Crozes Hermitage

Production

Crozes Hermitage lies in the 45th parallel, on the left bank of the Rhône River. This is the largest appellation in Northern Rhône and covers eleven communes in the Drôme: Beaumont-Monteux, Chanos-Curson, Crozes Hermitage, Erôme, Gervans, Larnage, Pont-de-l’Isère, La Roche-de-Glun, Serves-sur-Rhône and Tain-l’Hermitage.

The region includes vineyards overlooking the river and others inland, although they don’t enjoy the elite southern orientation of the Hermitage hill; instead, they have a sunny exposure to the west and southwest.

Crozes Hermitage has a significant output with an annual production of over 76,000 hl of wine made with fruit from 1818 hectares of vines. Ninety per cent of the wine is red, and the rest is medium- to full-bodied white wine. Since Crozes Hermitage is a prominent appellation, a wide variety of soils and microclimates are expected. Robust red wines often come from vineyards planted on granite soils, while more elegant expressions come from vineyards dominated by limestone. There’s not one Crozes Hermitage, but many, and the winemakers play a role as well — there are over 110 wineries making wine in the area.

Crozes Hermitage shows that not all Northern Rhône wines are expensive, and that there is quality in all price ranges. The appellation might not have the perfect terroir like the one enjoyed by more prestigious sites in the area, but there’s passion here, and you can taste it.

Grape Varieties

The most significant varietal in Crozes Hermitage is Syrah. All red wines in Crozes Hermitage are made with at least 85% Syrah, although most are mono-varietals.  Grape growers in the area also produce white grapes, Marsanne and Roussanne. They’re used to make white wines, although small proportions of white grapes are allowed in red wine, as is customary in the Northern Rhône. In this case, the red and white wines must be vinified separately and blended after fermentation.

Syrah is native to the area, and DNA profiling has revealed it is the offspring of the rare Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche. The grape produces rustic wines with assertive acidity and scents redolent of red and black fruit with hints of black pepper. Since Crozes Hermitage is made traditionally, often with a hands-off approach, it has rustic undertones reminiscent of undergrowth and the countryside, making them very appealing. Syrah from the Northern Rhône is vastly different from the expressions of the grape made elsewhere.

Buy Crozes Hermitage Wines from Hourlier Wines

Pierre Gaillard has run a 77-hectare estate since 1981 and is a Northern Rhône specialist. The winery’s Crozes Hermitage is true to the region’s style. The 100% Syrah ages 12 months in oak and shows a rustic yet refined character. Ripe black fruit, dried herbs and undergrowth dominate the nose and palate for a textural wine that goes better with lamb, goat and game than beef. 

FAQ

Where does Crozes Hermitage wine originate?

Crozes Hermitage is an appellation in the Northern Rhône and covers eleven communes around the famous Hermitage hill. Crozes Hermitage originated in 1937 by uniting the vineyards in the area under a single appellation to represent the left bank of the Rhône River. The appellation’s current area wasn’t established until 1952. Since then, this has been a source of reliable red wine with a Northern Rhône personality.

What does Crozes Hermitage wine taste like?

Although ten per cent of the region’s wines are white, the rest are red, and red wine is the style that best represents Crozes Hermitage. These wines are rustic, concentrated and complex on the nose and palate. Black fruit is typical in these wines, along with spices, black pepper and hints of oak.

Which food groups pair well with Crozes Hermitage wine?

Crozes Hermitage is a wonderfully full-bodied red wine to pair with red meat, game, hearty stews, casseroles, meat pies, sausages and anything kissed by smoke and fire.