Saint-Joseph (wine)

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An overview of the individual appellations in the Rhône wine-growing region. Zoom A shows the appellations to the south of Avignon and Zoom B shows the wine-growing regions near Lyon

Saint-Joseph is the second largest wine-growing region in the northern part of the French Rhône valley. The area of ​​the appellation extends over 60 kilometers on the right bank of the Rhone and includes 26 municipalities in the Ardèche and Loire departments : Andance , Ardoix , Arras-sur-Rhône , Champagne , Charnas , Châteaubourg , Félines , Glun , Guilherand-Granges , Lemps , Limony , Mauves , Ozon , Peyraud , Saint-Désirat , Saint-Étienne-de-Valoux , Saint-Jean-de-Muzols , Sarras , Sécheras , Serrières , Talencieux , Tournon-sur-Rhône , Vion , Chavanay , Malleval and Saint -Pierre-de-Boeuf . In 2005, 39,171 hectoliters of wine were produced on 1,082 hectares of cultivation area, over 90% of which was red wine.

Soil and climate

The subsoil of the vineyards consists of granite , which has weathered to form fine clay. In order to secure the thin soil layers from slipping off, masonry terraces were created in many places. In the central part of the appellation the soil consists of softer gneiss , but there are many terraces left.

In the northern Rhône valley, the continental climate of Burgundy and Lyonnais is mixed with Mediterranean influences from the mouth of the Rhône. The cool and dry north wind prevails, warm south winds are rare and usually bring rain. The amount of precipitation is between 700 and 800 mm per year. Summers are warm and dry. Due to the large north-south expansion of the area, however, the climate is not homogeneous, and microclimates play a major role. The vineyards are located where maximum solar radiation is combined with protection from cold north winds and fog formation. Orientation to the south-southeast is ideal here.

Locations and wines

View from Tournon-sur-Rhône to the neighboring Hermitage wine region

Two granite hills form the historical core of the cultivation area. One extends from the "Saint-Joseph" location north of the city of Valence via Mauves to Tournon , the second extends further north from "Sainte-Epine" to Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. The towns of Sarras and Saint-Desirat are also focal points. In the north of the area, the sites of Saint-Joseph mix with those of the white wine from Condrieu . The planting density must be at least 4,500 vines per hectare and the basic yield is a low 40 hl / ha.

The vast majority of production is red wine , for which Syrah is the only grape variety approved. An addition of up to 10% white wine is permitted. The grapes ripen later on the steep slopes than in the valley vineyards of the Crozes-Hermitage appellation due to the slightly lower temperatures . This is why the Saint-Joseph wines develop a particularly fine fruit with notes of red and black fruits. The structure can be described as moderately difficult. The aging often takes place in wooden barrels, but new barriques are only used for particularly concentrated cuvées , for example from old vines. Such wines improve in the cellar over more than 10 years, the others mature faster. With age, aromas reminiscent of liquorice or leather develop.

The white wines of Saint-Joseph represent less than 10% of production. The Marsanne and Roussanne grape varieties are permitted , with the former representing 95% of the cultivation. They are preferably grown on the calcareous soils in the extreme south of the area. They should be consumed younger. In its range of aromas, floral notes such as acacia dominate.

There are over 131 independent winemakers and several cooperatives (5) ( Sarras , Saint-Désirat , Tain l'Hermitage ). In addition, the large trading houses in the Rhône Valley play an important role.

history

Wine was grown on the steep slopes of the northern Rhône valley as early as Roman times. In the Middle Ages, the plants grown between the towns of Mauves and Tournon were highly regarded as the “wines of Mauves” and can also be found on the table of the French kings. Louis XII. even had his own fenced-in vineyard ( Clos ) laid out there. Later, however, they were overshadowed by the more famous Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie wines . The appellation Saint-Joseph was only introduced on June 15, 1956 for the wine from six communities in the south of the area. In 1969 the area was expanded to include 20 more parishes. The new demarcation turned out to be too generous, as it also included the foot of the hill and the plateau above. Although these locations are easier to cultivate, they do not produce high-quality wines. The steep slopes, which require extensive manual work, were threatened with abandonment, with which the Saint-Joseph would have lost its quality and typicality. It was therefore decided to make a radical turnaround: in 1992 the permitted cultivation area was reduced from 7,500 to 3,500 hectares. The Saint-Joseph has thus returned to its historical roots, the steep slopes of the Rhône Valley.

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