A Comprehensive Guide to Rhône Grape Varieties

Ridge Vineyards may be best known for our iconic Monte Bello and single-vineyard Zinfandels, but we have been producing compelling Rhône-style wines for over fifty years. Our history with Rhônes began in the 1970s with petite sirah and has since expanded to include mataro, carignane, grenache, syrah, and grenache blanc. Sourced from our Lytton Estate, single-vineyard sites throughout the North Coast of California, and Paso Robles, RIDGE’s Rhône-inspired bottlings showcase the potential for Rhône grapes throughout California, especially when guided by our commitment to vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched.

Rhône grape varieties refer to wine grapes from the Rhône River Valley in Central France. This region stretches from Lyon in the north, following the Rhône River to Avignon in the south. The northern and southern areas of the Rhône contain vastly different climates, shaped by the Alps to the east and a strong wind (called the “mistral”) that blows cool air from the north into the Mediterranean Sea.

Northern Rhône: The Land of Syrah and Aromatic Whites

The Northern Rhône is a cooler region, with a continental climate, influenced by the Alps and cool mistral winds. Syrah is the dominant grape of the Northern Rhône, but aromatic white grapes viognier, marsanne, and roussanne play an integral role.

Syrah

Cooler-climate syrah from the Northern Rhône produces bold, savory, pepper-laced wines. Syrah is the only red grape allowed in Northern Rhône reds. Some of the best-known appellations include Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, and Saint-Joseph. Côte-Rôtie style syrah is produced with a co-fermentation of syrah and viognier, the same style RIDGE uses for our Lytton Estate Syrah.

Viognier

Beyond playing a supporting role in Northern Rhône reds, viognier produces intriguing single-varietal wines, made most famous by the wines of Condrieu. Viognier bottlings are lush and floral with notes of apricot, honeysuckle, peach, and ginger.

Marsanne & Roussanne

Marsanne and roussanne are often blended to produce aromatic and textural white Rhône bottlings, but each variety brings unique character. Marsanne produces full-bodied, textural wines that have aging potential, especially when blended with roussanne, grenache blanc, and/or viognier. Roussanne produces aromatically intense wines, with great acidity. They are lightly textured, lending themselves to blend well with roussanne.

Southern Rhône: A Symphony of Blends

The Southern Rhône is more expansive, with a warmer Mediterranean climate. This region produces primarily red wines made with grenache, syrah, mouvedre (mataro), carignane, and cinsault. The wines are bigger and bolder than their Northern Rhône counterparts.

Grenache

Some of the most well-known wines in the Southern Rhône are grenache-based blends including Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an especially interesting blend of up to 13 different varieties, that produces an intense, bold, powerful wine.

Mourvèdre (Mataro)

A traditional blending grape in GSM (grenache, syrah, mourvèdre) and Châteauneuf-du-Pape blends, mourvèdre provides great tannin, color, and structure.

Carignane

The third most planted grape in the Rhône, carignane produces acid-driven red and rosé wines. Carignane can handle intense heat and thrives in the warm climate of Southern France. RIDGE has made carignane in the warm, northern reaches of Sonoma County and Contra Costa County for nearly 30 years.

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RIDGE & Rhônes

RIDGE has produced Rhône wines for over fifty years, and we continue to expand into new regions. Our recent bottlings of Syrah, Grenache Blanc, and Carignane demonstrate our continued devotion to exploring California to produce exceptional Rhône-style wines.