The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks very much like a small version of Italy as it extends roughly 200 kilometers from the south of Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this region the weather varies from the cold winters and warm summers of the Rhone to the classic Mediterranean where the winters are mild and the summers hot.

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

The Grenache is the major grape grown and represents 55 percent of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up just over one third of the white wine grapes grown in the region. Overall roughly 8,000 to 10,000 winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine on a vast 170,000 acres of land of which three-quarters is devoted to the fruity reds of Chteauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied Cte Rtie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a quite different climate from that of the surrounding area. Enfolded by forested horseshoe-shaped hills there are numerous terraces composed of stony chalk and limestone. Some of the barrels from this area date clear back to the 13th century and the village is home to plump Grenache Noir, spicy Syrah and plump Viognier grapes with aromas of acacia honey and violet.

Considered to be among the best of the Ctes du Rhne villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau’s tannic Domaine du Trapadis being the preference of those who are looking for 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 Ctes du Rhne villages stony limestone and clay earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that produce some 19 million bottles of medium body fruity red wines.

The history of the wine of Gigondas traces back to the Roman Empire and good advantage is taken today of the Mediterranean weather and the red clay soil to make an fragrant alternative to the expensive Chteauneuf du Pape. On about 3,000 acres vintners grow the Mourvdre, Syrah and Grenache grapes that go into making 5,500,000 bottles of this first class wine.

For wine lovers whose tongue requires a small shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud’s Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red with earthy and plumy aromas and with chocolate tones that mix with a peppery finish after the wine has been allowed to age for about 3 or 4 years.

To conclude, we must turn our attention to the slopes of Chteauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were once used as the summer retreat of numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored by the Syrah, Clairette, Grenache and some ten other grape varieties. On roughly 7,600 acres of quartz and sandy red clay soil grow the vines that produce 13 million bottles that can age for up to 20 years with aromas of red fruits, vanilla and cinnamon.

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