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NederlandsIn Ardèche Hermitage, we’re lucky to have three renowned appellations: Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage. They have earned our region a worldwide reputation and rank our terroirs among the finest in the world! Come and taste exceptional wines in the heart of the Vallée de la Gastronomie, just one hour south of Lyon. Enjoy a wine tourism getaway in the vineyards of the Northern Rhône Valley!
Saint Joseph
Well-known for the terraced vineyards situated on the right banks of the Rhône river, this appellation is the product of the delicious Syrah* grape variety. It is one of the most well-known and amongst the best Côtes du Rhône wines, first grown in Ardèche Hermitage.
n the beginning Saint Joseph wine was called “Mauves wine”. Mauves is a village situated just south of Tournon sur Rhône. Starting from 8th century this wine was much appreciated at the table of the Kings of France and particularly by Charlemagne. Later on Victor Hugo mentioned the wine in his novel Les Misérables.
“My brother made him drink this good Mauves wine which he does not drink himself as he considers it to be too expensive” (Les Misérables - Volume 2 Chapter 3).
The first demand of the name Saint Joseph appellation d’origine was patented in 1919 but was not successful. The wine finally became an AOC wine in 1956 and only covered 6 villages : Glun, Mauves, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, Vion and Lemps. The Ardèche Hermitage area is without a doubt the cradle of this great Côtes du Rhône appellation. It took another 13 years (1969) before it was extended to 26 villages covering over 60 kilometres, starting at Guilherand Grange as far as Chavanay (23 villages in Ardèche and 3 in the Loire). 1200 hectares of vines are planted on granitic slopes that mankind has modelled to grow Syrah the mythical grape variety of the Rhône Valley.
The splendid terraces that seem to hang over the river and the walls that decorate the landscape make the beauty of the view. The low drystone walls, a genuine know-how, were listed part of UNESCO World Heritage in 2018.
The red wines, coming from the unique Syrah grape variety, represent around 90% of the local production whereas 10% are white wines produced from Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties. These varieties are identical to the neighbouring appellation Crozes Hermitage. However no need to be an expert to understand the important role the soil has to play ! Wines produced from the same grape variety will develop very different hints and aromas. The red Saint Joseph has a strong tannin, mineral edge and also hints of pepper and violet. The white wines have more apricot-like fragrances and beautiful floral hints like hawthorn and other honey-producing flowers.
Hermitage
Recognized as being one of the world’s best, Hermitage AOC is an exceptional wine to be served on rare occasions. This great wine comes from a unique terroir, only 130 hectares of vineyards over 3 villages in Drôme : Tain l’Hermitage, Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage. However, above all, the wine holds a mythical image : a hill and its stunning hillsides.
From the hillside slopes of Hermitage you can contemplate the Rhône as it meanders at this point; an important geological formation dating back thousands of years.
Whilst carrying out work on the land of Hermitage, geologists in fact rapidly realised that the granite soil of Hermitage AOC was strangely similar to that of the slopes on the opposite bank with the wines carrying the Saint Joseph appellation. This means that the “King of rivers” must have sculptured the landscape giving a part of Ardèche to Drôme being one of the reasons that makes Hermitage a unique terroir. If you add a rather Mediterranean climate, an ideal exposure, native grape varieties, (Syrah, Roussanne et Marsanne) along with the know-how of our winegrowers to this geological exception, you obviously find a world-renowned wine.
This wine may seem expensive for novices however the experts cannot be fooled : the rarity, the flavours and unique aromas make the bottle well worth its price.
Syrah is a star of the Côtes du Rhône vineyards and the origin of a number of Rhône Valley wines of which Hermitage is one. The wine produced on this hillside ages extremely well (30 years). It has a lovely ruby colour when of a young age and takes on a tuile* tint on ageing. Hermitage is a full-bodied and powerful wine that develops hints of small fruit, violets, spices even leather as it ages. The tannins mature and become more delicate, giving the appellation one of the finest expressions of the Syrah grape variety. Hermitage vineyards also produce white wines with the Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties. These wines have shorter laying down storage (about 10 years). However, after a few years, fine palates discover subtle hints such as iris or even linden and amateur wine lovers are often amazed by the harmony in these great wines.
* orange highlights
Crozes-Hermitage
The appellation Crozes Hermitage has been officially recognized as an AOC wine (appellation d’origine contrôlé) since 1937 and was born on exceptional terroirs. Well-known for its gourmet red fruit hints of Syrah it also exists in extremely fresh white wines with white floral flavours.
It extends over 11 towns and villages (Érôme, Serves-sur-Rhône, Gervans, Larnage, Tainl’Hermitage, Mercurol, Chanos-Curson, Beaumont-Monteux, La Roche-de-Glun et Pont-de-l’Isère) all situated in the northern part of the county Drôme.
It is the greatest appellation of Northern Côtes du Rhône wines. We often talk about the Crozes Hermitages terroirs as, by definition, they cover a vast area therefore take into account natural factors such as climate, geology, the grape variety and also the know-how of our winemakers.
As the production is grown over a vast area (1,650 hectares) with a great soil diversity, the AOC Crozes-Hermitage wine is obviously one of character with many different features. The plains of river pebbles surrounding Mercurol, the so-called white clay soils (kaolin**) not forgetting the granite slopes more to the north, all give their particular distinctions to the wines pleasing the tastebuds of oenologists.
However, novices are not to be forgotten as Crozes-Hermitage is one of the wines wellappreciated for its simplicity with its distinctive hints and flavours even for those with a lessexpert palate.
Syrah produces mainly red wine, a grape variety originating from here at the heart of the Rhône Valley and not, as some legends say, from Syria or even Syracuse. Crozes-Hermitage white wines represent only 10% of the appellation and come from Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties.
** Kaolin : Kaolin is a white friable, fire-resistant clay, composed mainly of aluminium silicates
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