Rhone

Rhone varietals are most familiar to people in their incarnation as Syrah/Shiraz.  But an amazing 22 varieties of grape are recognized by the French government and plantings of many of these varietals have experienced phenomenal growth recently.  This is true not only for the famous red varietals that blend in the Rhone to yield Cotes du Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape and their white wine relatives.  This is one of the only regions that permit the blending of small percentages of white varietals into red wines.  The skill this takes is not easily duplicated or imitated, especially when a single wine can contain up to 13 different varietals.

Syrah (or Shiraz) is the most popular varietal stemming from this region worldwide.  While Shiraz began as the same grape it has taken on a slightly different profile based on the conditions in which it is grown.  This is why many Australian wines will blend Shiraz with Cabernet, where in France its most common partner would be a Grenache.  Why the difference in names?  This actually occurs frequently with many wines where they are known by different names within different regions, this just happens to be the most distinctive example.  Basically, you will notice that wines from the Southern Hemisphere are generally referred to as Shiraz and thoseRhone varietals are most familiar to people in their incarnation as Syrah/Shiraz.  But an amazing 22 varieties of grape are recognized by the French government and plantings of many of these varietals have experienced phenomenal growth recently.  This is true not only for the famous red varietals that blend in the Rhone to yield Cotes du Rhone, Chateauneuf du Pape and their white wine relatives.  This is one of the only regions that permit the blending of small percentages of white varietals into red wines.  The skill this takes is not easily duplicated or imitated, especially when a single wine can contain up to 13 different varietals.

Syrah (or Shiraz) is the most popular varietal stemming from this region worldwide.  While Shiraz began as the same grape it has taken on a slightly different profile based on the conditions in which it is grown.  This is why many Australian wines will blend Shiraz with Cabernet, where in France its most common partner would be a Grenache.  Why the difference in names?  This actually occurs frequently with many wines where they are known by different names within different regions, this just happens to be the most distinctive example.  Basically, you will notice that wines from the Southern Hemisphere are generally referred to as Shiraz and those from the Northern Hemisphere are referred to as Syrah.

While in the Rhone it is quite customary to have wines blended from a large number of varietals, including the aforementioned use of the occasional small percentage of white wines, this is much less common in New World wines based on the same grapes.  While the number of winemakers doing this is slowly increasing, it is still an extremely small percentage of those outside of the Rhone and most wines produced will be predominantly from a single grape.  The only other wines commonly made using blends of white and red grapes in France are some Rosè Champagnes and this regulation was recently reestablished by the European Union earlier this year.

The red wines of the Rhone are predominantly Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and most blends from the region will include smaller amounts of the many additional varietals, but New World wines will usually not.  The wines work extremely well with a lot of classic French dishes, especially with earthy flavors.  Other cuisines that make use of duck, foie gras, truffles, mushrooms and pork work exceptionally well with the jammy and balanced flavors of these wines.

The white wines of the Rhone have just begun to receive the worldwide recognition they deserve in the last two decades.  Voignier, Marsanne and Rousanne are the leaders in white Rhone plantings around the world and their wines are making their way onto more and more wine lists and into more retailers.  These wines tend to have very silky textures that are initially surprising to people that are accustomed to Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays.  The texture this creates on the tongue is absolutely amazing.  In addition to making great sipping wines and forming the classic white Chateauneuf du Papes and Cotes du Rhones the wines pair with a range of foods from appetizers to fish to poultry.  The Tavel Rosé from the region is also a great food wine when you are able to find it and the ideal choice for a Bouillabaisse.  from the Northern Hemisphere are referred to as Syrah.

While in the Rhone it is quite customary to have wines blended from a large number of varietals, including the aforementioned use of the occasional small percentage of white wines, this is much less common in New World wines based on the same grapes.  While the number of winemakers doing this is slowly increasing, it is still an extremely small percentage of those outside of the Rhone and most wines produced will be predominantly from a single grape.  The only other wines commonly made using blends of white and red grapes in France are some Rosè Champagnes and this regulation was recently reestablished by the European Union earlier this year.

The red wines of the Rhone are predominantly Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre and most blends from the region will include smaller amounts of the many additional varietals, but New World wines will usually not.  The wines work extremely well with a lot of classic French dishes, especially with earthy flavors.  Other cuisines that make use of duck, foie gras, truffles, mushrooms and pork work exceptionally well with the jammy and balanced flavors of these wines.

The white wines of the Rhone have just begun to receive the worldwide recognition they deserve in the last two decades.  Voignier, Marsanne and Rousanne are the leaders in white Rhone plantings around the world and their wines are making their way onto more and more wine lists and into more retailers.  These wines tend to have very silky textures that are initially surprising to people that are accustomed to Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays.  The texture this creates on the tongue is absolutely amazing.  In addition to making great sipping wines and forming the classic white Chateauneuf du Papes and Cotes du Rhones the wines pair with a range of foods from appetizers to fish to poultry.  The Tavel Rosé from the region is also a great food wine when you are able to find it and the ideal choice for a Bouillabaisse.
 

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