As France readies itself for Bastille Day on July 14, there’s no better time to turn your attention to the wines of the Rhône Valley. In particular, the diverse, expressive bottles from Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages. These wines evoke sun-warmed stone, wind-swept vines, and centuries of careful cultivation, with fruity complexity, and remarkable affordability.
For those looking to expand their horizons beyond the usual Bordeaux and Burgundy picks, the Rhône offers an exciting, terroir-driven alternative that’s perfect for summer sipping and celebratory toasts…
What makes Côtes du Rhône and Villages wines so special?
The Côtes du Rhône AOC is among the most geographically and stylistically varied in France, stretching across both the Northern and Southern Rhône. While the north is dominated by the Syrah grape, it’s the southern region that gives us the lush, fruit-forward blends that dominate this category, most notably those made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.
These blends are the result of terroirs that range from galets roulés (large heat-retaining pebbles) to sandy, limestone-rich soils, each contributing a different textural or aromatic element. The effect? Wines that are expressive, versatile, and supremely food-friendly.
The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC, meanwhile, ups the ante. These wines are held to stricter production standards, and the top-tier expressions come from 21 named villages, such as Sablet, Roaix and Cairanne. Expect deeper complexity, more structure, and often, a longer cellar life.
The Côtes du Rhône AOC is among the most geographically and stylistically varied in France…
What to drink (and eat) this Bastille Day
Bastille Day – or La Fête Nationale – marks the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a flashpoint in the French Revolution. It’s a symbol of liberty, fraternity, and the spirit of the French Republic. The day is now celebrated across France with parades, fireworks, music, and, naturellement, food and wine.
What better reason then, to toast to France with the wines of Côtes du Rhône; terroir-driven, delicious, and full of character.
We’ve been trying Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets (Côtes du Rhône, Red, 2023), £16.59 from DByrne & Co, and Domaine des Lauribert, Fine Fleur (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2023), imported by The French Wine Project.
The Domaine des Lauribert is a Syrah-Shiraz blend. It’s a smooth, robust fruit-forward red, bursting with cherries, raspberries, blackberrys, and notes of chocolate.
The Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets is distinguished by the influence of Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes; it’s juicy and black fruit-centric, beautifully balanced with slightly tannic, oaky notes.
Other Rhône bottles to elevate your July 14 include:
Domaine La Perdrière, La Pause (Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet, Red, 2023), £16.50 from Hourlier Wines.
Cellier des Dauphins, Les Dauphins Rosé (Côtes du Rhône, 2024) , £9.25 from Ocado.
Domaine Giraud, Les Sables d’Arène (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2023), £28.10 from Roberson Wine.
Domaine Pique Basse, L’Atout du Pique (Côtes du Rhône Villages Roaix, White, 2021), £24 from Chesters Wine Merchants.
Gabriel Meffre, Saint Vincent (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2024), £11 from Waitrose.
Follow the 20/20 rule to get the most from these bottles: chill reds for 20 minutes before serving; take whites and rosés out of the fridge 20 minutes before you pour. This simple temperature tweak brings out the freshness and finesse in every glass.
How best to enjoy them?
The beauty of Côtes du Rhône wines lies in their versatility. They work equally well on a linen-covered dining table or a backyard barbecue spread. For Bastille Day, try these food pairings:
Grilled lamb or merguez sausages with the vibrant fruit and spice of a Côtes du Rhône red like Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets (2023); Provençal seafood platters or herbed chicken with the zesty acidity of Domaine des Lauribert, Fine Fleur white (2023); and summer salads and charcuterie with the bright, coral-pink Les Dauphins Rosé (2024), a perfect picnic wine with certified crowd-pleaser credentials.
Whether you’re planning a garden party or a candlelit terrace dinner, these bottles will more than rise to the occasion.
For more about the region and its wines, visit cotesdurhone.com.Images courtesy of Inter Rhône.
The evocatively titled Pineapple Bananza is the latest addition to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s experimental Heresy range; it’s a small-batch Irish single malt whiskey created in collaboration with Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. Batch 38: Pineapple Bananza stands out for both its origin and production style. Irish whiskey is an infrequent guest in the Society’s portfolio,…
El Supremo Rum, from Paraguay, has launched in the UK, bringing a distinctive national style – Caña Paraguaya – to British rum fans. Produced in partnership with CAPASA, Paraguay’s state‑owned sugarcane alcohol producer, the range draws on traditional production methods rooted in indigenous Guaraní culture. El Supremo is made using 100% sugarcane juice that’s reduced…
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig has introduced its first permanent core single malt. Crafted in small batches, Torabhaig Taigh is matured in a combination of first-fill and refill bourbon casks, with the addition of Madeira casks to round out the profile. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration and no added colour.…
The Luxe Review 
As France readies itself for Bastille Day on July 14, there’s no better time to turn your attention to the wines of the Rhône Valley. In particular, the diverse, expressive bottles from Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages. These wines evoke sun-warmed stone, wind-swept vines, and centuries of careful cultivation, with fruity complexity, and remarkable affordability.
For those looking to expand their horizons beyond the usual Bordeaux and Burgundy picks, the Rhône offers an exciting, terroir-driven alternative that’s perfect for summer sipping and celebratory toasts…
What makes Côtes du Rhône and Villages wines so special?
The Côtes du Rhône AOC is among the most geographically and stylistically varied in France, stretching across both the Northern and Southern Rhône. While the north is dominated by the Syrah grape, it’s the southern region that gives us the lush, fruit-forward blends that dominate this category, most notably those made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.
These blends are the result of terroirs that range from galets roulés (large heat-retaining pebbles) to sandy, limestone-rich soils, each contributing a different textural or aromatic element. The effect? Wines that are expressive, versatile, and supremely food-friendly.
The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC, meanwhile, ups the ante. These wines are held to stricter production standards, and the top-tier expressions come from 21 named villages, such as Sablet, Roaix and Cairanne. Expect deeper complexity, more structure, and often, a longer cellar life.
What to drink (and eat) this Bastille Day
Bastille Day – or La Fête Nationale – marks the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a flashpoint in the French Revolution. It’s a symbol of liberty, fraternity, and the spirit of the French Republic. The day is now celebrated across France with parades, fireworks, music, and, naturellement, food and wine.
What better reason then, to toast to France with the wines of Côtes du Rhône; terroir-driven, delicious, and full of character.
We’ve been trying Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets (Côtes du Rhône, Red, 2023), £16.59 from DByrne & Co, and Domaine des Lauribert, Fine Fleur (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2023), imported by The French Wine Project.
The Domaine des Lauribert is a Syrah-Shiraz blend. It’s a smooth, robust fruit-forward red, bursting with cherries, raspberries, blackberrys, and notes of chocolate.
The Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets is distinguished by the influence of Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes; it’s juicy and black fruit-centric, beautifully balanced with slightly tannic, oaky notes.
Other Rhône bottles to elevate your July 14 include:
Domaine La Perdrière, La Pause (Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet, Red, 2023), £16.50 from Hourlier Wines.
Cellier des Dauphins, Les Dauphins Rosé (Côtes du Rhône, 2024) , £9.25 from Ocado.
Domaine Giraud, Les Sables d’Arène (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2023), £28.10 from Roberson Wine.
Domaine Pique Basse, L’Atout du Pique (Côtes du Rhône Villages Roaix, White, 2021), £24 from Chesters Wine Merchants.
Gabriel Meffre, Saint Vincent (Côtes du Rhône, White, 2024), £11 from Waitrose.
Follow the 20/20 rule to get the most from these bottles: chill reds for 20 minutes before serving; take whites and rosés out of the fridge 20 minutes before you pour. This simple temperature tweak brings out the freshness and finesse in every glass.
How best to enjoy them?
The beauty of Côtes du Rhône wines lies in their versatility. They work equally well on a linen-covered dining table or a backyard barbecue spread. For Bastille Day, try these food pairings:
Grilled lamb or merguez sausages with the vibrant fruit and spice of a Côtes du Rhône red like Domaine Marcel Richaud, Les Galets (2023); Provençal seafood platters or herbed chicken with the zesty acidity of Domaine des Lauribert, Fine Fleur white (2023); and summer salads and charcuterie with the bright, coral-pink Les Dauphins Rosé (2024), a perfect picnic wine with certified crowd-pleaser credentials.
Whether you’re planning a garden party or a candlelit terrace dinner, these bottles will more than rise to the occasion.
For more about the region and its wines, visit cotesdurhone.com. Images courtesy of Inter Rhône.
Triple-distilled Pineapple Bananza Irish single malt joins SMWS Heresy range
The evocatively titled Pineapple Bananza is the latest addition to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s experimental Heresy range; it’s a small-batch Irish single malt whiskey created in collaboration with Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. Batch 38: Pineapple Bananza stands out for both its origin and production style. Irish whiskey is an infrequent guest in the Society’s portfolio,…
First Pour: El Supremo brings Paraguayan Caña style sugarcane honey rum to UK
El Supremo Rum, from Paraguay, has launched in the UK, bringing a distinctive national style – Caña Paraguaya – to British rum fans. Produced in partnership with CAPASA, Paraguay’s state‑owned sugarcane alcohol producer, the range draws on traditional production methods rooted in indigenous Guaraní culture. El Supremo is made using 100% sugarcane juice that’s reduced…
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig unveils Taigh as first core single malt, brings poetry to peat whisky
Isle of Skye distillery Torabhaig has introduced its first permanent core single malt. Crafted in small batches, Torabhaig Taigh is matured in a combination of first-fill and refill bourbon casks, with the addition of Madeira casks to round out the profile. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration and no added colour.…
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