RHONE WHITE BLENDS

     RHONE BLEND WHITE WINES ARE A DREAM.  WHO CAN RESIST THE TEMPTING FLAVOR OF PEACHES, APRICOTS, RIPE PEARS, SWEET SPICES AND HONEY, OR THE SEDUCTIVE AROMAS OF HONEYSUCKLE AND TROPICAL FRUITS?

 

     WHITE WINES FROM FRANCE’S RHÔNE TEND TO HAVE THESE CHARACTERISTICS. GRENACHE BLANC, ROUSSANNE, MARSANNE, VIOGNIER, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT PICPOUL BLANC – ARE THE DOMINANT VARIETALS IN THE REGION. MANY OF THE WINES TEND TOWARD A CREAMINESS THAT IS RICH BUT NOT HEAVY, WITH A REFRESHING ACIDITY, AND A PLEASING MINERALITY AND NUTTINESS.THE WHITES BLENDS OF THE RHÔNE ARE USUALLY RICH IN FRUIT FLAVORS AND AROMATICS.

 

     FLAVORS OF WHITE RHÔNE BLENDS INCLUDE SPICE, NUT, HONEYSUCKLE AND GREEN APPLE.  THE RARE WHITE WINES OF THE RHÔNE VALLEY OFFER A TERRIFIC ALTERNATIVE FOR CHARDONNAY LOVERS.  

 

     THE NORTHERN RHÔNE WHITES BASED FROM VIOGNIER ARE AROMATIC, FULL-BODIED WINES REMINISCENT OF APRICOT AND SUMMER BLOSSOM. WHEN AGED IN OAK, THEY CAN BE SUPREMELY CREAMY. WHITES BASED ON MARSANNE AND ROUSSANNE, EITHER ALONE OR BLENDED, ARE UNDERRATED. THEY CREATE FASCINATING TABLE WINES DUE TO THEIR HERBAL AROMAS, FULL BODY AND WONDERFUL TEXTURE.

 

     SOUTHERN RHÔNE WINES CAN RANGE FROM SIMPLE, EASY SUMMER WINES TO VERY COMPLEX, OAK-AGED WHITES LIKE CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE BLANC, WHICH ARE ROUNDED AND BEST ENJOYED AFTER A FEW YEARS OF BOTTLE AGE.  SOME OF THESE WINES ARE RUSTIC AND INKY, WHILE OTHERS ARE LYRICAL AND LIGHT. 

​​

RED MEAT

PORK, RABBIT, FILET MIGNON, SIRLOIN, LAMB

POULTRY

CHICKEN, DUCK, GUINEAFOWL, TURKEY, PHEASANT

SEAFOOD

CALAMARI, COD, CRAB, SWORDFISH, SHRIMP, PRAWNS, SALMON, LOBSTER, SCALLOPS

CHEESE

BLUE CHEESE, BRIE, COMTE, GOAT CHEESE, MOZZARELLA

HERBS/SPICES

TARRAGON, PAPRIKA, CILANTRO, BASIL, OREGANO, THYME, GARLIC, SHALLOTS

VEGETABLES

ASPARAGUS, AVACADO, BROCOLLI, CAULIFLOWER, TOMATOE, EGGPLANT, POTATOES, ONIONS​

 

NEED SOME IDEAS?

​

WITH IT’S BOLDER STYLE AND PEACHY NOTES, THE RHÔNE WHITE BLEND IS AN AWESOME MATCH RICHER POULTRY AND FISH DISHES THAT FEATURE ROASTED FRUIT OR FRUIT-BASED SAUCES.

​

LOOK FOR RECIPES LIKE CURRIED SQUASH AND PEAR BISQUE, THAI CHICKEN COCONUT SOUP, ROAST DUCK, SEAFOOD PAELLA, STEAMED LOBSTER, MUSHROOM RISOTTO, OR A SIMPLE GREEK SALAD.