Five Things to Know About Rhône Reds

It’s no secret that I’m a Francophile; I love France and French wine. French language classes in high school fueled my interest in different cultures, and French wine launched my appreciation and study of fine wines. But I haven’t always shown all French wine regions the same level of attention. I quickly fell for the bubbles of Champagne, the diversity of the Loire, and the prestige of Bordeaux, and so on, but it took me time to come around to the romance of the Rhône.

Learn from my mistake: the time to discover the Rhône is now, starting with their robust red wines. To get you started, here’s a quick primer on the region’s rich history, diverse subregions, notable producers, and red wine grapes.

Why this region is special

Located in eastern France, this ancient wine region is situated along the banks of the Rhône River, which flows from the Swiss Alps. It was once home to the papacy, which is reflected in its most well-known appellation’s name: Châteauneuf-du-Pape (or “new home of the pope”). Today, it is divided into two main segments: Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône.

The Northern Rhône region is defined by steep vineyards along the banks of the River. It is a small region with a continental climate and a handful of prestigious red wine appellations: Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Cornas.

The Southern Rhône is larger and more sprawling. It is heavily influenced by the Mistral wind, proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, and rocky terrain. Here there are a number of appellations, including Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Vinsobres, and the aforementioned Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Most Côtes du Rhône wines are from the Southern Rhône, too.

What grapes are grown

In the Northern Rhône region, Syrah is king. This dark grape has flavors of blackberries, blueberries, smoked meats, black pepper, and olive tapenade. Sometimes a dash of the white grape Viognier is blended into Syrah to provide more floral characteristics and balance the tannins, which are mouth-drying components found in wine.

Unlike the North’s tight focus on a primary grape, winemakers in the Southern Rhône produce red wine blends leveraging a variety of grapes. Although many grapes are permitted, typically Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre take major roles in the blends. Look for notes of strawberries, plums, star anise, black pepper, and dried Mediterranean herbs like thyme.

Where to look for value

The best values across the Rhône region are within the Côtes du Rhône AOC. These wines are typically Southern Rhône-style blends from across several appellations. These wines will still have good weight and body, but they will be more approachable younger because they’re quicker to market. They’re a great introduction to the Rhône—especially if you don’t want to spend a lot.

When you’re at a wine shop, look for Côtes du Rhône or Côtes du Rhone Villages on the label. If there’s a named village, even better—that means it came from one specific village.

Who are the producers

The list of fantastic Rhône producers is long and diverse. They range from large to small, famous to niche, and classic to innovative. There’s truly something for everyone in both the North and the South. Here are three quality producers you can find through many outlets, including my home state Pennsylvania:

Stéphane Ogier focuses on Côte-Rôtie, such as Lancement, Côte-Rozier, and La Viallière, as well as other Northern Rhône appellations. They also produce a few Côtes du Rhône wines, including “Le Temps est Venu,” which is a classic Southern Rhône-style blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. It retails for $23.

Maison & Domaines Les Alexandrins also makes wine across Northern Rhône. Founded by three friends with winemaking backgrounds, this producer creates wines at every price point, from high-end Hermitage to wallet-friendly Côtes du Rhône. If you’d like to try Syrah with a touch of Viognier, check out their Vin de France Syrah for $17.

Famille Perrin is a famous producer with a long history in the Rhône. It’s hard to achieve scale and quality, but Famille Perrin has mastered it. They have practiced organic viticulture since the 1950s and introduced biodynamic practices in 1974. To get a sense of their style, try the Côtes du Rhône Reserve for $13 or Vinsobres for $20.

How to pair with food

What is French wine without French food? In the Rhône region, specialities include sausages and cheeses. I recommend pairing Northern Rhône reds with carne asada, stuffed mushrooms, lamb vindaloo, marinated olives, and aged cheddar cheese. For Southern Rhône reds, try BBQ ribs, pulled pork, pepperoni pizza, beef shawarma, and lentil burgers. Across the board, Rhône reds pair best with rich, robust foods that are packed with flavor.

Thank you to Vineyard Brands for providing samples for this blog post. To explore their portfolio, visit vineyardbrands.com.