Vinsobres, Cotes du Rhone

Vinsobres (26 Drôme,  ARA) is one of the Côtes du Rhône named villages – indicating a higher quality of wine than generic Côtes du Rhône, and the local winemakers’ syndicate organises a wine Festival (Salon des Vins de l’AOC Vinsobres) in March each year.

The wine fair also features other local producers – charcuterie, chocolate, nougat , cheese….

In mid-summer there are also 2 more wine festivals – Nuits Diviniques (18 July  and 8 August 2019) – evening events starting at 19h00 in the Place de la Mairie.

Held in July and August, Les Nuits Diviniques is a delectable combination of musical and tasting pleasure. Good food and wine lovers will enjoy this opportunity to meet with local producers and winemakers and try wines from the appellation as well as local specialities in the village’s main square. These specialities include olives and olive oils from Nyons, Biscuits from Provence, apricots and fruit juices, Picodon goats cheese, sausages and the famous croquettes from Vinsobres. All served with Vinsobres wines, of course!

The purchase of a tasting glass and a “winemaker’s platter” also allows participants to taste all of the appellation’s wines at their booths. Other dining options are also available.

Then in September (date to be confirmed) there is the Grape Harvest Festival (Ban des Vendanges)

Vinsobres is predominantly a red wine made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes – they are grown rather higher on the valley sides giving them more structure and complexity.

Vinsobres is situated about 40 kms north east of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

For more info see www.vinsobres.fr

You could stay in a self-catering apartment/gite/villa with pool on the site of the old school: Domaine l’Ancienne Ecole – a small organic, family owned winery, committed to producing delicious and characterful wines in as natural a way as possible

For more info on this gite see Domaine l’Ancienne Ecole

Vinsobres or sober wine, drink it soberly”: this was the motto of Monseigneur de Suarès (bishop of Vaison and a staunch fan of these wines) in 1633, describing this Cru from Drôme Provençal, a wine that is as balanced as it is aromatic. Passionately cultivated by young winemakers that brought with them new ideas from their travels, Vinsobres wines owe their richness to the assembly of the qualities of richly varied, complementary terroirs. The appellation’s soil here are very stony, red to brown in colour, and their warmth allows the vines to flourish early with a high concentration of grapes. Made mainly of Grenache and Syrah, they produce dark red wines with a complex, harmonious nose with spiced flavours that are suitable for ageing.  www.rhone-wines.com