The Rhone Valley wine region looks very much like a miniature version of Italy as it extends about 200 kilometers from south of Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this part of France the weather varies from the Rhone's cold winters and warm summers to classical Mediterranean weather where summers are hot and winters are mild. The reasonably constant sunshine combines with granitic soil of the north of the region and limestone of the south of the region to produce Grenache, Carignan and Syrah used to produce red wines and Ugni Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc used to make white wines. The Grenache dominates and represents more than half of the total red wine grapes while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of white wine grapes grown in the region. In total some eight to ten thousand winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine on an enormous 170,000 acres of land of which 75 percent is devoted to the fruity reds of Ch�teauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied C�te R�tie in the north. One village, Chartreuse de Valbonne, enjoys a quite different climate from that of the surrounding area. Enfolded by forested horseshoe-shaped hills the area boasts numerous terraces composed of stony chalk and limestone. Some barrels of the area date clear back to the thirteenth century and the village is home to plump Grenache Noir, spicy Syrah and plump Viognier grapes with aromas of violet and acacia honey. Considered some of the best C�tes du Rh�ne villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic Domaine du Trapadis being preferred by those who are looking for a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by the easy-going. From the C�tes du Rh�ne villages clay and stony limestone earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that produce approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium-bodied fruity reds. The history of Gigondas wine can be traced back to the Romans and good advantage is taken nowadays of the red clay soil and Mediterranean weather to ferment an fragrant alternative to the expensive Ch�teauneuf du Pape. On nearly 3,000 acres vintners produce the Syrah, Grenacha and Mourv�dre grapes which go to make 5,500,000 bottles of this popular wine. For people whose tongue needs a little shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red with plumy and earthy aromas and with chocolate tones which mix with a peppery finish once the wine has been allowed to age for approximately 3 to 5 years. To conclude, we must take a look at the slopes of Ch�teauneuf du Pape which lie between Avignon and Orange and which were once used as the summer home of numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored by the Clairette, Grenache, Syrah and some ten other grape varieties. On some 7,600 acres of sandy red clay and quartz soil are grown the vines which produce 13 million bottles which can take up to 20 years to age with aromas of vanilla, red fruits and cinnamon.
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