Join us from 6:30pm on Wednesday the 30th of October, for a tasting of the wines from one of France, and the worlds great wine regions, The Rhone Valley. Hosted by Colm Douglas.
Created during the last ice age, as a glacier carved its way south, the Rhone valley has been a bastion of French wine-making since Roman times. Running from Vienne to Avignon and with vineyards on both sides of the river Rhone, the region is split into two separate and distinct wine-making areas. Each are unique, with vastly different geography, climate, soils and grape varieties, but share one thing in common – the Rhône River.
The Northern Rhone is a mere 40 miles long and is responsible for a tiny 4-5% of all the wines from the region. The climate is ‘Continental’–hot summers, cold winters and precipitation throughout the year. Probably the most striking feature is the steepness of the hillsides. The vineyards are terraced to keep the soil from eroding, retain the warmth of the sun and make life a little easier for the vineyard workers!
As the Rhône River progresses southward, the valley widens and the climate changes. The region has a more Mediterranean influence in culture and climate. The summers are long and warm and the winters are mild; rainfall is less than in the north and the famous Mistral Wind is a major player. Another unique characteristic of these wines are the nuances of Garrigue – the wild resinous herbs that cover the landscape.
Syrah is king in the North, while Grenache is the undisputed champion of the South and forms the basis of many of the blends the south is known for. Also to be found are Mouvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Marsanne, Roussane. Viognier, Clairette and a myriad of other minor characters, all of which depth, diversity and complexity of wine the region has become famous.
Join us as we explore the breadth and range of the Rhone valley from 6:30pm on Wednesday, 30th of October.
Tickets Non-Refundable
