W3 Wine School

French Grapes

Marsanne

Marsanne

Marsanne is the most popular white grape in the Northern Rhône region.

Wines from the Rhône Valley are known for their distinct and appealing flavor and aroma profiles.

Marsanne Flavours

Marsanne typically exhibits flavors of stone fruits like apricot, peach, and nectarine. You may also find notes of citrus fruits (lemon and orange) and honeydew melon.

Aromas of white flowers, such as jasmine, are common. A distinct mineral note, often described as wet stone or flint, is characteristic.

Peach
Peach
Apricot
Apricot
Nectarine
Nectarine
Orange
Orange
Lemon
Lemon
Melon
Honeydew
Flowers
Flowers
Mineral
Minerals

Marsanne and Roussanne

Marsanne and Roussanne are the only white grapes allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC.

Marsanne is often blended with Roussanne to add depth and textures to the wine.

Blending the grapes produces rich, deep colored wines with flavors of Pears, Peaches, Melon, Spice, Flowers, and even Roasted Nuts.

Oak aged Marsanne and Roussanne wines are both rich, full bodied and powerful.

Marsanne is also vinified sweet. The Straw Wine technique is often used. Drying the grapes on straw mats in the sun, like raisins, to concentrate the sugar and the juice.

Côtes du Rhône North

In the Côtes du Rhône North, the main grape is Syrah.

The grapes grow on very steep slopes, and are manually picked in hillside trolleys, wich adds to the price.

Côtes du Rhône

Black Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

Syrah

White Grapes

Sauvignon

Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier


Soil

Soil

Clay. Shale.
Rocks. Granite. Slate.

Climate

Soil

Hilly. Steep Slopes.
Moderate Continental
Cold Winters. Warm Summers

Vignobles rhone

Red Wine Appelations

AppelationGrapes
Côte-Rôtie AOC Syrah and max 20% Viognier
Saint-Joseph AOC Syrah and max 10% Marsanne and Roussanne
Crozes-Hermitage AOC Syrah and max 15% Marsanne and Roussanne
Hermitage AOC Syrah and max 15% Marsanne and Roussanne
Cornas AOC100% Syrah

White Wine Appelations

AppelationGrapes
Condrieu AOC 100% Viognier
Château-Grillet AOC 100% Viognier
Saint-Joseph AOC Marsanne and Roussanne
Crozes-Hermitage AOC Marsanne and Roussanne
Hermitage AOC Marsanne and Roussanne
Saint-Péray AOC Marsanne and Roussanne

Sparkling Applications

AppelationGrapes
Clairette de Die AOC Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Saint-Péray AOC Marsanne and Roussanne

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