DRINK DIFFERENT - COTES DU RHONE

Even on the most adventurous wine list, one staple you are sure to see is Côtes du Rhône.  This is the generic appellation for the southern Rhône region, and unlike red wines from the northern Rhône, which are 100% Syrah, Côtes du Rhône can contain a number of grapes, such as Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.

But it is Grenache which is at the heart of these wines, and nowadays this grape, which used only to be seen in blends, is becoming more widely used to make single varietal blends around the world.

The example I’ve picked this month for our picture is a South African Grenache, but you will find similar wines from Spain (where it is known as Garnacha), Australia, and elsewhere in France, where it is also used to make the beefy rosés of Tavel.