E. Guigal
Philippe Guigal, a highly talented oenologist, runs the winery founded by his grandfather Etienne in Côtes du Rhône. Here everything is exceptional: the location on the steep slopes with their carved-in terraces and the barren soils through which the vines draw their water from a depth of up to 15 metres. The Guigals get the maximum from the vineyard and terroir, reflected in their top quality and small quantities. The ageing takes place in barriques from the in-house cooperage, and the great wines achieve top prices. No wonder that the Guigal Winery is one of Robert Parker's most awarded, with wines receiving 100 points.
Rhône
The Rhône is very important for viticulture. It unifies four different winegrowing areas in terms of climate, topography and vine varieties: southern and northern Rhône, the central area around the Drôme tributary, and the region to the East of the southern Rhône. In the North, there is a continental climate with tough winters and hot summers. The steep slopes on granite-rich soils almost exclusively host Syrah – the only permitted red vine type – as well as the white Viognier. Other prestigious winegrowing regions such as Hermitage and Côte Rotie are at home here. The sea-facing South benefits from a Mediterranean climate and sandy, rocky soils. Most wines there are Cuvées from Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, which are also processed in the well-known Châteauneuf-du-Pape area.
Weather in the region