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.
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Christmas is coming, and Master of Malt and Drinks by the Dram are ready with a new collection of spirits advent calendars, with 30ml wax-sealed drams behind every door. The calendars cover everything from classic Scotch and Japanese whisky to gin, rum and vodka, and the vast majority of the included spirits are new for…
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.
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Maple sweetness and Oloroso sherry define new Cotswolds Round Hill Harvest English whisky release
A new limited-edition English single malt brings together ex-maple syrup and Oloroso casks with a subtle hint of peat. Introducing Cotswolds Distillery’s Round Hill Harvest, the fifth expression in its popular Harvest Series. Comprising 1,200 bottles, the release marries whisky matured in ex-maple syrup casks with Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads. The resulting dram is rich…
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Christmas is coming, and Master of Malt and Drinks by the Dram are ready with a new collection of spirits advent calendars, with 30ml wax-sealed drams behind every door. The calendars cover everything from classic Scotch and Japanese whisky to gin, rum and vodka, and the vast majority of the included spirits are new for…
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