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dry rosé, considered to be the best in
the country. There are nine varieties
permitted for Tavel, a mix of red and
white. The Clairette, Bourboulenc, and
Picpoul, all white, contribute aroma
and acidity. The allowed red vines are
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Carignan, and Calitor. Most wines
are made largely from Grenache and
Cinsault, using the
saignée
method
(bleeding the juice off the skins after
a 24-48 hour maceration). Many also
practice the direct press method,
which results in a lighter color and
style of rosé, arguably influenced by
the success of Provence’s rosé wines.
Either way, the best combine body
and fruit to make a classic example
of dry rosé wine, and are the classic
accompaniment to Mediterranean
cooking of both summer and winter.
Cinsault, is on the increase. White
wines from a wide range of varieties
(Grenache blanc, Clairette, Viognier,
Roussanne, Picpoul, Bourboulenc,
Carignan blanc and Ugni blanc, to
name a few) also show great promise.
Rosés are also top-notch, from either
the
saignée
or direct press method.
TAVEL AOC:
for rosé wines only, and
has one of the Rhône’s longest and
most widespread global pedigrees. The
wines were immediately popular with
the liberating American and British
soldiers advancing up the Rhône
Valley in 1944. Thus US markets
were bountiful for Tavel, and the
wine–easy to pronounce–was widely
consumed both in the US and by
American tourists to the region. Tavel
produces the most famous French
THE VIN DOUX NATUREL AOCs
OF THE RHÔNE VALLEY
RASTEAU AOC:
the first of the
Rhône’s two
vin doux naturel
AOCs,
from a minimum of 90% Grenache.
There is also a Rasteau Rancio AOC,
where the wines are stored in oak
casks, exposed to sunlight, for a
minimum of two years, where they
develop their “rancio” character.
MUSCAT DE BEAUMES-DE-
VENISE AOC:
This Côtes-du-
Rhône-Village also has an AOC for
vins doux naturels
made from Muscat
blanc a petits grains and Muscat rosé
a petit grains. These are the most
elegant of the world’s sweet fortified
Muscat wines.
Costières de
Nîmes
Côtes
du Vivarais
Grignan-
les-Ashémar
Côtes du Rhône
Villages
Luberon
Ventoux
Clairette de
Bellegarde
Duché d’Uzès
•
Sainte-Cécile
Signargues
•
Saint Gervais
•
Chusclan
•
Laudun
•
Rochegudes
•
•
Massif
d’Uchaux
•
Plan
de Dieu
•
Suze la Rousse Roaix
•
•
Gadagne
•
Sablet
•
Séguret
•
Visan
•
Puyméras
•
Saint Maurice
•
Vaison la Romaine
•
Rousset-les-Vignes
•
Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes
•
Valréas
•
= Main Towns
•
= Côtes du Rhône Villages
■
= Crus of the CdR
▲
= Vins Doux Naturels
■
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
■
Gigondas
■
Vacqueyras
▲■
Beaumes de Venise
■
Cairanne
Tavel
■
Lirac
■
■
Vinsobres
Rasteau
▲■
•
AUBENAS
•
MONTÉLIMAR
•
ARLES
•
MARSEILLE
•
CARPENTRAS
•
MONTPELLIER
ANDUZE
•
LUSSAN
•
UZÈS
•
NÎMES
•
RUOMS
•
GRIGNAN
•
•
AVIGNON
•
ORANGE
•
CAVAILLON