The demand for white wines is increasing. Not least in the Rhone Valley, a region most known for its red wine. But it is a region that also produces magnificent whites with grapes like roussanne, marsanne, viognier, clairette, bourboulenc and grenache blanc.
Today, about 80% of the production is red and only 6% is white.
But now the producers think it’s time to focus more on white wine. The initiative will start this year. With a new mapping tool (GIS), terroirs that are suitable for white wine will be identified. The goal is that the white wines will eventually constitute 30% of the production.
Most appellations in both the northern and southern Rhône make a small amount of white wine, around 10-15%. In some cases, such as white Hermitage and white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the wines are highly sought after and exclusive. A few small AOPs are for white wine only: Saint Péray, Condrieu and Chateau Grillet.
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