If you crave juicy wines with a hint of chewy depth, Rhone blends should be part of your wine repertoire. Made up primarily of three grapes – Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre – Rhone Valley blends originated France, but have become more popular in New World countries as well.
France’s Rhone Valley is like two different wine zones crammed into one. In the north, the Syrah variety reigns supreme as the only red grape in famous Hermitage and Cote-Rotie wines. But in the hotter south, blends are the name of the game, and a whopping 13 different varietals can be included in some wines! In all southern Rhone blends, including famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Cotes-du-Rhone, the three main varietals are major players. Typically, Grenache takes on a leading role, strongly backed up by Syrah and Mourvedre. Any other varietals making the mix will appear in much smaller amounts.

Winemakers in the Rhone use so many varietals because of the complexity each grape brings to the wine. The three main varietals provide the backbone. Grenache adds bright, red raspberry flavors, and because it’s naturally lower in tannin than many other reds, easy-going drinkability is always part of the package. Syrah, called Shiraz in Australia and South Africa, adds spiciness and darker, blackberry-type flavors, plus the ability to gracefully age. It can also lend beguiling scents of smoke and leather. Mourvedre is intense and meaty. It adds even more aging ability, plus an inky, dark color.
In the United States, the big-league popularity of Rhone varieties is largely due to the efforts of a group of daring California winemakers known as the Rhone Rangers. With a belief that California’s climate has much in common with the Rhone Valley in France, this posse of winemaking rebels turned their backs on ever-popular staples such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, focusing instead on Rhone mainstays. These days, the Rhone Rangers’ influence extends throughout the entire west coast, including Oregon and Washington. But many of the top wines are found in California’s Central Coast, including areas such as Paso Robles and Santa Barbara.
If you’ve ever gotten even a whiff of Aussie wine, chances are you know all about the down-under success of Shiraz. But Grenache and Mourvedre feel right at home in Oz as well. In addition to wines labeled Grenache-Shiraz-Mourvedre, keep an eye out for Shiraz-Grenache-Mourvedre and Shiraz-Grenache wines in which Shiraz claims the lion’s share of the blend, rather than Grenache. For fresh, exciting Aussie-Rhone takes, pay particular attention to bottles hailing from Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.
The ample warmth and sun of South Africa perfectly suits heat-loving Rhone grapes. Although the region is steeped in centuries of tradition dating back to the 1600s, South African winemakers have recently adopted Rhone varieties as their very own. As in other New World areas, you’re likely to see the classic Rhone trinity alongside an infinite number of variations on the theme. Don’t shy away – South African mixes featuring any of the Rhone varieties can be meltingly soft and easy to love.