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The Rhône Valley: a land of wines and traditions

The Rhône vineyards, nestled along the banks of the Rhône River, are one of the oldest and most prestigious in France. France's 2nd largest vineyard after Bordeaux, its 70,000-hectare surface area stretches for almost 250 kilometers and is divided into two major zones with very distinct characteristics: the Northern Rhône Valley and the Southern Rhône Valley.

From Vienne to Valence: the Northern Rhône Valley

The northern part accounts for only 5% of the Rhône Valley's vineyard production, yet the most prestigious appellations are planted on its steep, narrow hillsides. Facing mainly south-east, the vines of the Northern Rhône benefit from a moderate continental climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. Sunshine, altitude and proximity to the river give these vines significant temperature variations between day and night, resulting in exceptional aromatic concentration in the grapes. Most of the crus are located on the right bank of the river. These include the prestigious Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Cornas appellations. The left bank produces the Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage crus.

• Cultivation methods :

This wine-growing region is renowned for its steep slopes. These steep slopes are terraced with low stone walls called "Chalais" to maximize the sun exposure of the vines and facilitate the work of the winemakers in these extreme conditions. To ensure proper repair and aeration of the grapes around the vines, only stile training is possible. In most AOCs in this region, a single grape variety is often the rule: wines are produced from a single grape variety. Harvesting and vinification are carried out on a parcel-by-parcel basis, allowing the aromatic diversity of each terroir to be isolated, extracted and concentrated. Guigal and its three legendary parcels - La Landonne, La Mouline, La Turque - produce plot-based wines coveted the world over.

• Grape varieties and their terroirs:

Syrah, the emblematic grape of the Rhône Valley, thrives in the northern region.

It reigns supreme in such renowned appellations as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Croze Hermitage and Cornas. The geological diversity that runs through this valley offers this grape variety a wide range of expression.

On the granitic, Gneiss-covered soil of AOC Hermitage, Syrahs are renowned for their power and structure. It is on this hillside that we find the iconic cuvée of the Jean Louis Chave estate, L'Hermitage. Legend has it that the knight Gaspard de Sterimberg settled in these steep hills overlooking the Rhône on his return from a crusade. He built a small hut or hermitage where he lived as a hermit, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, giving the name to the AOC.

In AOC Cornas, the decomposing granite and clayey sand known as "gores" produce deeper, more concentrated wines, often marked by red fruit and black olive aromas.

The Syrahs of AOC Côte-Rôtie are distinguished by their aromatic richness, blending notes of black fruits, spices and violets. This grape variety is more full-bodied and tannic in Côte Brune (schistose soil). Domaine Jamet's sublime Cuvée Côte Brune is a powerful example of the expression of this grape variety. At Stéphane Ogier's Côte Blonde cuvée, the Syrah is more delicate and floral, thanks to its sandy gneiss soil.

This is one of the few appellations to use co-vinification with the white grape Viognier in small quantities. This method involves vinifying the two grape varieties together right from the start of the fermentation process, enabling a subtle fusion of the aromatic and structural characteristics of each variety. The result is wines of exceptional quality that captivate the senses and delight the palates of wine-lovers the world over.

Viognier, the emblematic grape of the Condrieu appellation and Château Grillet, is renowned for its bewitching floral bouquet and silky texture on the palate. With notes of violet blossom, apricot and white peach, Château Grillet monopole wines seduce with their elegance, finesse and aromatic exuberance. They offer a unique sensory experience. This precious gem is produced in very limited quantities.

For several years now, Condrieu has been producing great wines for ageing. Bottled in their famous flute, the wines should soon be granted a specific AOC.

Roussanne, often blended with Marsanne in the Hermitage, Croze Hermitage and Saint-Joseph appellations, brings elegance and finesse to the white wines of the Northern Rhône Valley. Known for its aromas of peach and acacia flowers, Roussanne gives wines a delicate structure and long finish, with a refreshing acidity that perfectly balances its aromatic richness. Marsanne is distinguished by its texture and fuller-bodied character. Maison Chapoutier's Ermitage de l'Orée 2011, with 100% Marsanne, is without doubt the finest expression of this grape variety.

From Montélimar to Avignon: the Southern Rhône Valley Méridionale

Heading south, the Southern Rhône Valley presents a more diverse landscape, where vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see over fertile plains and sun-drenched hills. This region produces 95% of all Rhône vineyard wines. Renowned appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras produce complex, powerful, full-bodied wines.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The strong influence of the Mistral wind plays a major protective role, reducing the risk of fungal diseases in the vine rows.

The vineyards are planted on clay-limestone soils enriched with molasses, alluvium and rolled pebbles, which store up the sun's heat during the day and release it to the vines at night.

• Grape varieties and their terroirs:

In contrast to the Northern Valley, wines from the southern vineyards are blended wines, where the multiplicity of grape varieties is the rule, with 13 grape varieties sometimes authorized in certain appellations. Cultivated over larger areas, the vines are trained and goblet-pruned, and can be harvested manually or mechanically.

Grenache is king in these poor, stony soils. A real charmer with its round character, it is the embodiment of the gourmet character of Rhône wines. It is the backbone of all the appellations in this area. It's a generous, productive, heat-resistant grape variety. It is generally blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre to produce powerful, full-bodied, tannic wines, but always with great finesse. It is in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC that it is magnified by the greatest estates. The wines of Emmanuel Reynaud's legendary and highly coveted Château Rayas are its purest expression.

White wines are often blends of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc. They are distinguished by their freshness and liveliness. Racy and pure on the palate, with a laser-focused texture, Domaine du Pegau's Cuvée A Tempo is one of the jewels in the crown of AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape :

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is indisputably the best-known and most emblematic appellation in the Southern Rhône Valley. These great red wines for laying down are powerful and complex, while the white wines are characterized by their fullness, roundness and light woody notes.

1309 marked a turning point in the vineyard's expansion and renown when the papacy, under the reign of Pope Clement V, moved to Avignon at the request of the King of France. Thanks to the cool mistral wind that blew into Châteauneuf during the summer months, the popes chose this town as their summer residence. They named it Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Today, the town is twinned with Castel Gondolfo in Italy, the summer residence of the current popes.

It wasn't until 1937 and the hard work of Baron Pierre le Roy de Boiseaumarié that the characteristics of the appellation were defined. It's thanks to him that wine bottles, produced in the 5 authorized communes, are emblazoned with the Pope's crown and the Keys of Saint-Pierre. His commitment and determination would inspire the creation of the AOC system in France a few years later. Uncompromising when it came to the quality of Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine, only the poorest soils with lavender and thyme could produce a great wine.

With its unique geological mosaic, exceptional grape varieties and traditional know-how, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC has produced some of the region's finest cuvées, including the exceptional Hommage à Jacques Perrin from Domaine Beaucastel and the more intimate and refined Cuvée Réserve des Célestins from Domaine Henri Bonneau.

Our sales team will be delighted to advise you on rare wines and collectors' wines available in limited quantities or under allocation (Rayas, Selosse, etc.). To send us your requests, please send an e-mail to: contact@mwineted.com