Cru Wines from The Cotes du Rhone

I’ve been bringing the Côtes du Rhône into my home for a few years now, through the beauty of wine and food. It’s been a welcome reminder of the South of France, and all of the delicious produce the area has to offer. Most recently I was invited to a wine tasting of Cru wines from the Côtes du Rhône – in particular, Cairanne & Lirac AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée – controlled designation of origin).

The Unexpected Tasting

On the banks of the Rhône river lie two significant Cru (the most demanding level of distinction) AOC Appellations, Lirac and Cairanne. Both produce wines of spectacular quality, beautifully accessible with great ageing potential but tend to be a little lesser-known.

Our evening began with a guided tasting of Lirac and Cairanne wines with the lovely Helena Nicklin, shortly followed by small plates and canapés, provided by Native Feasts, which will be expertly matched to the wines by Michelin starred chef, Chris Godfrey. All set among the unforgettable backdrop of God’s Own Junkyard.

The wines from the evening included (favourites in bold):

Whites

• Cairanne – Alary L’estevenas (Terra Wines) £19.25
• Cairanne – Brusset Vieilles Vignes (The Fine Wine Co.) £19.25
• Lirac – Aqueria (Drinks & Co) £19.90

Reds

• Cairanne – Berthet Rayne Castel Mireio (Carte-du-Vin) 17.95
• Cairanne – Domaine Roche (Lea & Sanderman) £15.50
• Lirac – Loyane Elie (Le Vignoble) £21.20
• Lirac – Ogier Closiers (Marks & Spencers) £10.00
• Lirac – Coudoulis Hommage (Millesima) £22.00

If you’re looking for a bottle or two to adorn your dinner table this Christmas, I’d suggest you keep a lookout for the above next time you’re perusing wine shelves (virtually or physically). You can find out more about Côtes du Rhône wines and where you can purchase them here.

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Remember how I boasted about enjoying the Côtes du Rhône at home this summer? Well I’m back to do it all over again, but this time with a festive hat on and a bottle of Rasteau wine in tow. I was lucky enough to be sent a beautiful Christmas hamper including a bottle of Rasteau wine, as well as some delicious cheeses, chocolate etc to enjoy alongside it.

Côtes du Rhône at Christmas

Picture this – a village nestled deep in the heart of the Southern Rhône Valley, perched on a sun laden hillside with ancient Château ruins. This is the village of Rasteau – the wine’s namesake.

This November, the Rasteau appellation celebrates 10 years of being recognised as a Cru (recognised for its quality and distinctive terroir) of the Cotes du Rhone; the highest accolade given within the region. It’s well known for producing a small, yet impressive, selection of both still and fortified wines.

Typically, Rasteau red wines have a spicy warmth, which in my opinion is perfect for this season. They’re also ideal for food pairings, such as stew, charcuterie, blue cheese, slightly spicy dishes and chocolate – so I know what I’ll be doing with my bottle. If you’re looking for a bottle or two to adorn your table this Christmas, I’d suggest you take a look next time you’re perusing wine shelves (whether they’re virtual or physical).

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Items were gifted by The Belleville Collective, however all images, words and opinions are my own.

This time last year, long before lockdown was even a thought in people’s minds, I was holidaying it up in the South of France. Provence to be precise. I was basking in the sun, enjoying everything the region had to offer – food, laid-back culture, stunning scenery… and of course, wine.

Funny story, I actually didn’t drink wine until I met my now husband. His family are wine lovers, who coincidentally shared their passion with me. In fact one of my best memories from recent years is holidaying with them for the first time; travelling around Provence to different vin yards, tasting the wine on offer, and getting an in-depth understanding of the people and their craft.

Enjoying Côtes du Rhône at home

I’m by no means a wine connoisseur, but I can get by. One of the areas I know more of (thanks to it being my father-in-laws favourite) is the Côtes du Rhône region. The Côtes du Rhône Villages is a French wine Appellation d’Origine Controlle (AOC – you’ve probably spotted this on your bottle of wine), in the southern wine region of France. They produce red, wine and rosé wine, which only 21 select areas can claim the ‘village’ title to.

I was lucky enough to be sent some amazing bottles of wine (which you can see in my photos) from Côtes du Rhône, as well as some delicious cheeses, bread etc to enjoy alongside them. We enjoyed this with the rosé on one of the hotter days this year, with the 21 Stories of the Côtes du Rhône podcast on in the background, it almost felt like we were back in the South of France.

Check out more of my lifestyle and food posts.

Items were gifted by The Belleville Collective, however all images, words and opinions are my own.