A group of us toured the Rhone Valley in May, paying particular attention to the characteristics of the grapes and environment. Knowing Cote du Rhones are blended wines, we found it interesting to learn the red grape grenache provides full body and roundness, while the syrah gives the deep color and fragrance of violets to the wine.  Mourvedre is a grape that brings structure and enables the wine to age. (These are just a few of the "Rhone" grape varieties). 

The Rhone Valley is well known for the Mistral, the Northerly wind that blows 200 days a year,  (We could hardly keep our footing!)  coming from the North Pole.  The wind cleanses the air and helps the grapes to ripen at the time of harvest.

An interesting fact we learned was Cote du Rhone wines are rich in polyphenols, (at the origin of the color red) which provide protection against cardiovascular diseases.  Other health effects are the wine helps develop resistance to aging, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

I'm gonna start drinking more Rhone wine immediately!

Marie Griffin, NW