Roussanne is a
white wine grape grown originally in the
Rhône wine region in
France, where it is often blended with
Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône
appellations of
Crozes-Hermitage AOC,
Hermitage AOC
Hermitage is a French wine ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced fro ...
and
Saint-Joseph AOC. In the southern Rhône appellation of
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC it is one of six white grapes allowed, where it may be blended into
red wine
Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties. The color of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines. The juice from most purple grap ...
s. Roussanne is also planted in various
wine-growing regions of the
New World, such as
California,
Washington,
Texas,
South Africa and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
as well as European regions such as
Crete,
Tuscany and
Spain.
The berries are distinguished by their
russet color when
ripe—''roux'' is
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
for the reddish-brown color ''russet'', and is probably the root for the variety's name. The aroma of Roussanne is often reminiscent of a flowery
herbal tea. In warm climates, it produces wines of richness, with flavors of honey and pear, and full
body
Body may refer to:
In science
* Physical body, an object in physics that represents a large amount, has mass or takes up space
* Body (biology), the physical material of an organism
* Body plan, the physical features shared by a group of anima ...
. In cooler climates it is more floral and more delicate, with higher
acidity. In many regions, it is a difficult variety to grow, with vulnerability to
mildew, poor resistance to
drought and
wind, late and/or uneven ripening, and irregular yields.
Viticulture and winemaking
The Roussanne vine ripens late and is characterized by its irregular
yields that can decrease further due to poor wind resistance. The vine is also susceptible to
powdery mildew and rot which makes it a difficult vine to cultivate. In recent years, the development of better
clone
Clone or Clones or Cloning or Cloned or The Clone may refer to:
Places
* Clones, County Fermanagh
* Clones, County Monaghan, a town in Ireland
Biology
* Clone (B-cell), a lymphocyte clone, the massive presence of which may indicate a pathologi ...
s has alleviated some of these difficulties.
The grape prefers a long growing season but should be
harvest
Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most labor-i ...
ed before the potential
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
reaches 14% which would result in the finished wine being out of
balance. If picked too soon, the grape can suffer from high acidity.
[Oz Clarke ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 204 Harcourt Books 2001 ] During winemaking, Roussanne is prone to
oxidation without care being taken by the winemaker. The wine can benefit from a controlled use of
oak. In blends, Roussanne adds aromatics, elegance and acidity with the potential to age and further develop in the bottle.
Wine regions
It is likely that Roussanne originated in the northern Rhône where it is today an important component in the wines of Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and the
Saint-Péray AOC where it is used for both still and
sparkling wine production. In recent years plantings of Roussanne have declined as Marsanne gains more of a foothold in the northern Rhône due to its high productivity and ease of cultivation. In the southern Rhône, Roussanne is a primary component in the white wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape where it can comprise as much as 80–100% of the wine. It can also be found in some white wines from the
Côtes du Rhône AOC.
[J. Robinson ''Vines, Grapes & Wines'' pg 234–235 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ] Outside of the Rhône, the Roussanne is grown in
Provence and the
Languedoc-Roussillon région where it is sometimes blended with
Chardonnay
Chardonnay (, , ) is a green-skinned grape variety used in the production of white wine. The variety originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern French wine, France, but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from English wine, Englan ...
, Marsanne and
Vermentino in some ''
vin de pays''. In
Savoie, the grape is known as Bergeron where it produces highly aromatic wines in
Chignin
Chignin (; frp, Shenyin) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
The village of Chignin is located between the communes of Les Marches, Montmélian, Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré and Challes-l ...
.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 595 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
Outside France it is grown in the
Italian wine regions of
Liguria and
Tuscany where it is a permitted grape in
Montecarlo bianco Montecarlo is a denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) in northern Tuscany, Italy. The vineyards surround the small town of Montecarlo which is located close to Lucca and Pisa. Montecarlo wines are unusual for the region in that they are co ...
. In
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, it was believed to have been brought to the continent to be blended with
Shiraz. Documents dating as far back as 1882 have noted the presence of Roussanne plantings in
Victoria.
Today it is used both as a blending grape and as a
varietal wine. In
California, it is widely planted in the
Central Coast AVA and the northern region of
Yuba County.
It has also recently been grown in the northern Golan Heights and produced as a wine in Israel. Along with other Rhône varieties, it is increasingly grown in South Africa.
In
Washington State, the first experimental plantings of Roussanne were planted by
White Heron Cellars in 1990. In recent years, plantings have increased as more Washington winemakers experiment with Rhone varietals with grapes from
Ciel du Cheval,
Alder Ridge
Alders are trees comprising the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus comprises about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few sp ...
and
Destiny Ridge. Washington Roussanne is often blended with Viognier and is characterized by its
fruit salad profile of notes that range from
apple,
lime,
peach and
citrus to
cream and
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
.
[P. Gregutt ''"Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide"'' pg 57–58 University of California Press 2007 ] The
Texas High Plains
The Texas High Plains AVA is an American Viticultural Area located on the Llano Estacado region of Texas. The appellation is the second largest American Viticultural Area in Texas, and covers an area of over . Most of the vineyards are on fla ...
is proving to be well suited for growing high quality Roussanne. In
New JerseyUnionville Vineyardsgrows Roussanne, Marsanne, and other Rhone varieties.
California Roussanne/Viognier controversy
In the 1980s, California
winemaker Randall Grahm
Randall Grahm is a Californian winemaker and the founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering work with Rhône wine, Rhone varieties in California and for popularizing the use of alternative wine closures, screw ca ...
of
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Bonny Doon Vineyard is a winery in Santa Cruz, California, that focuses on terroir wines. Founded by Randall Grahm in 1983, it is perhaps best known for its quirky labels, eccentric mix of grapes, and humorously-named wines—like its flagship wi ...
smuggled
cuttings of Roussanne that he reportedly got from a vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Under California regulations, vines from outside the state are
quarantined for a lengthy period which includes inspection for
grape disease
This is a list of diseases of grapes (''Vitis'' spp.).
Bacterial diseases
Fungal diseases
Miscellaneous diseases and disorders
Nematodes, parasitic
Phytoplasma, virus and viruslike diseases
See also
*'' Ampeloglypter ater''
*'' Am ...
s and
ampelographical
Ampelography ( ἄμπελος, "vine" + γράφος, "writing") is the field of botany concerned with the identification and classification of grapevines, ''Vitis'' spp. Traditionally this has been done by comparing the shape and colour of the ...
identification at
University of California, Davis. Grahm imported his cuttings in his suitcase and planted them at his vineyard in the
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central and Northern California, United States. They form a ridge down the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco. They separate the Pacific Ocean from ...
where he began making a Rhone style blend with
Marsanne. In 1994, Grahm sold some of his Roussanne cuttings to Sonoma Grapevine, one of the largest nurseries in the state, who began to propagate the vines and sell them to wineries and other nurseries which spread these Roussanne vines across the state. One of the wineries that bought these cuttings was the California
cult winery,
Caymus Vineyards
Caymus Vineyards is a Napa winery owned by Chuck Wagner and his family.
History
The Wagner family has farmed the current Caymus property to wine grapes since the 1940s; until 1972, when the winery was established, the fruit was sold to other area ...
, who planted them in their
Monterey vineyards. In 1998, John Alban of
Alban Vineyards
Alban Vineyards is a California wine estate producing various Rhône style blends and varietal wines. The winery is located in Edna Valley, near Arroyo Grande in the southern corner of San Luis Obispo County.
History
Starting in 1985, John Alban ...
was visiting Caymus and noted that the Roussanne plantings looked more like
Viognier
Viognier () is a white wine grape variety. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhône Valley.J. Robinson ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 754 Oxford University Press 2006 Outside of the Rhôn ...
than Roussanne.
Jancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW (born 22 April 1950) is a British wine critic, journalist and wine writer. She currently writes a weekly column for the ''Financial Times'', and writes for her website JancisRobinson.com, updated daily. She ...
, '
Roussanne? Viognier? What's in a name?
'' Jan 1st, 2002 Samples were sent for
DNA analysis
Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...
and the result proved that the plantings were indeed
Viognier
Viognier () is a white wine grape variety. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhône Valley.J. Robinson ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 754 Oxford University Press 2006 Outside of the Rhôn ...
as were all the vines that came from Grahm's original "Roussanne" vineyard.
[L. Alley ']
Vine Mix-Up Lands California Winemaker and Grower in Court
'' Wine Spectator, August 31st 2000
Wines
Wines made from Roussanne are characterized by their intense aromatics which can include notes of
herbal tea.
In its youth it shows more floral, herbal and fruit notes, such as
pear, which become more nutty as the wine ages. Roussanne from the Savoie region is marked by
pepper
Pepper or peppers may refer to:
Food and spice
* Piperaceae or the pepper family, a large family of flowering plant
** Black pepper
* ''Capsicum'' or pepper, a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae
** Bell pepper
** Chili ...
and herbal notes. Wine expert
Oz Clarke notes that Roussanne wine and Roussanne dominated blends can drink very well in the first 3 to 4 years of their youth before entering a "
dumb phase
The aging of wine is potentially able to improve the quality of wine. This distinguishes wine from most other consumable goods. While wine is perishable and capable of deteriorating, complex chemical reactions involving a wine's sugars, acids and ...
" where the wine is
closed
Closed may refer to:
Mathematics
* Closure (mathematics), a set, along with operations, for which applying those operations on members always results in a member of the set
* Closed set, a set which contains all its limit points
* Closed interval, ...
aromatically until the wine reaches 7 or 8 years when it develops more complexity and depth.
Synonyms and relationship to other grapes
Synonyms include Barbin, Bergeron (in particular in the Savoie region), Courtoisie, Fromental, Fromental jaune, Fromenteal, Fromenteau, Greffon, Greffou, Martin Cot, Petite Rousette, Picotin blanc, Plant de Seyssel, Rabellot, Rabelot, Ramoulette, Rebellot, Rebolot, Remoulette, Roussane, Roussane blanc, Roussanne blanc, Roussette, Rusan Belyi, Rusan Blan.
[Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Roussanne](_blank)
, accessed on June 12, 2008
There are similarly named grapes that are unrelated to Roussanne—most notably the pink-skinned
Roussanne du Var
Roussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage ...
grown in
Provence and the
Roussette
Altesse or Roussette is a white French wine grape variety found primarily in the Savoy wine region of France. It yields small harvests and ripens late but is resistant to Botrytis cinerea, grey rot. Wines made from Altesse have exotic aromas, ...
found in Savoie, which is also known as
Altesse.
References
External links
History, viticulture, winemaking and flavors of Roussannefrom the Tablas Creek Vineyard website
{{wines
White wine grape varieties