The appellation is in sight of the eponymous mountain. Some of the vineyards in Ventoux have some elevation. The neighbouring wine regions are some of the most famous in the world.
Typical of this region, the grape varieties are Grenache and Syrah.
Syrah is no. 1 in the Northern Rhône, Grenache is king in the south. Maybe from Spain (Garnacha) or Sardinia (Canonau). The poor soil and lack of rain suit this southern grape.
In terms of mouthfeel, Grenache gives roundness and structure plus peppery notes – and Syrah has a silky texture and some spicy tannins.
The key things in the Southern Rhône are:
- the alluvial soil
- the intense heat, night and day
- the warm wind
- the funny hat on the ‘o’
However, Ventoux has a microclimate:
The soil is the same though. The mountain is a designated UNESCO “biosphere reserve”:
Again, these wines are all about fruit on the attack:
… and mouthfeel:
The history is amazing. It was a wine-trading region before the Romans, and wines from this area were favoured by the anti-popes of the 14th century.
More recently the mountain has become a feature of the Tour de France. The wines have grown in reputation, but are still considered great value.