The enchanting allure of the French countryside is never more captivating than it is in southern France, the Southern Rhône Valley to be precise. The Southern Rhône Valley is vastly different in many ways when compared to the Northern Rhône Valley. The Southern Rhône has a Mediterranean climate that is favorable for growing not only high-quality wine grapes but also olives, herbs, and picturesque fields of lavender. This region and the town of Avignon is a destination for savvy world travelers. The Rhône Valley is home to the legendary Le Mistral winds that blow out of the Alps and down the Rhône River Valley gaining speed as they travel south, impacting everything in their path. 

For most, the mention of French wine brings to mind images of expensive Grand Cru and opulent chateaus. In reality, French wine is very approachable, affordable, and accessible if you do some research. The winemakers of Southern Rhône have a reputation for producing well-made wines for every taste and budget.

The soils in Southern Rhône differ dramatically from those found in Northern Rhône where they are mostly of a granite-based composition. While in areas of the south many vineyards appear to be planted in fields of river rock. 

For those seeking to explore French wine, I suggest starting with the Southern Rhône. Wine made there tends to be of high quality with interesting complexity and is very food-friendly. This region produces a variety of wine styles, including white, red, rosé, and sparkling. The Southern Rhône is best known for its “GSM’ blend. A “GSM” blend is made up of “G” Grenache, “S” Syrah, and “M” Mourvèdre. The best thing about wines from this region is that they are easy to find and very fairly priced for the quality received. 

Vince Anter, wine travel show host/producer, sommelier, and friend, did an entertaining and informative show on the Rhône Valley that I highly recommend. In this episode, Vince talks with Philippe Guigal, a winemaker at his family’s winery, E. Guigal. They discuss Philippe’s winemaking philosophy, the history of E. Guigal, and its 2020 E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge. I will be doing my review of this wine in a future post. You can find it on YouTube by searching V is for Vino to see episodes from every season https://m.youtube.com/c/VisforVinoWineShow

or use this link to go directly to the Rhône episode https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnqy3FPLdQ&pp=ygUFUmhvbmU%3D

The Southern Rhône Region of France is a special place that elevates the spirit and expectations of what life has to offer to anyone lucky enough to immerse themselves into its culture. A sojourn to the Southern Rhône is always time well spent.