California Women of the Rhone

Many times I get asked what wine is my favorite. I playfully answer, “It comes in a bottle.” I do not want to limit myself! The great expanse of beautiful wines continues to unfold as I explore different regions and wines. I do, though, often find myself coming back to the Rhone varietals.

Rhone wines are those that are made from grapes characteristic of the Rhone Valley in France. Syrah is the dominant red grape in the north. In the Southern Rhone, one finds red blends, which are made of Grenache and Mourvedre. I have enjoyed these wines many times over and over again. They bring great complexity of flavor and rich fruit expression.

Fortunately, these same grapes grow well in California, making California a great source of Rhone varietals.

I want to share with you a video from Wine Spectator, which presents some of my favorite winemakers known for making Rhone varietals with grapes sourced from various regions in California: Paso Robles, Sonoma Coast, Knights Valley, and Amador County. In this video, Helen Keplinger, Annie Favia, Anne-Marie Failla, and Jordan Fiorentini share their perspective on Rhone varietals and talk about their California sources. Their wine is wonderful!

Enjoy!