Hermitage Aop
Recognized as being one of the world’s best, Hermitage AOC is an exceptional wine to be served on rare occasions. This great wine comes from a unique terroir, only 130 e of vineyards over 3 villages in Drôme : Tain l’Hermitage, Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage. However, above all, the wine holds a mythical image : a hill and its stunning hillsides
Hermitage: an exceptional terroir
From the hillside slopes of Hermitage you can contemplate the Rhône as it meanders at this point; an important geological formation dating back thousands of years.
Whilst carrying out work on the land of Hermitage, geologists in fact rapidly realised that the granite soil of Hermitage AOC was strangely similar to that of the slopes on the opposite bank with the wines carrying the Saint Joseph appellation. This means that the “King of rivers” must have sculptured the landscape giving a part of Ardèche to Drôme being one of the reasons that makes Hermitage a unique terroir. If you add a rather Mediterranean climate, an ideal exposure, native grape varieties, (Syrah, Roussanne et Marsanne) along with the know-how of our winegrowers to this geological exception you obviously find a world-renowned wine.
The nicest aromas of syrah grape variety
This wine may seem expensive for novices however the experts cannot be fooled : the rarity, the flavours and unique aromas make the bottle well worth its price.
Syrah is a star of the Côtes du Rhône vineyards and the origin of a number of Rhône Valley wines of which Hermitage is one. The wine produced on this hillside ages extremely well (30 years). It has a lovely ruby colour when of a young age and takes on a tuile* tint on ageing. Hermitage is a full-bodied and powerful wine that develops hints of small fruit, violets, spices even leather as it ages. The tannins mature and become more delicate, giving the appellation one of the finest expressions of the Syrah grape variety. Hermitage vineyards also produce white wines with the Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties. These wines have shorter laying down storage (about 10 years). However, after a few years, fine palates discover subtle hints such as iris or even linden and amateur wine lovers are often amazed by the harmony in these great wines.
* orange highlights
Our Hermitage producers with the Vignobles & Découvertes label
Only twenty winegrowers share the precious parcels of Hermitage. 10 of these winegrowers are part of our "Vignobles & Découvertes" label. Find the best addresses to get the precious bottles:
- Cave de Tain l'Hermitage,
- Cave Ferraton Père et Fils,
- Caveau M.Chapoutier,
- Delas Frères,
- Domaine Betton,
- Domaine des Remizières,
- Domaines Laurent Fayolle,
- Domaine Michelas St Jemms,
- Domaine Philippe and Vincent Jaboulet,
- Vineum Paul Jaboulet Ainé.
Book your wine and vineyard stay in the Rhône Valley, in order to browse our vineyards and taste our appellations in moderation. Ardèche Hermitage, a destination of wine tourism excellence, will seduce wine lovers and epicureans.