Saint-Joseph AOC

Saint -Joseph is the second largest wine region in the northern part of the French Rhone Valley. The area of the appellation extends over 60 km in length along the right bank of the Rhone River and comprises 26 municipalities of the departments of Ardèche, and Loire: Andance Ardoix, Arras -sur -Rhône, Champagne, Charnas, Château Bourg, Félines, Glun, Guilherand -Granges, Lemps, Limony, mauves, ozone, Peyraud, Saint- Désirat, Saint- Étienne -de- Valoux, Saint -Jean -de- Muzols, sarras, Sécheras, Serrières, Talencieux, Tournon -sur -Rhone, Vion, Chavanay, Malleval and Saint -Pierre -de- Boeuf. In the year 2005 39.171 hectoliters of wine were produced on 1,082 hectares of land, of which 90 % was attributable to red wine.

Soil and climate

The underbody of the vineyard consists of granite, which weathers to a fine clay. In order to secure the thin soil layers from sliding, brick terraces were built in many places. In the central part of the appellation, the soil is softer gneiss there but many terraces are abandoned.

In the northern Rhone Valley mingle in the continental climate of Burgundy and Lyonnais Mediterranean influences from the mouth of the Rhone. The cool, dry north wind prevails, warm southerly winds are rare and then bring mostly rain. The rainfall varies between 700 and 800 mm per year. The summers are warm and dry. Due to the large north - south extent of the area, the climate is, however, not homogeneous, and microclimates play an important role. The vineyards are found there, where maximum sunlight is associated with protection from cold north wind and fog. An orientation to the south-southeast is ideal.

Documents and wines

The historic core of the growing region form two granite hills. One extends from the location " Saint Joseph " north of the city of Valence on mauves to Tournon, the second extends to the north of " Sainte- Epine " to Saint -Jean -de- Muzols. Other priorities are the places sarras and Saint- Desirat. In the north of the area, the layers of Saint -Joseph mix with those of the white wine of Condrieu. The planting density must be at least 4,500 poles per hectare, and the base yield is low 40 hl / ha.

The vast majority of the production attributable to red wine, for the only grape variety Syrah is approved. An addition of up to 10% of white wine is allowed. The grapes ripen on the steep slopes due to the slightly lower temperatures than in the later in the valley vineyards of the appellation Crozes -Hermitage. Therefore, the wines of Saint -Joseph develop a particularly fine fruit with notes of red and black fruits. The structure can be described as moderate. Although the development is often done in wooden barrels, new barrels but are used only for very concentrated blends, such as from old vines. These wines improve in the cellar for more than 10 years, the remaining mature faster as. At the age develop at licorice and leather flavors reminiscent.

The white wines of Saint-Joseph represent less than 10% of production. Open to the varietals Marsanne and Roussanne, the former in turn represents 95 % of cultivation. They are preferably grown on calcareous soils in the extreme south of the area. They should be consumed younger. In its range of flavors floral notes dominate as acacia.

There are over 131 independent wineries and several cooperatives (5 ) ( sarras, Saint- Désirat, Tain l' Hermitage ). In addition, the large trading houses of the Rhone Valley play an important role.

History

On the steep slopes of the northern Rhone Valley wine was produced as early as the Roman period. In the Middle Ages grown between the towns of mauves and Tournon plants were highly regarded as a "Wines of Mauve " and find also on the board of the French kings. Louis XII. settled there even has its own fenced the vineyard ( Clos ) for support. But later they found themselves in the shadow of the more famous wines of Hermitage and Côte -Rôtie. Thus the appellation Saint -Joseph was introduced on 15 June 1956, the wine from six communities in the south of the area. In 1969, the area was expanded to 20 additional municipalities. The new demarcation is especially good sized as too generous, since they also included with the foot of the hills and the plateau above it. These layers can indeed farming easier, but do not produce high-quality wines. The steep slopes that require time-consuming manual work, threatened the task with which the Saint -Joseph would have lost its quality and typicity. It was therefore decided to radical conversion: In 1992, the approved growing area was reduced from 7,500 to 3,500 acres. The Saint -Joseph is thus to its historic roots, the steep slopes of the Rhone Valley, returned.