The Chapoutier family can trace their history in the Rhône region back to 1808 but wine making didn’t start until 1879. It wasn’t until the late 1980’s however, under the guidance of Michel Chapoutier, when the quality soared. Now, Chapoutier produces the most diverse and complex wines of the Northern Rhône.

“Michel Chapoutier is dynamic and irrepressible—his approach is damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. At age 24, he pulled aside his grandfather Marc, who owned 72 percent of the family wine company, M. Chapoutier, and said he could no longer work under the current manager, who happened to be his own father, Max. Michel would stay, but only if he was in charge. With the company struggling, Marc listened and handed control to the young man.” The Wine Spectator

He has spread production all over the Rhône region and produces wines from the best appellations such as Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côte-Rôtie. But, no matter the location, all wines are crafted with the uttermost attention and respect. Winemaking and vineyard management are the strictest representation of terroir and vintage, making them so profoundly diverse but still holding the Chapoutier finesse throughout.

“It means paying attention to each plot, listening to the world, the environment, anticipating the needs of the earth.” Michel Chapoutier

Not only is Chapoutier iconic for his production of wine, he was also the first wine producer to introduce braille on the label. Michel introduced this after hearing his blind friend, the singer Gilbert Montagné, explain on TV that he needed to take someone into the store with him to identify what wine to buy. This didn’t sit well with Chapoutier, so he put braille on the labels so his friend could have the enjoyment of choosing his own wine!

La vallée du Rhône produit du vin depuis plus de 500 ans, certains de ses vignobles étant parmi les plus anciens de France. La syrah règne sur le sud avec un mélange de cépages méditerranéens, tandis qu'au nord, les deux vedettes sont l'Hermitage - cultivé sur un imposant coteau de granit au-dessus de la ville de Tain et qu'il vaut mieux mettre au fond de la cave pendant une décennie - et la Côte-Rôtie, une appellation vedette rendue célèbre par les vins à vignoble unique de Guigal, mais qui abrite également des douzaines de producteurs de qualité encore moins connus. Les coteaux abrupts qui surplombent la rivière doivent être aménagés en terrasses pour permettre la production.

St Joseph et Cornas fournissent également des vins de poids et de valeur, mais la meilleure source de bon rapport qualité-prix est Crozes-Hermitage, une appellation satellite qui s'est animée ces dernières années avec l'arrivée de sang jeune.

La vallée du fleuve s'élargit au sud de Valence dans le pays des Côtes du Rhône sur les plaines alluviales venteuses et les pentes inférieures des collines. C'est un spectacle grandiose par temps froid, clair et bleu de mistral. Les meilleurs villages viticoles des Côtes du Rhône ont été promus à leurs propres appellations - Vinsobres, Vacqueyras - dont la qualité est proche de celle du Gigondas, plus connu.

Le roi du Rhône méridional est le Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Ici, les galets roulés, roches arrondies provenant de l'ancien lit du fleuve, fournissent le contexte pour des vins rouges d'une grande richesse qui rappellent la chaleur et les herbes du sud, et qui sont rehaussés par la complexité résultant de l'assemblage de plusieurs cépages. Treize cépages sont autorisés, mais le grenache domine généralement, avec la syrah et le mourvèdre en soutien. Un bon millésime nécessite une garde de huit à dix ans pour obtenir les meilleurs résultats.

Si vos goûts vous portent vers des vins blancs plus amples, plus riches et relativement exotiques, un Hermitage blanc ou un Châteauneuf-du-Pape de la vallée du Rhône vous conviendront mieux, ou encore un Condrieu merveilleusement parfumé et capiteux - siège du cépage Viognier.

Cornas is a small wine appellation located in the northern Rhône region of France. The name "Cornas" is derived from the Celtic word for "burnt earth," which is a reference to the steep, rocky slopes that characterize the vineyards in this area. The appellation covers just over 100 hectares of land, and is known for producing some of the most powerful and complex red wines in the Rhône Valley.

The style of production in Cornas is heavily influenced by the unique terroir of the region. The vineyards are situated on steep slopes that face south or southeast, which allows the grapes to receive maximum exposure to the sun. The soil in Cornas is composed of decomposed granite, which is rich in minerals and provides excellent drainage for the vines. The combination of these factors results in wines that are full-bodied, rich, and complex, with intense aromas and flavors.

The primary grape variety grown in Cornas is Syrah, which is known for its deep color, intense aromas, and full-bodied flavor. The Syrah grapes grown in Cornas are typically smaller and more concentrated than those grown in other regions, which contributes to the intensity and complexity of the wines. In addition to Syrah, some producers in Cornas also grow small amounts of white grapes, such as Marsanne and Roussanne, which are used to produce a small amount of white wine.

The typical wines produced in Cornas are full-bodied, rich, and complex, with intense aromas of black fruit, spice, and earth. The tannins in these wines are firm and well-structured, which allows them to age gracefully for many years. The best examples of Cornas can be quite expensive, but they are considered to be some of the finest wines in the Rhône Valley.

The history of winemaking in Cornas dates back to the Roman era, when the region was known for producing high-quality wines. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that Cornas began to gain recognition as a distinct wine appellation. In the early 20th century, the vineyards in Cornas were devastated by phylloxera, a disease that nearly wiped out the entire wine industry in France. However, the vineyards were eventually replanted, and today Cornas is once again recognized as one of the premier wine appellations in the Rhône Valley.

In conclusion, Cornas is a unique and distinctive wine appellation that produces some of the most powerful and complex red wines in the Rhône Valley. The combination of steep slopes, decomposed granite soil, and maximum sun exposure results in wines that are full-bodied, rich, and complex, with intense aromas and flavors. The primary grape variety grown in Cornas is Syrah, which is known for its deep color, intense aromas, and full-bodied flavor. The typical wines produced in Cornas are full-bodied, rich, and complex, with intense aromas of black fruit, spice, and earth. The history of winemaking in Cornas dates back to the Roman era, and today the region is recognized as one of the premier wine appellations in the Rhône Valley.