Grignan-les-Adhémar AOC looks to drive awareness in UK

By Carol Emmas, Emily Kearns

Published: 09 October, 2013

Wine producers of the southern Rhône Valley's northernmost AOC, Grignan-les-Adhémar, are launching a campaign to generate awareness of its wines in the UK on the back of a 20% rise in exports.

AOC Grignan-les-Adhémar producers are working towards increasing exports and gaining international recognition for its quality wines, which it claims offer "high quality and outstanding value for money". The campaign will target UK trade and consumers, and focus on quality via the region's Quality Charter, which was upgraded in 2009.

Known locally as the "garden terroir of the Rhône", AOC Grignan-les-Adhémar is in the Drôme département bridging the northern and southern Rhône. Soils range from limestone-clay terraces to pebbles and gravel across 1,800ha and 21 villages, and the wines come from 33 individual estates and 12 co-operatives, many of which have been family owned for several generations.

The reds and rosés are principally a blend of Grenache and Syrah, and account for 70% of production. Other red varieties typical to the region and used to complement the blend are Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Marselan. Viognier is the main white varietal, often blended with Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc.

Producers say that the key characteristic of the wines of AOC Grignan-les-Adhémar is "balance" on all levels and that its wines are well-structured and fruit forward with elegance and character.

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