The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

By : Donald Saunders

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

The Grenache is the dominant grape with more than half of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine grapes grown. Overall about 8,000 to 10,000 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 Choteauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied Cote Rotie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a very different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Sheltered by forest atop horseshoe-shaped hills there are a huge number of terraces composed 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 plum Grenache noir, Viognier and spicy Syrah grapes with aromas of acacia honey and violet.

Considered among the best Cotes du Rhone villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic Domaine du Trapadis being preferred by those 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 Cotes du Rhone villages stony limestone and clay earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that are turned into approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium-bodied fruity red wines.

The history of Gigondas wine traces back to the Roman Empire and good advantage is taken nowadays of the red clay soil and Mediterranean weather to produce an fragrant alternative to the costly Choteauneuf du Pape. On roughly 3,000 acres vintners grow the Grenache, Mourvodre and Syrah grapes that go to make 5,500,000 bottles of this fine wine.

For those whose tongue requires a little 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 mix with a peppery finish after the wine has been allowed to age for approximately 3 or 4 years.

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

Author Resource:- GreatWineTastings.com provides information on everything from gift baskets wine country to Côtes du Rhône wineries