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