Varieties of grape : The art of blending

The selection of grape varieties is the result of considerable effort and thought. Essentially, the planting of the different varieties of grape is conditioned by the nature of the soil and the climatic conditions. The equilibrium and harmony of a wine results from the association of the qualities and characteristics of different grape varieties. Our red wines are therefore made from five varieties, as follows :

	Carignan : vivacity An ideal variety for the slopes and hillsides. It gives a wine of fine colour, combined with the maximum of bouquet.
	Grenache : strength It provides the basis of the southern French red wines. Mellow, with little acidity, it offers alcoholic richness and generosity
	Syrah : colour and fruitiness The grape of the great wines of the Rhône Valley, because of its armoatic flavours (strawberry, blackcurrant, violet, pepper) and its intense colouring
	Mourvèdre : brilliance and colour Excellent colour-holding for the red wines, its qualities improve with age.
	Cinsault : delicacy With little colouration, but with an elegant and fruity bouquet, the Cinsault is particularly well adapted to rosé and primeur wines

As for the white wines, they combine freshness and flavour thanks to the blending of white Grenache, Roussane, Marsanne, Clairette and Viognier.

	Clairette The firm and juicy bunches of this very ancient southern French variety give high alcohol wines with a bouquet of apple.
	White Grenache These grapes, which are rich in sugar, give dry white wines that linger in the mouth.
	Marsanne The small, lychee-flavoured pips of this grape enable the production of an elegant dry white wine with delicate flavours.
	Roussanne This grape variety produces very delicate white wines with flowery and fruity bouquets of honey, apricot, honeysuckle and mayflower.
	Viognier A "noble" variety, originating in the Rhône Valley, which gives complex, powerful, flavoursome and very aromatic wines (apricot, peach ...) of very high quality.