Southern Rhone
The Southern Rhone Valley is best known for its beautiful Grenache based wines blended with many other grapes. And, the best are Chateaunuef-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac, and Tavel. Cotes-du-Rhone are the less expensive wines. In the south, it is much more complicated. It is permitted to blend white wine grapes with red wine grapes. This is seen to some degree in Chateauneuf du Pape. Also, Tavel is a small region where the best rose wine in the world is made. And, the Rhone Valley is my favorite wine region in France.
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
There are 13 grapes permitted to be used in blending Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The majority of the wine comes from Grenache. Situated near Avignon, it translates to the Pope’s new castle. This is where the papal residence was moved from Rome in 1308. It stayed there for about 70 years. These are beautiful wines that need to be discovered. I love the emblems above the labels of these wines.
Clos des Papes 
Chateau de Beaucastel
Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac and Cotes-du-Rhone
Gigondas requires 50% Grenache with the rest usually a mix of Syrah and Mourvedre. Vacqueyras and Lirac are similar to Chateauneuf-du-Pape with grapes that are blended. Grenache is always the main grape in the Southern Rhone. Cotes-du-Rhone is their more basic and less expensive wine. And, almost all of the Southern Rhone wines have an emblem.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 
Domaine de la Curniere Vacqueyras 
Chateau d’aquaria Lirac 
Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone
Tavel in Southern Rhone
A small area in the Southern Rhone that makes the world’s best Rose! And, the prices are within reach. Try it and compare to Rose wines from Languedoc in the south of France. You will notice that Tavel rose wines are darker than most. Because, they are definitely food wines and can go with game meat. Rose wines from most countries are much lighter. The one below was the darkest that I could find.
Chateau de Series Tavel Rose 
Domaine de Nizas Languedoc Rose
The sheer beauty of the hillsides of the Southern Rhone valley is breathtaking. River cruises are a popular way to experience these places in Europe. The same is true of the Northern Rhone.
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