A journey along the Rhône river valley £75pp
The Rhône Valley has always seemed quite old-school to me. The UK is the third-largest market for Côtes du Rhône globally—or Cote de Ronnie, as we affectionately call it. I was truly excited by the deeper research I did for this tasting, discovering so many wines I wanted to share with you. They showcase how the region has evolved while staying true to its mantra of offering exceptional value and delicious wines.
We are kicking off with two rosés—a delightful Tavel rosé and a sparkling Rhône rosé.
The sparkling rosé is produced by Château de Rouanne in the appellation of Vinsobres. Vinsobres, located in the northern part of the Southern Rhône, benefits from a cool microclimate within this warmer region—a hidden jewel of the Rhône. Vinsobres received Cru status in 2006, and both the sparkling rosé and the still red Vinsobres are excellent.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Rhône whites, which are consistently outstanding and a refreshing departure from the classic Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Of course, we’ll be tasting a Condrieu—a rite of passage in any Rhône tasting! We’ll also enjoy a phenomenal Saint-Péray and a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc from the iconic Château de Beaucastel. Truly stunning wines.
Moving to reds in the South of the Rhône Valley, after an exceptional value Lirac we’ll explore an exceptional estate, often described as the Chambolle-Musigny of the Rhône. Julien Bréchet, who runs this estate, has quickly risen to the top tier—not just in Gigondas quality but across the entire Rhône Valley. We’ll taste two wines from his domaine, which boasts over six centuries of winemaking history, his single-vineyard varietal wines; Grenache and Mourvèdre—both grown in an ideal microclimate with perfect soil.
We’ll also enjoy a crunchy Domaine Chapoutier Saint-Joseph from the Northern Rhône’s Syrah, allowing us to compare single-varietal wines alongside the well-known Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM) blends.
A hightlight to the evening will be a Côte-Rôtie from Domaine Georges Vernay, his daughter, Christine, crafts incredible wines from the steep granite slopes of the Rhône’s northern tip. This wine left an imprint on me and remains truly unforgettable.
Finally, we’ll round off the evening with a sweet Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
Join us for a truly unforgettable Tour de Rhône!
What you’ll be tasting…
Aperitif(s)
2023 Brut Nature Rose, 'Comte de Grignan', Chateau de Rouanne, Southern Rhone
2023 Tavel Rose, Chateau Boucarut, Tavel, Southern Rhone
White
2023 Roussanne, Saint-Peray, Domaine du Tunnel, Northern Rhone
2022 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Chateau de Beaucastel, Southern Rhone
2022 Condrieu, Chateau le Devay, Northern Rhone
Red
2023 Lirac, Chateau Boucarut, Southern Rhone
2021 Vinsobres, Chateau de Rouanne, Southern Rhone
2022 Gigondas, 'La Colline', Domaine des Bosquets, Southern Rhone
2022 Gigondas, 'Le Plateau', Domaine des Bosquets, Southern Rhone
2022 Saint-Joseph, 'Deschants', M. Chapoutier, Northern Rhone
2022 Cote-Rotie, 'Blonde du Seigneur', Domaine Georges Vernay, Northern Rhone
Sweet
Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Domaine de Coyeux Solera, Southern Rhone