NORTHERN RHONE Wine France

From Vienne to Valence, Northern Rhône Valley produces AOC Côtes du Rhône and Crus. The Syrah variety is king of the red-wines grapes, while Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane are the preferred varieties for the white wines. Here are the appellations of Northern Rhône Valley:

Côte-du-Rhône red wines are light with a lively color. They are fruity, supples and pleasant to drink when young. Older wines are well structured, rich and strong with spicy black fruits aromas. White wines have a light color with flowers and fruity aromas. They are really well balanced in mouth. Rosé wines have cherry reflects and delicates red fruit aromas. They are very fresh wines.

Condrieu is an exotic and fragrant wine. It has a pale gold color with golden highlights. This wine has a powerful bouquet of field flowers, violets, iris and apricots. In the palate, it is supple, unctuous with an overall freshness and good length.

Cornas wines’ appearance is intense with ruby reflects. These wines have red fruits perfume with blackcurrant and spicy nuances. After 5 years it gets truffle, cooked fruits and liquorice bouquet. It is one of the most tannic and strong wines in France.

Côte Rôtie wines have a deep red color. Their nose is characterized by its raspberry and spicy perfume with a nuance of vanilla and almond. It is a very fleshy and rich wine. It has notes of truffle, dried fruits and chocolate in palate.

Crozes-Hermitage red wines have a sustained bright hue. They have a red fruits and spicy bouquet. They are well-structured, long on the palate, tannic but smooth. White wines are limpid and have a pale golden color. They have a floral perfume with hawthorn and acacia nuances.

Hermitage red wines have a deep bright color and offer a red fruits and wild flowers bouquet. When matured, they get leather nuances. The white wine has a limpid golden yellow color. Sweet “Vin de Paille” are quite rare and offer a nice smell of truffles when aged for 8 to 10 years. St-Joseph red wines have a deep color with their subtle perfume of blackcurrant and raspberry which take the nuance of leather and liquorice with age. White wines are limpid and yellow-green. They have wild acacia and honey bouquet. St-Péray offers a sparkling wine and a still wine. Sparkling wines have a yellow color with a bouquet of flowers and citrus fruits. This wine is refreshing, lively and dry. Still wines are pale gold with a fresh flowers perfume. It is light and lively to the palate.