Southern Rhone Whites

Instead of the burly winter whites of the Northern Rhone, the wines south of Valence are lighter, brighter, more summery. A happy fray of obscure white grapes with whimsical-sounding names like Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Picpoul lighten up the familiar Marsanne and Roussanne.

These grapes won't appear on a wine label; they'll just be part of a mix labeled by the region from which it came. Most are labeled simply "Cotes du Rhone," which indicates wines made from grapes grown anyplace between Vienne in the north and Avignon in the south.

For more flavor and body (at least in theory), try wines marked Cotes du Rhone-Villages: The "Villages" appended to the appellation indicates that a wine came from a specific range of vineyards and that the grapes met more strict requirements for ripeness and quality than those that go into straight Cotes du Rhone wines. Or, look for wines from specific appellations within the southern Rhone. Some of the most popular appellations include Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Coteaux du Triscastin, Cotes du Luberon, and Cotes de Ventoux.

Though the variety offered by southern Rhone whites is great enough to make generalization difficult, all are light on fruit with savory mineral notes. 

The most expensive southern Rhone whites come from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a 7,500-acre appellation set apart by the smooth galets that reflect warmth up to the grapes, making for riper, richer fruit. Like Hermitage, drink it young or drink it old. It will disappoint in middle age, and reward patience with savory, sophisticated nutty mineral flavors.

Vin de Pays is a designation reserved for wines that come from a particular area but do not meet the requirements for the more specific appellation designation (AOC). It used to be an almost derogatory designation, implying that a wine wasn't good enough to earn the more specific designation. But today a Vin de Pays designation is frequently employed by wine-makers who want to experiment with grapes not allowed in an AOC wine.

The southern Rhone Valley offers a fantastic selection of white wines to please every palate and budget.