Rhône Wines

The Rhône Valley is a region that's famous for its diverse terroirs and distinctive wine styles. The region splits into two main areas: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône, each making wines with their own unique character.  Owing to the warm conditions, there is much more red produced than white and rosé. 

Northern Rhône

• Climate: Cooler, with steep, terraced vineyards that cling to hillsides.

• Grape Varieties:

  • Red: Mainly Syrah, which gives you deep, spicy, full-bodied wines packed with dark fruit flavours and that distinctive peppery background.

  • White: Viognier (the star of Condrieu), Marsanne, and Roussanne are the go-to grapes here, creating aromatic, rich white wines.

• Notable Appellations: Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu: 

Southern Rhône

• Climate: Warmer with a Mediterranean influence, which leads to a greater variety of blended wines.

• Grape Varieties:

  • Red: This area is known for its Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blend (often called "GSM"), frequently with other grapes like Cinsault and Carignan added into the mix.

  • White: Typically blends of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, and Marsanne.

• Notable Appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône

Food Pairing

• Northern Rhône Reds: These go well alongside grilled meats, game, or rich dishes like beef stew.

• Southern Rhône Reds: Perfect with lamb, Mediterranean dishes, and hearty stews on cold evenings.

• White Wines: The whites from both regions play nicely with seafood, poultry, and creamy dishes.

Rhône wines offer something for everyone, from the powerful, complex Syrahs of the north to the friendly, fruity blends of the south.  Nowadays they also offer elegance and quality and seem so much better value than many of the wines from Burgundy whose prices seem to have gone into orbit!