The Côtes Du Rhône Wine Region of France

The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks very much like a small Italy as it extends approximately 200 kilometers from south of Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this part of the country the climate varies from the Rhone's warm summers and cold winters to classical Mediterranean weather where summers are hot and winters are mild.

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

The Grenache is the major grape grown with more than half of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of white wine grapes grown. Overall approximately 8-10 thousand winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine on a huge 170,000 acres of land of which three-quarters is given over to the fruity reds of Châteauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied Côte Rôtie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a quite different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Guarded by forest atop horseshoe-shaped hills there are numerous terraces composed of a mix of stony chalk and limestone. Some wine barrels of the area date clear back to the 13th century and the village is home to plump Viognier, Grenache noir and spicy Syrah grapes with aromas of acacia honey and violet.

Considered among the best Côtes du Rhône 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 those people who are a little more easy going.

From the Côtes du Rhône villages stony limestone and clay earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that are turned into approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium body fruity red wines.

The history of the wine of Gigondas traces back to the Roman Empire and good advantage is taken today of the Mediterranean weather and the red clay soil to produce an fragrant alternative to the costly Châteauneuf du Pape. On nearly 3,000 acres vintners grow the Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah grapes which go to make 5.5 million bottles of this excellent wine.

For drinkers whose tongue needs 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 which combine with a peppery finish once the wine has aged for some 3 or 4 years.

To conclude, we must take a look at the slopes of Châteauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were once summer retreat of numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored by the Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and some ten other grape varieties. On in the region of 7,600 acres of quartz and sandy red clay soil grow the vines which produce 13 million bottles of wine which can age for up to 20 years with aromas of red fruits, vanilla and cinnamon.