The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks very much like a miniature version of Italy as it stretches roughly 125 miles from the 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 the classic Mediterranean where the summers are hot and the winters mild.

The reasonably constant sunshine combines with granitic soil in the north and the limestone in the south to produce Syrah, Carignan and Grenache used in red wines and Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Ugni Blanc used to make whites.

The Grenache dominates and represents more than half of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine grapes in the region. In total some 8,000 to 10,000 winemakers produce 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 Ch�teauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied C�te R�tie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a very different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Surrounded by forested horseshoe-shaped hills there are numberless terraces of a mix of stony chalk and limestone. Some barrels of the area date clear back to the thirteenth century and the area around the village is home to plump Grenache Noir, spicy Syrah and plump Viognier 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 preference of those who are seeking a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by those people who are a bit more easy going.

From the C�tes du Rh�ne villages clay and stony limestone earth come the Grenache and Syrah grapes that produce some 19 million bottles of medium body fruity reds.

The history of the wine of Gigondas can be traced back to the Roman Empire and advantage is taken today of the red clay soil and Mediterranean weather to ferment an fragrant alternative to the expensive Ch�teauneuf du Pape. On roughly acres vintners produce the Grenache, Syrah and Mourv�dre grapes which go into making 5.5 million bottles of this first class wine.

For those whose mouth needs a little shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red with plumy and earthy aromas and with chocolate tones which mingle with a peppery finish once the wine has aged for some 3 or 4 years.

To conclude, we must turn our attention to the slopes of Ch�teauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were formerly summer home of numerous Popes. The wine from this area and richly colored by the Grenache, Clairette, Syrah and ten other grape varieties. On approximately 7,600 acres of quartz and sandy red clay soil grow the vines which produce 13,000,000 bottles of wine which can age for up to 20 years with aromas of cinnamon, red fruits and vanilla.

 The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks very much like a miniature version of Italy as it stretches roughly 125 miles from the 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 the classic Mediterranean where the summers are hot and the winters mild.

The reasonably constant sunshine combines with granitic soil in the north and the limestone in the south to produce Syrah, Carignan and Grenache used in red wines and Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Ugni Blanc used to make whites.

The Grenache dominates and represents more than half of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine grapes in the region. In total some 8,000 to 10,000 winemakers produce 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 Ch�teauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied C�te R�tie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a very different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Surrounded by forested horseshoe-shaped hills there are numberless terraces of a mix of stony chalk and limestone. Some barrels of the area date clear back to the thirteenth century and the area around the village is home to plump Grenache Noir, spicy Syrah and plump Viognier 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 preference of those who are seeking a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by those people who are a bit more easy going.

From the C�tes du Rh�ne villages clay and stony limestone earth come the Grenache and Syrah grapes that produce some 19 million bottles of medium body fruity reds.

The history of the wine of Gigondas can be traced back to the Roman Empire and advantage is taken today of the red clay soil and Mediterranean weather to ferment an fragrant alternative to the expensive Ch�teauneuf du Pape. On roughly acres vintners produce the Grenache, Syrah and Mourv�dre grapes which go into making 5.5 million bottles of this first class wine.

For those whose mouth needs a little shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red with plumy and earthy aromas and with chocolate tones which mingle with a peppery finish once the wine has aged for some 3 or 4 years.

To conclude, we must turn our attention to the slopes of Ch�teauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were formerly summer home of numerous Popes. The wine from this area and richly colored by the Grenache, Clairette, Syrah and ten other grape varieties. On approximately 7,600 acres of quartz and sandy red clay soil grow the vines which produce 13,000,000 bottles of wine which can age for up to 20 years with aromas of cinnamon, red fruits and vanilla.