Top 5 White Rhone Varieties

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Roussanne

Roussanne is arguably the main white blending grape of the Rhône Valley. It may not be as prevalent as Grenache Blanc, but it’s a widely planted variety that is very rarely bottled on its own, though this is changing.

Roussanne produces lean, firm wines with notable acidity, making it the perfect compliment for fat and opulent Grenache Blanc and Marsanne. In addition to adding cut to a wine, Roussanne also provides fine, fresh aromatic notes that recall almond and hazelnut with a wide array of pithy citrus and orchard fruits as a base.

Roussanne is probably most important in St. Peray, where it serves to add a bit of backbone to the prevalent Marsanne. While a challenging grape to grow, plantings of Roussanne have spread around the globe, with significant and noteworthy wines coming from California’s Central Coast, Australia and Washington State.

Photo courtesy Susan Sharpless Smith via Flickr/CC

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Comments

Seabrooker

167088 51

Wilderotter (Amador County, CA) makes wonderful Viognier and Roussanne, along with their excellent reds (Rhone varietals as well as Zin and Barbera). They may be the best US producers of Rhone wines we've found.

Mar 29, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 96,279

Thanks for the tip! That's a new winery for me, and one I need to check out.

Mar 29, 2012 at 11:58 AM
vatx

890982 2

Greg, Ferraton Cotes du Rhone Blanc Samorens is 60 Bourboulenc and 40 Clariette. Available in NYC I know, I've even seen it BTG in the Village.

Mar 29, 2012 at 9:44 PM
vatx

890982 2

And Anglim makes great varietal Grenache Blanc from Paso.

Mar 29, 2012 at 9:45 PM
VicAussie

1039008 2

Ah Marsanne, my favourite white variety, particularly when grown and produced at Chateau Tahbilk in the Nagambie Region of Victoria, Australia from 1866 vines.
In particular their older vintages of between 8 - 12 years rival most oaked Chardonnays in colour, depth and complexity. Another reason to visit down under Greg!

Mar 30, 2012 at 1:30 AM
yseevictor-
ia

172803 5

how about a Condrieu From Guigal 100% Viognier Or Chante Allouette an Hermitage from M Chapoutier 100% Marsanne those are amazing example of Rhone Wines from actually the Rhone Valley

Mar 30, 2012 at 3:53 AM
winewiz

33698 2

Chrysalis Vineyards has been making one of the top Viogniers in the US since 1997.

Mar 30, 2012 at 9:10 AM
Stevern86

909211 36

For Rhone varietals try one stop shopping off the beaten path at Tablas Creek. This Paos Robles winery does Rousanne, Marsanne, Grenace Blanc, Picopul Balnc, and Petit Manseng, all as varietals and all "under one roof" so to speak. They also make white blends and another Mediterranean varietal, Vermentino. This grape is also grown in the southern Rhone and known as Rolle.

Apr 02, 2012 at 4:14 PM
JoetheJobC-
oach

116275 78

I love the Ferraton Samorens that vatx recommends. Ferraton also preduces a higher end LA Matiniere that is excellent. Both available in Southern New England, though they are a challenge to find.

Jan 14, 2013 at 4:13 PM