The South of France is a place that values tradition.
I never seem to forget the past, you see it in the local festivals and even in the traditional
winemaking practices.
This is one of the country's top tourist destinations.
People come here for the warm weather, the incredible local foods and that relaxed Mediterranean
lifestyle.
“Provence it's an absolutely delightful enchanting place.
The climate is fantastic and of course becoming a holiday to a place like this and also having
fantastic wine is a massive bonus”.
The wines that we enjoy today from the Rhône can be traced back through thousands of years
of winemaking.
The Greeks were the first to plant grapes in these rocky soils but the romans followed
when they too discovered the quality of the vineyards.
Cities and cultures developed as the reputation of the Rhône Valley spread throughout the
ancient world.
In the 14th century winemaking here was revived during a period when the papacy moved from
Rome to Avignon.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from this period.
Meaning “the new castle of the Pope” and these were their prized vineyards.
The Palace of the Popes was located in Avignon overlooking the Rhône river.
Then, just like now, wine and food are at the heart of this city.
The living wall in the market of Les Halles is a landmark and a destination of choice
for the region's chefs.
Christian Etienne is one of the best and has the Michelin star approved.
He demands perfection with a discerning eye for quality and freshness.
He's also a spokesperson for the region's food producers.
The cuisine of the Rhône is rustic but amazingly diverse, changing with the seasons to take
advantage of fresh local ingredients.
The abundance of fresh ingredients is matched only by the diversity of the wines.
Restaurant Christian Etienne is close to the Palace of the Popes in Avignon.
It's here that wine takes on another dimension, when it's carefully paired with regional foods.
There's something magic about the interaction of food and wine sometimes creating a fusion
that is better than either one alone.
The earthy character of these wines is a perfect match
for the rustic flavors of the region.
Down in the cellars, sommelier Nicolas Ong reminds me
that the wines here can vary enormously.
Earthy, fruity, spicy or a combination of them all.
Regardless of the quality level or price.
The wines of the Rhône are carefully labeled according to the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
or AOC guidelines.
It's a four tier system based on location rather than grape variety.
Côtes du Rhône is at the base of the pyramid and they're a great source for fresh easy
drinking wines, at an affordable price.
Côtes du Rhône Village is the next step, indicating better
growing areas and stricter production standards.
The third level is Côtes du Rhône Village with one
of 18 designated villages of superior quality noted on the label.
The fourth and highest quality level is reserved for Crus wines.
These are from the finest growing areas with their
own appellations.
Places like Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Saint Joseph and Tavel.
There are many great
discoveries to be made in the Rhône.
“I think my generation is coming back with the contact
of the with the terroir”.
In addition to the big name wines, this region is also home to
many independent producers who are working to land and crafting their own style.
“Here
we will see we have a 15 meter zip of this galley”
“This galley I'm finding all over the place”
For Cyril Morez, winemaking is as much an art as tradition.
His reds are blends of Syrah and Grenache, picked at their full ripeness and concentration.
“This Syrah is 10 years old”.
Understanding the secrets of great maturity and when to pick, is the most critical decision of his year.
“To decide the date of harvest, the most important is to see the redness of the berries, you see? The color is becoming..”
So it's staining your hand so that's got a 'go ahead'
“Yes”
Cyril works with his father on a 25 hectare estate in the Southwestern region of Costières de Nîmes.
This is one of the Rhone's newest Appellations where quality is on the rise.
Working on a smaller scale, allows him the opportunity to oversee every step in the process.
He's a sixth generation wine maker and like many vignerons of his generation,
he's reinterpreting the Southern Rhône style.
Jill this is very impressive!
“Yes Michael, as you can see it's a very modern cellar. It's a good example of the neuron, using the best technology
to get good quality wine, at affordable price”
This is the Rhone's answer to new world wine production.
Cellier des Dauphins is a cooperative representing about 30% of the region's total.
They make wine for hundreds of local growers, producing about 30 millionbottles a year.
Their wines are very popular!
They're affordable and characteristic of the Southern Rhône, with light spice and soft tannins.
The Southern Rhône has so much to offer. This is one of my favorites: Tavel
an AOC dedicated to making Rosé. They're clean, they're dry and delicious.
They call these "The King of Rosé's". Dry aromatic and even capable of aging.
This is the only appellation in France
dedicated exclusively to Rosé table wines.
These are wines for food with an incredible
concentration of flavors that comes from the soil.
“The terroir of Tavel is quite similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape,
because they have these rolled stones. But they also have an enormous
amount of sand and sand is a terroir that creates great finesse in a wine, low in tan
and of course therefore ideal for Rosé wines. The galley are very useful because
they produce the maturity and strength in the wine".
The production methods are very similar to reds
but there is limited contact allowed between the juice and skins.
And that's how they get their distinctive pink hue.
And that's a beautiful color of Tavel, already
"Yes, it's very fruity, very enjoyable"
Beautiful color and already beautiful fruit. That's going to make nice wine!
"I hope too!"
Sometimes Rosé wines can be very aromatic, but offer little in taste. Tavel is the opposite. It really delivers the flavors you smell in the glass.
Serve chilled, it's great with Asian foods and just like the other wines from this region, they transport you to a place,
The sun-drenched vineyards of Southern France
Try the wines of the Rhône for yourself and experience a taste of Southern France.
The Rhône is a region with a strong sense for tradition and a respect for terroir. The winemakers
here craft their wines to give you a sense of place, that can be enjoyed in every glass.