Images from previous visits to the Northern Rhône. 

Even in its most restrained interpretation, Condrieu gives such an exotic and tropical punch of New World aroma that one doubts—if just for a moment—that the wine in one’s glass is French. Viognier, the grape variety responsible for Condrieu’s honey and apricot aroma, also makes an unexpected appearance in the neighboring red wine appellation of Côte-Rôtie where it can be co-fermented with Syrah (the theory being it stabilizes red wine color!). These two grapes, along with Marsanne and Roussane (both white), make up the whole of the Northern Rhône’s plantings.