Saint-Joseph

Few appellations can boast of having been mentioned in Victor Hugo’s *Les Misérables*… But Saint-Joseph can!! This has contributed to its fame, along with its elegant red and white wines, made from various grape varieties such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Shiraz, Bergeron, and Syrah. The AOC spans 1,100 hectares, covering 23 communes in the Ardèche and 3 in the Loire, stretching along the length of the Rhône River, which results in a rather unique diversity of soils (schist, granite, soft gneiss…), on hillsides with some areas in the foothills or on the plains. Visually, the red wine has a ruby-red color and develops orange hues over time. The white wine starts with emerald highlights against a pale yellow background but evolves toward a golden hue. On the nose, Saint-Joseph red wines are distinguished by a very pronounced note of blackcurrant and aromas of fresh fruit that give way to those of cooked fruit after a few years. The white wines, meanwhile, feature notes of hawthorn that develop spicy undertones over time. On the palate, the reds have fine tannins, with a predominance of smoothness and aromas of violets and red berries. The whites, with their intense bouquet, maintain a beautiful balance between acidity, freshness, and mellowness—the latter becoming more pronounced with age. As for food and wine pairings, the white wines pair perfectly with smoked fish; for the red wines, opt primarily for grilled meats such as a rib of beef or lamb.