Cornas

In the northern part of the Rhône Valley, on the right bank, facing the sunniest slope, the vineyards of Cornas are cultivated, with Syrah as the sole grape variety. Spanning 110 hectares and basking in the sun year-round thanks to the orientation of the steep hillsides, the grapes thrive in the granitic soils (granite and gneiss) to produce 3,800 hectoliters of wine—exclusively red—already appreciated by the greatest figures of the first century, such as Charlemagne. Produced in the town of Cornas, Cornas is a red wine with a controlled designation of origin (AOC) from the Rhône Valley. The steep, south-facing slopes naturally protect the vines from cold winds. Cornas wine is called “black wine” because single-varietal Syrah yields a very deep carmine hue (it is the only authorized grape variety). Early in the winemaking process, the maceration period is long; the wine then ages and evolves for two years in wooden barrels in the cellar, with the aim of bringing out the best in this grape variety, which imparts aromas of black fruits. Over time, more orange-hued tones may emerge, but its northern location makes Cornas wine a powerful and deeply colored wine (a dark red hue that evolves toward ruby to garnet). Young wines exhibit notes of red fruits and black berries, with spicy undertones; however, they benefit from aging for about 5 years to reach their full aromatic potential: at that point, leather, tobacco, and forest floor notes will dominate on the palate. Despite its location in the northern part of the Rhône Valley, the Cornas appellation—with its powerful tannins—evokes the south after a few years in oak barrels. Cornas AOC wines are renowned and have often been featured in the Guide Hachette. Cornas’s reputation has long been established; stories tell that Charlemagne, Saint Louis, and even Louis XV drank it regularly. The soil, composed of granite, clayey sand, limestone, and silt, benefits from a Mediterranean climate. Red Cornas pairs well with blood sausage, pigeon pastilla, grilled beef, Caribbean-style blood sausage, Creole-style blood sausage, grilled blood sausage, or pan-fried blood sausage. With Les Grappes, you’ll discover the vineyards of our winemakers who produce Cornas wine, such as Domaine Colombo, Pierre Guillard, Guy Farge, and Ferraton Père et Fils—all of whom are deeply committed to their terroir.