Search:

The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

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

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

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

One village in particular, Chartreuse de Valbonne, enjoys a quite different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Enfolded by forested horseshoe-shaped hills there are numerous terraces composed of a mix of limestone and stony chalk. Some wine barrels from this area date back to the thirteenth century and the village is home to plump Grenache Noir, spicy Syrah and plump Viognier grapes with aromas of violet and acacia honey.

Considered to be some of 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 more zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by the easy-going.

From the Côtes du Rhône villages clay and stony limestone soil come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that produce approximately 19 million bottles of medium-bodied fruity red wines.

The history of the wine of Gigondas traces 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 more expensive Châteauneuf du Pape. On approximately 3,000 acres vintners tend the Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah grapes which go into making 5,500,000 bottles of this first class wine.

For people whose mouth needs a small shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine with plumy and earthy aromas and with chocolate tones which mix with a peppery finish after the wine has been allowed to age for approximately 4 or 5 years.

In conclusion, we must take a look at the slopes of Châteauneuf du Pape which lie between Orange and Avignon and which were formerly summer home of numerous Popes. The wine from this area is thick and richly colored by the Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and some ten other grape varieties. On some 7,600 acres of sandy red clay and quartz soil grow the vines which produce 13,000,000 bottles which can age for up to 20 years with aromas of vanilla, red fruits and cinnamon.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

GreatWineTastings.com provides information on everything from gift baskets wine country to wine tasting Chateauneuf du Pape

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which means you may freely reprint it, in its entirety, provided you include the author's resource box along with LIVE VISIBLE links (without "nofollow" tags).