Domaine Patrick Jasmin is a family-owned winery located in the heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation in the northern Rhône Valley of France. The winery was founded in 1976 by Patrick Jasmin, who was born and raised in the region and has a deep understanding of the terroir and the grape varieties that thrive there.

The Côte-Rôtie appellation is known for its steep, terraced vineyards that are planted on the slopes of the Rhône River. The region is famous for its red wines made from the Syrah grape, which is blended with a small amount of Viognier to add floral aromas and a silky texture to the wine.

At Domaine Patrick Jasmin, the winemaking process is traditional and focused on expressing the unique character of the Côte-Rôtie terroir. The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted, and then fermented in open-top wooden vats using natural yeasts. The wine is aged in oak barrels for up to 24 months, depending on the vintage.

The wines of Domaine Patrick Jasmin are elegant and complex, with aromas of black fruit, spice, and smoke. On the palate, the wines are full-bodied and rich, with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish. These wines are perfect for pairing with hearty meat dishes, such as roasted lamb or beef.

If you are looking for a high-quality Côte-Rôtie wine that truly represents the terroir of the region, Domaine Patrick Jasmin is an excellent choice. The winery's commitment to traditional winemaking techniques and focus on quality over quantity has earned them a reputation as one of the top producers in the appellation.

Wine has been produced in the Rhône Valley for over 500 years, with some of its vineyards being amongst the oldest in France. Syrah rules over the south with a mix of Mediterranean grapes, while in the north, the two stars are Hermitage – grown on an imposing granite hillside above the town of Tain and best put away in the back of the cellar for a decade – and Côte-Rôtie, a star appellation made famous by Guigal's single-vineyard wines, yet also home to dozens of fine producers as yet less well known. The sheer hillsides overlooking the river have to be terraced to make production possible.

St Joseph and Cornas also provide wines of weight and worth, but the best source for good value is Crozes-Hermitage, a satellite appellation which has come alive in the last few years with the arrival of young blood.

The river valley widens out south of Valence into Côtes du Rhône country on the windy alluvial plains and the lower slopes of the hills. It is a most imposing sight during the cold, clear, blue skies of Mistral conditions. The best of the wine villages of the Côtes du Rhône have been promoted to their own appellations - Vinsobres, Vacqueyras - close in quality to the better known Gigondas.

The king of the southern Rhône is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here the galets roulés, rounded rocks from the ancient river bed, provide the context for gloriously rich red wines that are redolent of the heat and herbs of the south, and enhanced by the complexity which comes from blending several grape varieties. Thirteen are permitted in all, but Grenache usually dominates, along with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. A fine vintage needs eight to 10 years cellaring for best results.

If your taste runs to fuller, richer, relatively exotic white wines, then perhaps a white Hermitage or Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the Rhône Valley would suit better, or else a marvellously perfumed, heady Condrieu - headquarters of the Viognier grape.