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Rhone Valley Wine Tour

Often overshadowed by their Bordeaux compatriots, the wines of the Rhône Valley do not always get the recognition they justly deserve. The choice alone - robust reds and full-bodied, aromatic whites from the North, richly blended reds and sweet whites from the South, - is enough to exhilarate the palate of any wine lover.

One has simply to follow the meandering Rhône River to find the best of what this region has to offer. From Lyon to Avignon, the sloping banks of the river are covered with the vines of this sweet nectar. Côte Rôtie is perhaps the finest Rhône Valley wine, consisting primarily of Syrah grapes. Condrieu, produced from the viognier grape, is one of the rarest and most famous whites. With just 232 acres of vines, Cornas is renowned for its consistently hearty, chunky wine produced exclusively from the Syrah grape. Châteauneuf du Pape, thus named for its papal palace built as a summer home when the pope was based in Avignon, boasts a highly structured red wine that contains a blend of up to thirteen grape varieties.

A fabulous way to experience these wines is to partner them with the divine regional cuisine. Lucky for us, the Rhône Valley is home to many of the most famous chefs in the world, including Anne-Sophie Pic, Paul Bocuse, and J.P. Lacombe.

Another great idea is to partake in a wine tasting class. Take advantage of the knowledge of a local professional in Tain l'Hermitage who will guide you through the complexities of this art form as you gaze upon the vineyards of Chapoutier and Jaboulet.

Better yet, participate in one of the many year round wine festivals:

The possibilities are endless, and the choice is yours.

To plan a Rhône Valley wine holiday, contact Red Balloon Travel and Consulting (www.red-balloon-travel.com ).

Red Balloon Travel specializes in custom holidays in the Rhône-Alpes region of France.  We are based in France, so we have personal relationships with all our suppliers as well as on-site accessibility.  From culinary travels, to outdoor adventures, to luxury getaways, to relaxing countryside B&B's, Red Balloon Travel can offer your client the perfect French vacation, whatever his interests.

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