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Red grape
Nom au pluriel
Red grapes

Counoise

General characteristics

Formerly referred to as Moustardier in the old vineyards of Gigondas and Tavel, this grape variety is little grown nowadays. When blended with other grapes, it contributes fruity and spicy notes.

Wine-making potential

Wines made from Counoise are light in colour. They are delicate and fruity in flavour, with a variety of fruity, floral and spicy notes.

Use

Counoise is used throughout the Rhone Valley area.

Cinsault

General characteristics

A fairly vigorous variety that can be counted on to yield well year by year, its grapes ripen in the second half of September. It requires plenty of warmth and is resistant to drought and strong winds. The yield needs to be carefully controlled.

Calitor

General characteristics

The Calitor grape variety is no longer widely grown in France. It probably derives its name from the Provencal words col (stalk) and tor (twisted), because of the bend in its stalk. High-yielding, it grows best on warm, dry soils.

Wine-making potential 

The Calitor grape produces a lightly coloured, low-alcohol wine.

Use

In the Rhone Valley, Calitor grapes are used only as part of the blend for Tavel wines.

Mourvèdre

A grape of mysterious origins, long regarded as a secondary variety, Mourvèdre is now widely cultivated in the southern Rhone Valley on sun-drenched south-facing slopes. Robust, of unequalled warmth and generosity, it yields wines that are powerful, full-bodied, strong in tannins, yet very stylish. Undoubtedly, it still has some surprises up its sleeve… and since 2002 has had its own fan club, the “Conservatoire du cépage Mourvèdre”.

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