Hermitage

Hermitage is one of France's greatest wines. Its vineyards date back to the 4th century B.C. Hermitage wine was served at the tables of kings, notably that of Louis XIII. It is said that the Chevalier de Sterimberg, weary of fighting the Albigensians, repented by devoting himself to prayer and the cultivation of vines around a hermitage atop the hill of Tain.Hermitage was designated an AOC in 1937.

It spans three communes in the Drôme department: Tain-l'Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Larnage on the left bank of the Rhône. The soils of the Hermitage vineyards consist of granitic sand covered with mica schist and gneiss, as well as patches of round alluvial pebbles (a diversity that explains the presence of specific vineyard sites within the appellation: Bessards, Greffieux, Méal, Rocoule, Beaumes, etc.). Sheltered from the north wind, most of the hillsides face south, thus benefiting from excellent sun exposure.

Approximately 134 hectares of vineyards are currently in production, yielding an annual volume of nearly 4,300 hectoliters of wine. Hermitage wines are made from Syrah for the reds, with an authorized addition of 15% Marsanne and Roussanne, and from Roussanne and Marsanne for the whites. The appellation’s qualities are excellently showcased by producers such as M. Chapoutier, Delas Frères, the estates of E. Guigal, Jean-Louis Chave, and Tardieu Laurent, as well as Ferraton Père et Fils.