Rhône

• Grenache • Syrah • Mourvèdre • Carignan • Cinsault • Terret Noir • Picpoul Noir • Muscardin • Calitor • Cournoise • Marselan • Muscat • Vaccarès

The Rhône appellation has 3 major red grape varieties • Grenache • Syrah • Mourvèdre

• Continental climate with Mediterranean influences. The river (Rhône) also brings maritime influences. • Hot (average temperature 20 °c year long) / The cooler northern Mistral wind affects the region in spring. • 2500/ hours of sun per year. • Frequent precipitation during the year 700 mm/an. • Wind: strong which blows roughly 120 days per year above 50 km/h, but also clears the skies for more sun.

• Schist • Granite • Clay • Mica

• In certain areas there are steep slopes, and others are much flatter. • Provides protection from frost and hail damage; but does occur though.

The diversity of the region with its various terrain steepness as well as the strong Mistral wind, creates several microclimates. Moreover, the variety of grapes used and technics depend on the area, due to the less stringent appellation rulings (as opposed to Burgundy and Bordeaux), which explains why the Rhône wines taste so different from each other.

• Costières de Nîmes • Côtes du Rhône 1. Die • Northern Rhône 1. Condrieu 2. Cornas 3. Crozes-Hermitage 4. Hermitage 5. St-Joseph 6. St-Péray • Southern Rhône 1. Beaumes de Venise 2. Châteauneuf du Pape 3. Côtes du Luberon 4. Côtes du Ventoux 5. Côtes du Vivarais 6. Gigondas 7. Grignan Les Adhemar 8. Lirac 9. Rasteau 10. Tavel 11. Vacqueyras 12. Vinsobres

• High alcohol levels due to the hot climate.​ https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined • ​ • Early Harvest - “rotie” means roasted in French; the grapes are roasting in the sun all summer. The small pebbles on the terrain retain heat at night constantly warming the grapes. • Low to medium acidity: no large temperature extremes. • Low tannins: The Viognier blend adds tannins. • Fruit: Syrah brings scents of red and black fruits. Viognier brings a floral aroma. • Low bodied red wine.

• High Sweetness: This creates high alcohol levels because of the Mediterranean climate – flat relief makes the temperature a little warmer than Northern Rhone.​ https://static.wixstatic.com/media/undefined • ​ • Low acidity: Warm climate with no large temperature extremes. • Low tannins: Grenache has thin skin. • Fruit: Grenache: Raspberry and strawberry flavors – Old oak scents, used for aging appear. • Low bodied with thin colors due to the light skin pigments of the Grenache grape.