| The Rhone Valley wine region of France looks to | | | | who are seeking a more zesty wine and |
| a fair degree like a miniature version of Italy as it | | | | Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil |
| stretches about 200 kilometers from the south of | | | | being appreciated by the easy-going. |
| Lyon to just south of Avignon. In this part of the | | | | From the C�tes du Rh�ne |
| country the weather varies from the Rhone's | | | | villages clay and stony limestone earth come the |
| warm summers and cold winters to the classic | | | | Grenache and Syrah grapes that are turned into |
| Mediterranean where the winters are mild and the | | | | approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium body |
| summers are hot. | | | | fruity reds. |
| The reasonably constant sun combines with | | | | The history of the wine of Gigondas traces back |
| granitic soil of the north and the limestone of the | | | | to the Romans and advantage is taken today of |
| south to produce Carignan, Grenache and Syrah | | | | the Mediterranean weather and the red clay soil |
| used to produce red wines and Ugni Blanc, | | | | to make an fragrant alternative to the more |
| Clairette and Grenache Blanc used to produce | | | | costly Ch�teauneuf du Pape. On |
| whites. | | | | approximately 3,000 acres vintners tend the |
| The Grenache is the dominant grape with 55 | | | | Syrah, Mourv�dre and Grenache grapes |
| percent of the total red wine grapes while the | | | | which go into making 5.5 million bottles of this |
| Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine | | | | wonderful wine. |
| grapes grown in the region. In total some 8,000 | | | | For people whose mouth requires a small shock |
| to 10,000 winemakers produce some 450 million | | | | of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's |
| bottles of wine on a massive 170,000 acres of | | | | Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine |
| land of which three-quarters is devoted to the | | | | with plumy and earthy aromas and with chocolate |
| full-bodied C�te R�tie in the | | | | tones which mix with a peppery finish once the |
| north and the fruity reds of Ch�teauneuf | | | | wine has been allowed to age for approximately 3 |
| du Pape in the south. | | | | or 4 years. |
| One particular village, Chartreuse de Valbonne, | | | | Before leaving the C�tes du |
| enjoys a quite different climate from that of the | | | | Rh�ne, we must take a look at the |
| surrounding area. Surrounded by forest atop | | | | slopes of Ch�teauneuf du Pape which lie |
| horseshoe-shaped hills there are numerous | | | | between Avignon and Orange and which were |
| terraces composed of stony chalk and limestone. | | | | formerly summer home of numerous Popes. The |
| Some of the wine barrels of the area date back | | | | wine from this area is thick and richly colored by |
| to the 13th century and the village is home to | | | | the Clairette, Grenache, Syrah and some ten |
| plump Viognier, Grenache noir and spicy Syrah | | | | other grape varieties. On approximately 7,600 |
| grapes with aromas of violet and acacia honey. | | | | acres of sandy red clay and quartz soil grow the |
| Considered to be some of the best of the | | | | vines which produce 13 million bottles which can |
| C�tes du Rh�ne villages are | | | | age for up to 20 years with aromas of cinnamon, |
| Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic | | | | red fruits and vanilla. |
| Domaine du Trapadis being preferred by those | | | | |