Just 45 minutes by car south of Lyon, this small region is home to three of the world’s greatest syrah-based wines: Hermitage, Cornas and Cote-Rotie.  Steep hills and rough soils that are difficult to work nearly caused the extinction of these great red wines in the mid 20th century.  Fortunately they survived but unfortunately they have been “discovered” by wine enthusiasts everywhere and now the wines fetch prices that rival the best of Bordeaux and Burgundy.  St. Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage round out the red appellations (although good whites made from grenache blanc and other lesser white grapes can also be found here). The region also has two great white wines: Condrieu (a tiny allpellation close by to Cote Rotie that produces unique, complex, aromatic wines from the viognier grape) and Hermitage Blanc, usually blends of roussanne, marsanne and viognier, that can be as long lived and noble as the reds. Along with the region’s well known names such as Chave, Guigal and Chapouitier, there are a number of very high quality, family domaines that produce excellent wines (oftentimes better than the well known names) from the same appellations and vineyards, that can be found for more sane prices.

Producers

• Domaine 7 Chemins
• Serrette, Nicolas