The Independent: Côtes du Rhône: widely drunk, broadly underestimated

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Famed for its unicorn wines (with price tags to match), the Rhône Valley is a sainted region for serious oenophiles with a penchant for old-school wines. But for those with shallower pockets, it’s also an under-the-radar spot to seek real value from a new generation of winemakers, says Hannah Crosbie.

I’m gazing northwards on Avenue Dr Paul Durand in Tain L’Hermitage, wondering at what point in history Rhône winemakers chose to ignore the laws of gravity. I spent my formative years in the East Midlands, a Royston Vasey-adjacent place where there wasn’t much in the way of natural beauty to rest the eye on. You can imagine, then, the awe I am dumbstruck with on my first visit to the Rhône Valley. “The earth is vertical here,” I think.

I’ve arrived at the end of an incredibly dry March, and pruning season is well underway. Hunched-over students creep across the sheer, arid slopes like spiders. Behind closed doors, anxious winemakers pray for rain.

Read the full article written for The Independent here.