Wines of the appellation Crozes Hermitage

The history of the Crozes Hermitage vineyard 

The Crozes Hermitage AOC vineyard was created long before the Greek and Roman colonizations. There is already a product called "Allobrogica", a wine from Vienna produced by the Allobroges. This term also designates a grape variety whose DNA study shows a link with Syrah, the emblematic grape variety of this region.

For a long time called Crozis, Croisis, or Crosis, it was not until the 17th century that the appellation took its current form of Crozes. It was not until 1920 that the name Hermitage appeared in the name of the appellation. It was then in 1937 that the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée was recognized, for the commune of Crozes Hermitage alone. It was not until 1952 that the name was extended to ten other communes.

 

Crozes Hermitage and its terroir

Today, the Crozes Hermitage vineyard covers 1,700 hectares, in an area between the Rhône, Valence, the classified site known as "Cromlech - de - la - Roche - qui - danse", the Herbasse river and the Isère river. The soils are made up of Tournon granite and clayey sands in the North and South, while in the East the soil is made up of pebbles resulting from the erosion of the surrounding Alpine massifs.

The climate is Mediterranean, so the vines benefit from good sunshine and high temperatures, an ideal environment for optimal ripening of the grapes.

Control of the Appellation 

As for any Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, the specifications impose certain conditions to be able to claim the AOC. There are only three grape varieties authorized by the Appellation: Syrah, the main grape variety, must represent at least 85% of the final blend, and Marsanne and Roussanne, accessory grape varieties, are not allowed to make up more than 15% of the final blend.

Products from the AOC Crozes Hermitage 

The wines from the AOC Crozes Hermitage are pleasant, aromatic, with a good structure but with average ageing potential. Wines from the northern part of the appellation generally have a better structure and a better ageing potential. Their color is, on the whole, a deep red, close to garnet, which will tend to orange as they age.