Rhone
Rhone’s Grapes
White
Clairette
Bright, fruity. Sometimes used in the production of red Chateauneuf du Pape wine.
- Aromas and flavors: White peach, lime, green apple, and floral characteristics.
- Taste/ Texture: Musky, acidic, low alcohol
Roussanne
This white grape gains a russet hue as it ripens, thus the name.
- Aromas and flavors: Honey and pear, Meyers lemon, brioche, and apricot.
- Taste/ Texture: Full bodied. When fermented in oak, may take on nutty flavors.
Viognier
Has a wide range of characteristics but a distinctive aroma
- Aromas and flavors: Honeysuckle, peach, tangerine, distinctive aroma.
- Taste/ Texture: Can range from light and spritzy to rich and creamy, depending on how it is vinified.
Marsanne
Often used with Roussanne in blends.
- Aromas and flavors: Quince, mandarin orange, apricot flavors, beeswax and almonds.
- Taste/ Texture: Soft, full, and pungent
Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc
Oldest member of the Muscat group; The variety is named for its small berries and seeds (petits grains), as is its red-skinned mutation Muscat à Petit Grains Rouges. The finished wines are pale gold when young.
- Aromas and flavors: Delicate vegetal notes and hints of tropical fruits. With age, they develop a rich golden hue and acquire more prominent flavors of honey, dried apricot and raisins.
- Taste/ Texture: Balanced acidity, intense, full-bodied.
Bourboulenc
Used primarily as a blending grape, makes wines with citrus tones and can display a touch of smoky, spicy complexity.
Grenache Blanc
A color mutation of Grenache, producing full-bodied white wines that are sometimes aged in oak to deliver toasty, creamy, dill-like flavors.
- Aromas and flavors: Green plum, Pear, Lemon zest, Honeysuckle, Toast. (Wine Folly)
- Taste/ Texture: Bone Dry; Medium Body; No Tannins; Medium-Low Acidity; 13.5% to 15% ABV (alcohol).
Red
Syrah
A dark red colored grape widely planted in the Rhone Valley of France (North and South), and in Australia (Shiraz). It is believed to be native to the Rhone Valley. The wine is often blended with Grenache and Mourvedre in the Southern Rhone and Languedoc areas.
- Aromas and flavors: Blueberry, Plum, chocolate, tobacco, black pepper
- Taste/ Texture: Full-bodied, medium tannins, medium acidity, high alcohol (13.5-15% ABV)
Mourvedre
A very dark colored grape planted in the Southern Rhone and Provence regions of France, as well as Spain (Mataro or Monastrell). It is believed to have originated in Spain.
- Aromas and flavors: Blackberry, black pepper, cocoa, tobacco, roasted meat
- Taste/ Texture: Full-bodied, high tannins, medium acidity, high alcohol (13.5-15% ABV)
Grenache
A light-red colored grape widely planted in the Southern Rhone of France and blended with other regional grapes. It is native to Spain (Garnacha). It is a late-ripening grape and produces bold fruit flavors and aromas. Used extensively for red blends and rosé wines.
- Aromas and flavors: Strawberry, raspberry, plum, leather, dried herbs, blood orange, white pepper, spices
- Taste/ Texture: Medium bodied, low-medium tannins, low-medium acidity, high alcohol (14-15% ABV)
Cinsault
A dark-red colored grape, used in blends and for rosé in the Southern Rhone, Languedoc and in Provencal rosés. It is late ripening and highly heat and drought tolerant.
- Aromas and flavors: Raspberry, red currant, tart cherry, violet, black tea
- Taste/ Texture: Medium-light body, low tannins, medium acidity, moderate alcohol (12-13% ABV)
Counoise
A dark-skinned red grape used primarily in blends in the Southern Rhone and Languedoc regions of France. It contributes aromas and acidity to a wine blend, but does not add significant tannin or color to the wine’s structure. It is late-ripening and heat tolerant.
- Aromas and flavors: Red fruits, red flowers, pepper
- Taste/ Texture: Medium bodied, moderate acidity, low tannins, moderate alcohol
Terret Noir
A dark-skinned red grape used in blends in the Southern Rhone valley, and Languedoc regions in France. It is late-developing but a vigorous growing vine. Believed to be native to the Languedoc region of France. It retains acidity even in the hot growing conditions in the south of France. Although used in wine blends in a wide area, very little of this grape is grown or used.
- Aromas and flavors: Plum, red flowers, juniper berry, black tea, red currant
- Taste/ Texture: Full bodied, moderate-high acidity, moderate alcohol, moderate tannins
Vaccarese
A very obscure and sparsely planted red grape, grown in the Southern Rhone valley of France, mainly. The wine has a deep purple color and contributes unique aromas and structural elements to the blended wine. Also known mainly as Brun Argente.
- Aromas and flavors: Spicy notes, graphite, herbs, minty juniper, some red fruits
- Taste/ Texture: Medium body, moderate tannins, moderate acidity
Carignan
A dark-skinned grape, late budding and ripening. Grown widely in the Southern Rhone and Languedoc regions of France. Originally from Spain, where it is known as Mazuelo and Carignena. It is high-yielding, and needs a very warm climate to ripen properly.
- Aromas and flavors: Cranberry, raspberry, licorice, baking spices, cured meat (umami)
- Taste/ Texture: Medium bodied, moderate tannins, high acidity, med-high alcohol
Marselan
A dark-skinned grape grown mainly in the Southern Rhone and used in Rhone blends. It is also grown in Spain and the Languedoc. Marselan produces small berries and is late ripening. It is a recent (1961) cross between Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Aromas and flavors: Cassis, cherry, cinnamon, clove
- Taste/ Texture: Medium bodied, soft tannins, , moderate alcohol, and low-medium acidity
Picpoul Noir
A medium-dark skinned grape sparsely grown in Southern Rhone and Languedoc regions. It is mid-to-late ripening and drought tolerant. It is primarily a blending grape, contributing acidity, aromatics and very little color. Typically, it’s blended in small proportion. It’s also well-suited to rosé production.
- Aromas and flavors: Floral and fruity aromas – some minerality,
- Taste/ Texture: Light-medium body, low tannins, high alcohol, high acidity
Muscardin
A dark-skinned grape sparsely grown in the Southern Rhone, a rare variety. It is used mainly as a blending component in small proportions. Muscardin is mid-ripening and produces low-moderate sugar levels.
- Aromas and flavors: Floral primarily
- Taste/ Texture: Light body, low alcohol, light tannins, high acidity
Red Muscat
A light-red-skinned grape of Greek origin grown sparsely in the Southern Rhone, primarily. It’s used primarily as a blending grape, contributing aromas and acidity to the blend. It is a very minor variety, used in very small proportions in red blends. Sometimes used to make non-fortified sweet wines.
- Aromas and flavors: Lemon flower, beeswax, lime
- Taste/ Texture: Light body, high acidity, low tannins, moderate alcohol and musky flavors