The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks to a fair degree like a miniature version of Italy as it stretches approximately 125 miles from the south of Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this region the weather varies from the Rhone's warm summers and cold winters to classical Mediterranean weather where the winters are mild and the summers are hot.
The relatively more constant sunshine combines with granitic soil in the north and the limestone soil in the south to produce Grenache, Carignan and Syrah used in red wines and Ugni Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Clairette used in the production of whites.
The Grenache is the dominant grape and represents 55 percent of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine grapes grown in the region. In total roughly 8-10 thousand winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine on a vast 170,000 acres of land of which 75 percent is devoted to the fruity reds of Châteauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied Côte Rôtie in the north.
The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a very different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Sheltered by forest atop horseshoe-shaped hills the area boasts a huge number of terraces composed of limestone and stony chalk. Some barrels of the area date back to the thirteenth century and the village is home to plump Viognier, Grenache noir and spicy Syrah grapes with aromas of violet and acacia honey.
Considered among the best Côtes du Rhône villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic Domaine du Trapadis being the preference of those looking for 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 earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that are turned into approximately 19 million bottles of medium body fruity red wines.
The history of Gigondas wine traces back to the Roman Empire and advantage is taken today of the Mediterranean weather and the red clay soil to ferment an fragrant alternative to the more costly Châteauneuf du Pape. On approximately 3,000 acres vintners tend the Syrah, Grenacha and Mourvèdre grapes that go into making 5.5 million bottles of this first class wine.
For drinkers whose mouth 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 aged for about 3 to 5 years.
Finally, we must take a look at the slopes of Châteauneuf 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 Clairette, Syrah, Grenache and some ten other grape varieties. On roughly 7,600 acres of quartz and sandy red clay soil are grown the vines that produce 13 million bottles of wine that can age for up to 20 years with aromas of cinnamon, red fruits and vanilla.
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