A surprising find from Southern Rhône
The thirst for Southern Rhône white wines is growing, and your customers may soon be hunting for good ones to try.
It seems counter-intuitive that Southern Rhône white wines would be coming into their own now. Being so warm, the region seemed permanently inhospitable to white grapes and many wineries gave up on them to focus on their majestic reds.
But somehow in the midst of global warming, growers have discovered new approaches, mastering a style of fresh, textured whites that hits the mark for many wine lovers.
Thus after shrinking to near obscurity, Southern Rhône whites are becoming the new "it" wines, and noone wants to miss out. The question is, which Southern Rhône whites to choose?
You could focus on the two biggest AOCs, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc and Côtes du Rhône Blanc which customers may know; on the other hand, each of these is so diverse--almost too diverse, with prices and blends all over the map that customers can end up mightily confused.
Another option is Vacqueyras Blanc. Vacqueyras Blanc has been an appellation for more than 30 years, during which time it has gained a foothold in the US. The category is still small but it has tripled in the past few years in line with international demand. It's "just niche enough" with a boutique-quality reputation to build on. (Indeed, Vacqueyras has a huge head start on Gigondas, which just introduced its Blanc appellation this year.)
Judging by favorable ratings and modest prices, Vacqueyras Blanc is a wise choice. The average score of Vacqueyaras Blancs is on par with Côtes du Rhône, and just one point lower than Châteauneuf-du-Pape blancs. And the prices? Literally a fraction of these heavyweights.
Put it all together, and you find Vacqueyras Blanc offers stellar QPR, just what you want in a discovery white wine.
One such example of the type of quality and value you will find in Vacqueyras Blanc is Fontaine du Clos "Reflets de L'Âme" Vacqueyras Blanc. The winery is headed by a dynamic husband-and-wife team who have won numerous awards from Hachette, Jancis and others for their food-friendly wines.
Likewise, Fontaine du Clos "Reflets de L'Âme" Vacqueyras Blanc is a transparent expression of their terroir, which is contiguous with the communes of Châteauneuf. Made from three primary grapes (60% Grenache Blanc and 20% each Marsanne and Roussanne), the wine is fresh and bright, with juicy citrus, orange blossom, and pure mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, rich and deep, a perfect complement to Fall comfort foods like roast chicken, scallops with risotto, and braised short ribs.