Welcome to the Ardèche département: introducing a wine region
Administratively, France is divided into 101 départements. The Ardèche département has the number 07 and lies in the south-eastern part of the mainland. It belongs to the Rhône-Alpes region. The River Ardèche, which flows through this region, gives the département its name. A wonderful landscape with unique flora and fauna is a welcome reason for many tourists to spend an unforgettable holiday in the Ardèche. Nature lovers with a taste for quiet hours away from mass tourism feel very much at home in this region.
Fertile land with good news for wine lovers: climate as a plus for winemakers and buyers alike
The Rhône-Alpes region is one of the country’s most important wine producers. The sunny slopes of the fertile Côte du Rhône south of Lyon, France’s third-largest city, which are also found in the Ardèche among other places, promise a wonderful stay in a true natural paradise. The big wine-growing areas are visited again and again, which certainly speaks for the quality of the products. The Côtes du Rhône is a wine-growing area in the south of the Rhône valley. The winemakers concentrate primarily on producing red wine. On some estates, however, only white wine is produced. The mild climate is ideal for the development of the grapes. The fruit is sweet enough and therefore does not need to be chaptalised. The wines are made dry, with the exception of Beaumes-de-Venise.
Well-known grape varieties at affordable prices: a short introduction
Despite the low prices, holidaymakers need not worry about quality. Syrah, Chardonnay, Gamay and Merlot are classic examples of regional grape varieties that, as the finished product in the form of wine, cost no fortune and yet taste very good.
Saint-Joseph: the most important facts and information
The two granite hills are the core of the Saint-Joseph appellation’s growing area. Mainly red wine is made in this region from the Syrah grape. The position on the steep slopes provides a dreamlike view on the one hand and a somewhat later ripening of the grapes on the other. Marsanne and Roussanne are the names of the grape varieties intended for making white wine. Cultivation is limited to the southern part of the area because the soils have a high proportion of lime. A day trip to Valence with a visit to the Romanesque cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire provides a little variety.
Cornas: home of the Dumien-Serrette cellar at a glance
In the Cornas wine-growing area, named after the commune of the same name, only Syrah is permitted as a grape variety. The boundaries of the beautiful area are marked by the 11 streams that flow through this region. In the first years after production, the wines have a rather harsh taste. A storage period of at least three years therefore makes sense. Only after around 15 years can the best wines develop their flavour fully. During a stay in the Cornas wine-growing area, a visit to the Dumien-Serrette cellar is worthwhile. In this cellar several winemakers make their products available for wine tasting. Tourists should on no account miss this experience.