Tuesday, February 15, 2011

All Roads Lead To Rhone (Grapes!): International Syrah Day is February 16


Wednesday, February 16, is International Syrah Day
 Bookmark and Share   International Syrah Day is Wednesday, February 16. Syrah is perhaps the best known of the Rhone grape varieties -- but it is certainly not alone. Thanks to Hospice du Rhone, the organization of American Rhone grape growers, we present your opportunity to learn more about this unique collection of Rhone grapes.

So tomorrow, remember to pop open a bottle of Syrah and share your drinking experience here. The other 364 days of the year you can dabble in other Rhone grapes. Here is a list of 22 Rhône wine varieties:

1.Bourboulenc: (Burr-buh-lanc) light bodied, delicate floral, citrus, peach, melon, earth

2.Camarese: (Cam-are-ess) firm, tannins, delicate aromatics, pepper, spice

3.Carignane Noir: (Care-ig-non No-our) tannic, solid acidity, good color, cherry, raspberry, pepper

4.Cinsault Noir: (Sahn-so No-our) elegant, soft & lightly aromatic, strawberry, raspberry, smoke, earth

5.Clairette Blanc: (Claret Blan) big bodied, floral, aromatic, honeysuckle, tropical flowers, tropical fruits

6.Clairette Rose: (Clare-et Rose) light aromatics, fruit notes, soft strawberry, cherry, rose petal

7.Counoise Noir: (Coon-wahz No-our) lively acidity, spice, richness, raspberry, cherry, cranberry

8.Grenache Blanc: (Gra-nash blan) big bodied, soft, delicate peach, melon, pear

9.Grenache Gris: (Gra-Nash Gree) full-bodied, light in color, delicate strawberry, cherry, rose petal

10.Grenache Noir: (Gra-Nash o-our) big bodied, supple, & rich strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, black pepper

11.Marsanne: (Mar-san) broad palate, soft & rich, peach, nectarine, stone fruits, tuberose, sweet nuts

12.Mourvèdre: (More-ved) tannic, deeply colored, aromatic, black currant, dark cherries, leather, smoke, earth

13.Muscardin: (Mus-car-dan) floral, aromatic, firmly structured, rose petal, barnyard, earth

14.Muscat a Petits Grains: (Mus-cat ah Pet-eet Grahn) elegant, aromatic, floral, musk, honey, honeysuckle, lily, stone fruit

15.Picpoul Blanc: (Peek-pool Blan) floral, soft, aromatic, pear, earth, lily, daisy, wildflowers

16.Picpoul Noir: (Peek-pool No-our) floral, elegant, aromatic, rose, violet, dark cherry

17.Roussanne: (Roo-sahn) firmly structured, powerful, very rich, apricot, honey, almond, nutmeg, honeysuckle, iris

18.Syrah/Shiraz: (C-rah)/(She-raz) highly colored, firmly structured and aromatic, plum, raspberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, violet, roasted meats, smoke, chocolate, pepper, anise

19.Terret Noir: (Tare-it No-our) delicate, perfumed, bright acidity, rose petal, lavender, dark berries, spice

20.Ugni Blanc: (Ewn-yee Blan) delicate fruit, good acidity, pear, honey-dew melon, earth

21.Vaccarese: (Vac-car-ess) aromatic, firmly tannic, floral, pepper, spice, earth, smoke

22.Viognier: (Vee-ohn-yea) big bodied, very aromatic, complex apricot, musk, peaches, grapefruit, lychee, papaya, mango, tropical flowers

Flickr photo by Rick

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