Cotes du Rhone (pronounced coat doo rone) is a AOC region in the south of France, along the Rhone river. It includes such famous wine regions as Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, and the region usually produces more wine than any other French appellation other than Bordeaux.
Syrah is the only grape grown in Northern Rhone, and results in earthy and spicy wines, while Southern Rhone reds can include Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Carignan (and blends of such) which add rounder, fruitier flavors to their wines. White wines are a blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, among other varietals. Southern Rhone is also one of the only regions to make a sweet Muscat, in a style similar to Port.
So, when you see a wine labeled "Cotes du Rhone," you will now know which grapes to expect. For red, either Syrah or Grenache blend, and whites, likely Viognier or blend of some such.
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| Courtesy of Terroir-France.com |
I went to Chateauneuf-du-Pape when I went to France in the summer of 1996 (or was it '97?). We toured and bought wine at the end. I randomly selected a wine and kept it for YEARS before drinking it.
ReplyDeleteI also bought a bottle of wine from a stand at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, and it was probably the best wine I ever had. EVER. It was random to come across a stand of wine, much like when we see a vegetable stand. Very cool.
This part of France is so beautiful. I hope you get to see it someday.