| The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks very | | | | tannic Domaine du Trapadis being the preference of |
| much like a small Italy as it extends approximately | | | | those who seek a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer |
| 200 kilometers from south of Lyon to just south of | | | | Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by |
| Avignon. In this part of the country the climate varies | | | | those people who are a little more easy going. |
| from the Rhone's warm summers and cold winters to | | | | From the Côtes du Rhône villages stony limestone |
| classical Mediterranean weather where summers are | | | | and clay earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes |
| hot and winters are mild. | | | | that are turned into approximately 19,000,000 bottles |
| The relatively more constant sunshine combines with | | | | of medium body fruity red wines. |
| granite soil of the north and limestone of the south | | | | The history of the wine of Gigondas traces back to |
| to produce Carignan, Syrah and Grenache used in red | | | | the Roman Empire and good advantage is taken |
| wines and Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc and Clairette | | | | today of the Mediterranean weather and the red clay |
| used to make white wines. | | | | soil to produce an fragrant alternative to the costly |
| The Grenache is the major grape grown with more | | | | Châteauneuf du Pape. On nearly 3,000 acres |
| than half of the total red wine grapes grown while | | | | vintners grow the Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah |
| the Clairette makes up 35 percent of white wine | | | | grapes which go to make 5.5 million bottles of this |
| grapes grown. Overall approximately 8-10 thousand | | | | excellent wine. |
| winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine | | | | For drinkers whose tongue needs a small shock of |
| on a huge 170,000 acres of land of which | | | | pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache |
| three-quarters is given over to the fruity reds of | | | | Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine with earthy and |
| Châteauneuf du Pape in the south and the | | | | plumy aromas and with chocolate tones which |
| full-bodied Côte Rôtie in the north. | | | | combine with a peppery finish once the wine has |
| The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a quite | | | | aged for some 3 or 4 years. |
| different climate from that of the surrounding | | | | To conclude, we must take a look at the slopes of |
| Mediterranean. Guarded by forest atop | | | | Châteauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon |
| horseshoe-shaped hills there are numerous terraces | | | | and Orange and which were once summer retreat of |
| composed of a mix of stony chalk and limestone. | | | | numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored |
| Some wine barrels of the area date clear back to the | | | | by the Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and some ten |
| 13th century and the village is home to plump | | | | other grape varieties. On in the region of 7,600 acres |
| Viognier, Grenache noir and spicy Syrah grapes with | | | | of quartz and sandy red clay soil grow the vines |
| aromas of acacia honey and violet. | | | | which produce 13 million bottles of wine which can |
| Considered among the best Côtes du Rhône | | | | age for up to 20 years with aromas of red fruits, |
| villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's | | | | vanilla and cinnamon. |