Wine from Crozes Hermitage

Crozes Hermitage is a French wine region located in the Northern Rhone Valley. Crozes Hermitage produces nearly 70,000 hl of wine, which is more than the combined production of all seven of the additional Rhone regions. Most of Crozes Hermitage wines are red, with only about ten percent of production being Blanc. The Crozes Hermitage reds are mainly produced from Syrah, while the Blancs are produced from Marsanne and Roussane. Crozes Hermitage wines are commonly less complex than that of the Hermitage region due to the lush soil, which can inhibit the roots from extending and deepening, and therefore detract from grape growth. There is relatively low sunshine and little air currents in the Crozes Hermitage region, which can create a braised flavor in wine produced there. There are several different terroirs in Crozes Hermitage, which offers a wider selection of wines from which to choose. The Northern area has a granite bedrock, which can hold on to heat a bit longer and create a full and multifaceted style of wine. The Eastern area is more clay and limestone soils, while the area to the South has sandy, grainy soils. Because these areas don’t receive as much sunshine with more difficult soils, the wines produced there have less ability to age, but can be offered at a better value.