape. On about 3,000 acres vintners grow the Syrah, Grenacha and Mourv�dre grapes that go to make 5.5 million bottles of this fine wine.

For those whose tongue requires a small shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine with earthy and plumy aromas and with chocolate tones that combine with a peppery finish once the wine has aged for approximately 3 to 5 years.

Before leaving the C�tes du Rh�ne, we must take a look at the slopes of Ch�teauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were once summer home of numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored by the Grenache, Clairette, Syrah and ten other grape varieties. On in the region of 7,600 acres of sandy red clay and quartz soil are grown the vines that produce 13 million bottles that can take up to 20 years to age with aromas of vanilla, red fruits and cinnamon.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com