Rhône (North)
Rhône wines are some of the most remarkable and distinguished wines in France, and the Rhône valley is divided into two distinct areas. The Northern Rhône starts just south of Vienne and stretches to Valence where it produces red wines from the single noble variety, Syrah, from illustrious producers such as Jean-Louis Chave for Hermitage, Patrick Jasmin for Côte Rôtie, and Auguste and Pierre Clape for Cornas. These Northern Rhône wines are full-bodied, have fantastic ageing potential and are marvellous accompaniments to hearty meat dishes, whilst lighter, more forward-style Rhône reds such as Crozes Hermitage & Saint Joseph serve as cheaper alternatives. Three grapes, Viognier (notably at Condrieu and Château Grillet), Marsanne and Roussanne, are responsible for the white wines which, like the reds, are rich, full-bodied and make superb matches to smoked fish and poultry.
“The bottom line is that there has never been a better time for the smart money to buy into the Rhône – whether you’re a drinker, collector or, indeed, an investor” John Stimpfig, Decanter Magazine 2007
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