Southern Rhone

Quick Facts about Southern Rhone Valley Wine

Cotes-du-Rhone Villages:

Rochegude, Rousset les Vignes, Saint Maurice, Saint Pantaléon les Vignes, Cairanne, Gadagne, Massif d’Uchaux, Plan de Dieu, Puyméras, Roaix, Sablet, Séguret, Valréas, Visan, Chusclan, Laudun, Saint Gervais et Signargues

Wine Quality:

Cote-du-Rhone Villages Named
- Highest Quality. Made from grapes grown only in specific villages (see above).
Cote-du-Rhone Villages
- Next level. Made from grapes grown in any village in the Rhone Valley.
Cote-du-Rhone
- Basic. Made from grapes grown anywhere in the Rhone Valley. Does not have to be from any specific area.

Primary Grape Varieties:

RED: Calitor, Carignan, Cinsault, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache, Marselan, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Muscat Noir, Piquepoul Noir, Syrah, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse
WHITE: Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, Marsanne, Picardan, Piquepoul, Roussanne, Terret noir, Viognier,

Wine Composition Requirements:

RED:
- A minimum of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre.
- A maximum of 20% other grape varieties from the Appellation
ROSE:
- A minimum of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre;
- A maximum of 20% other grape varieties
- A maximum of 20% white varieties (Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Viognier)
WHITE:
- Grenache Blanc, Clairette blanche, Marsanne Blanche, Roussanne Blanche, Bourboulenc, and Viognier
- A maximum of 20% other white varieties.

Types of Wine:

Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge
- Grapes
  - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
- Characteristics
  - Medium Body
  - Moderate Acidity
  - Not meant to be aged (3-5 years)
- Pairings
  - Roasted Chicken, Salads, Sandwiches, Hamburgers, Tuna Steak, Duck, Lamb
Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc
- Grapes (Southern Rhone)
  - Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne
- Grapes (Northern Rhone)
  - Condrieu
- Characteristics
  - Stone Fruits, Nectarine
  - Floral
  - High Minerality
  - Low Acidity
  - Full Bodied
  - Can be sourced from anywhere in the valley.
- Pairings
  - Cream Sauces, Chicken, Lobster, Veal, Pork, Mild Italian Dishes
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Terroir
  - Stones on top of soil (Galets). Subsoil is red clay and sands
- Grapes
  - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre.
  - Total of 13 varietals.
  - Allowed to blend white varietals in red wine.
- Characteristics
  - Red Fruits (Strawberry, Cherry), Black Spice, Liquorish
  - Hint of Minerality, Spicy, Savory
  - Aromatic (because of the Grenache)
  - Moderate Tannins
  - Low Acidity
  - High Alcohol
- Pairings
  - Lamb, Rabbit, Poultry, Game

Wineries I have Visited:

Cairanne: Domaine Clos Romane
Cairanne: Domaine de l’Oratoire Saint Martin
Roaix: Domaine des Escaravailles
Seguret: Domaine de Mourchon
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Domaine du Pegau
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Domaine de la Ronciere (Permanently Closed)
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Cardinalys
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Domaine Juliette Avril
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Domaine de Beaurenard
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: Chateau de Beaucastel

Notable Producers:

Cotes-du-Rhone
- Janasse
- Rayas
- Vidal Fleury
- Chapoutier
- Beaucastel
- Clos du Caillou
- Roche
- Vieille Julienne
- Michel Gassier
- Clos des Papes
- Vieux Telegraph
- Usseglio
- Feraud-Brunel
- Perrin et Fils
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- 3 Cellier
- Albin Jacumin
- L’Arnesque
- Barroche
- Bastide Saint Dominique
- Beaucastel
- Beauchine
- Beaurenard
- Benedetti
- Berthet Rayne
- Biscarelle
- Bois de Boursan
- Henri Bonneau
- Bosquet des Papes
- Bouachon
- Boutiniere
- Cabrieres
- Cailloux
- Caves Saint Pierre
- Celestiere
- Cellier des Princes
- Chanssaud
- Chante Cigale
- Chante Perdrix
- Chapelle St. Theodoric
- Chapoutier
- Charbonniere
- Charvin
- Clos de Brusquieres
- Clos des Papes
- Clos du Caillou
- Clos L’Oratoire des Papes
- Clos Mont Olivet
- Clos St. Jean
- Clos Saint Michel
- Comte de Lauze
- Consonniere
- Cote de l’Ange
- Cristia
- Duseigneur
- Durieu
- Eddie Feraud
- Eugenie
- Fagotiere
- La Ferme du Mont
- de Ferrand
- Ferrando
- Fines Roches
- Fontavin
- Font de Michel
- Font du Loup
- Fortia
- Gabriel Meffre
- Galevan
- Gardine
- Gigonan
- Giraud
- Grandes Serres
- Grand Tinel
- Grand Veneur
- Guigal
- Les Halos de Jupiter
- Husson
- Jaboulet
- Janasse
- Jas de Bressy
- Jean Deydier
- Jean Royer
- Juliette Avril
- Julien Masquin
- L’Abbe Dine
- L’Or de Line
- Lafond
- La Mereuille
- La Nerthe
- Leplan Vermeersch
- Lou Frejau
- Lucien Barrot
- Louis Bernard
- Manissy
- Marcoux
- Mas de Boislauzon
- Mas Grange Blanche
- Mas Saint Louis
- Mathieu
- Maucoil
- Mayard
- Milliere
- Mongin
- Monpertuis
- Mordoree
- Mont Redon
- Mont Thabor
- Moulin Tacussel
- Mourre du Tendre
- de Nalys
- Ogier Caves de Papes
- Olivier Hillarie
- Olivier Ravoire
- Panisse
- Patrice Magni
- Patrick Lesec
- Paul Autard
- Pegau
- Pere Caboche
- Peres de L’Eglise
- Pignan
- Pontifical
- Porte Rouge
- Rayas
- Reveirolles
- Roche Audran
- Ronciere
- Roger Perrin
- Roger Sabon
- Roquete
- de Ruth
- Saint Cosme
- Saint Paul
- Saint Prefert
- Saint Roch
- Saint Siffrein
- Saumdes
- Senechaux
- Serguier
- Simian
- Sixtine
- Solitude
- Sommelieres
- Tardieu Laurent
- Tour Saint Michel
- Pierre Usseglio
- Raymond Usseglio
- Vatican
- Vaudieu
- Vieille Julienne
- Vieux Donjon
- Vieux Telegraph
- Villeneuve
- Xavier Vins
Gigondas
- Saint Cosme
- Santa Duc
- St. Gayan
- St. Damien
- Perrin et Fils
Rasteau
- Domaine les Aphillanthes
- Domaine Les Grand Bois
- Feraud-Brunel
- Beau Mistral
Lirac
- Domaine de la Mordoree
- Grand Veneur
- Duseigneur
- Mont Redon
Vacqueyras
- Santa Duc
- Domaine la Garrigue
- Chateau des Tours
- Domaine du Colombier
- La Colline
- Famile Perrin
- Alain Jaume
Tavel
- Domaine de la Mordoree
- Lafond Roc Epine
- Guigal
Beaumes-de-Venise