Images of the Diois
September 4, 2020
There are four appellations in the Diois: Clairette de Die (which equates to around 95% of all AOC wine), Crémant de Die, Coteaux de Die and Châtillon-de-Diois. AOC Châtillon-en-Diois, in the far east of the region, makes still whites, reds and rosés from Burgundian varieties (and some Syrah). Olivier Rey, president of co-operative Jaillance, which makes over 70% of AOC Clairette…
Images of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
August 21, 2020
The village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape viewed from the east Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with the ruined château in the background The village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - smaller and quieter than you might expect Morning in Châteauneuf-du-Pape The cellar of Château de Beaucastel Blending at Château de Beaucastel Emmanuel Reynaud of Château Rayas (taken 2015)…
Images of Cornas
August 7, 2020
The village of Cornas Largely east-facing slopes at the southern part of the appellation - lieu-dit Combe on the left, lieu-dit Patou on the right Olivier Clape, with lieu-dit Sabarotte in the background The slope in the background features the south-facing lieu-dit Reynard (left side, in shadow) and the west and south-facing lieu-dit La Geynale (spread around the…
Images of Hermitage
July 24, 2020
The south-facing hill of Hermitage; the lower part is lieu-dit Les Bessards, the upper part is lieu-dit l'Hermite with the 'chapel' on top. Standing in lieu-dit Les Greffieux, looking up at lieu-dit l'Hermite to the left, lieu-dit Le Méal to the right Never-ending wall building and upkeep The front of the chapel The wine named after it Caroline Frey,…
Images of Crozes-Hermitage
July 3, 2020
Standing in one vineyard, looking up at another - the southern part of Crozes-Hermitage is a series of alluvial terraces Classic pebbly alluvial soils of the southern part of Crozes-Hermitage David Reynaud (taken 2013) Gaylord Machon Emmanuel Darnaud (taken 2015) Alain Graillot (taken 2014) To the north of Hermitage, the terroir is very different,…
Images of Brézème and Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban
June 19, 2020
Officially these are AOC Côtes-du-Rhône vineyard areas, but use of the names either Brézème or Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban are tolerated on labels. Looking south-east over the gently sloping clay limestone vineyards of Saint-Julien-en-Saint-Alban on the west bank of the Rhône Looking west along the foot of the limestone hill of Brézème on the east bank of the Rhône …
Images of Saint-Péray
June 5, 2020
Standing in the southern part of the appellation on granite vineyards, looking north-east towards the Rhône Looking east towards the Montagne de Crussol, a long ridge of limestone with the Rhône flowing behind it. An exceptional terroir, increasingly covered in housing rather than vineyards. Sandy granitic soils on flatter vineyards of Saint-Péray Fabrice Gripa of…
Images of Château-Grillet
May 8, 2020
Château-Grillet is the name of the producer, a property with its own appellation to the south-west of Condrieu. It's surrounded here by its vineyards. The oldest part of the building dates back to 1760 The property is comprised of several parts of different ages The vineyards, all Viognier, rise up in a vertiginous amphitheatre behind the property The upper…
Images of Saint-Joseph
April 24, 2020
The pin shows the centre of the appellation, which stretches from the south of Condrieu to beyond Saint-Péray Looking north from lieu-dit Le Paradis in the south of the appellation... The pyramid-shaped hillside to the left is lieu-dit Saint Joseph (which gives its name to the appellation). In the foreground, pruned canes are burnt in lieu-dit Les Oliviers. In the background is the hill…
Images of Condrieu
April 10, 2020
Rémi Niero in lieu-dit La Roncharde Lieu-dit La Roncharde looking south-west towards lieu-dit Côte Bonnette Tasting older vintages with Christine Vernay of Domaine Georges Vernay Lieu-dit Coteau de Vernon François Villard Once common, now rare - a sweet Condrieu, this one made by Xavier Gérard