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Corinne's Guide to the Rhône Region
The northern Rhône is primarily the land of Syrah.
Here, the Rhône Valley narrows, forming steep terraces on which the vines grow.
Cooled by the harsh mistral wind, this region has a continental climate.
The major Syrah appellations are, roughly from north to south,
- Côte-Rotie
- Saint-Joseph
- Crozes-Hermitage
- Hermitage
- Cornas.
The southern Rhône has a milder climate that moves seamlessly into the Mediterranean climate of Provence.
The red wines are made from:
- Grenache
- Syrah
- Carignan
- Cinsaut
- Mourvèdre
The major appellations are:
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Gigondas
- Lirac
- Vacqueyras
- Costieres de Nimes
- Côtes du Rhône Villages is the appellation given to quality wines from about 20 other villages.
Côtes du Rhône is a vast section of the southern Rhône that makes Grenache-dominated reds.
Corinne chose the Sierra Foothills to grow her Rhône varietals of “Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah”. She loves the local climate. and the varietals produce excellent blends, most famous of which is “GSM”!”
GRENACHE is the world’s second most-planted wine grape and makes wines with aromas of red fruits, licorice and black pepper, flavors of cherry and spice, good acids and lush texture.
MOURVÈDRE is the latest-ripening Rhône varietal and has aromas of red fruit, chocolate, leather and earth, flavors of plum, currant and spice. Wines with Mourvèdre age gracefully to flavors of truffles and game.
SYRAH (also known as Shiraz) is the most planted Rhône varietal in California. Its aromas are of smoke, bacon fat, black fruit and crushed rock, with flavors of blueberry, blackberry, black olive and spice, full body and substantial tannin.
