Characteristics
Rhoning Stones is deep red in color. It is packed with strawberrish-peppery Grenache fruit and laced with dark berry flavored Sryah. Its rich palette has soft tannins with a long finish.
Food Pairings
This versatile wine pairs well with grilled meat dishes touched with Mediterranean herbs.
Wine Growing Conditions & Wine Making Notes
There is something special about the area surrounding the River Rhone as it heads South towards the Mediterranean. It is the stones of the Rhone that set this region apart from any other region. These stones force the vines to work their way into the ground to find nutrients, pushing their roots deep into the earth. Once the vines are deeply rooted, the sun and Mediterranean climate warms the vines and rocks throughout the day. The "hot rocks" slowly release the heat that is absorbed during the day.
The Grenache is selected from the higher areas of Côtes du Rhône near Rastau. The Syrah is harvested from gravel soils of the Gard while the mourvedre comes from the central part of the Rhône. The grapes are harvested at optimum ripeness. They are then cold macerated prior to fermentation in order to extract color and flavor. The wine is macerated on the skins for four weeks and malolactic fermentation is carried out in the tanks.