Marsanne (France)
Marsanne is the most popular grape in the French Northern Rhône region.
Flavors
 Lemon |
 Pear |
 Peach |
 Melon |
 Almonds |
 Flowers |
 Herbal Tea |
 Spices |
Citrus, Pear, Peach, and Melon are typical Marsanne flavors, with Almond, Rosted Nuts, Honey and Floral notes, and hints of Herbal Tea and Spices.
Profile
Wines produced from Marsanne are quite rich and can develop a silky, exotic, oily texture.
| SUGAR | Dry | ||
| BODY | Medium - Full | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - Low | ||
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Food Pairing
 Fish |
 Seafood |
 Shrimps |
 Lobster |
 Pasta |
 Rice |
 Chicken |
 Chili |
Marsanne is very food friendly.
It pairs well with Rich Seafood, Creamy Sauces, Chicken, Asian Cuisine, and Spicy Flavors.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Clams. Mussels. Shrimps. Crab. Lobster.
Rich Seafood. Fish Stew. Paella.
Creamy Pasta. Creamy Sauces.
Poultry. Chicken. Turkey.
French Cuisine. Asian Cuisine. Thai.
Cheese:
Stinky Cheese. Epoisses. Taleggio. Munster.
The Ideal Glass
A Tulip Shaped glass is the best choice for dry white wines.
It guides the wine to the center of your mouth, avoiding the sides, where acidity is less pleasant.
A smaller bowl also helps to serve smaller quantities, and keep the wine cold. Remember to hold the glass by the stem!
About
Marsanne and Roussanne
Marsanne and Roussanne are the only white grapes allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC.
Marsanne is often blended with Roussanne to add depth and textures to the wine.
Blending the grapes produces rich, deep colored wines with flavors of Pears, Peaches, Melon, Spice, Flowers, and even Roasted Nuts.
Oak aged Marsanne and Roussanne wines are both rich, full bodied and powerful.
Marsanne is valso vinified sweet. The Straw Wine technique is often used. Drying the grapes on straw mats in the sun, like raisins, to concentrate the sugar and the juice.
Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône is an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) wine region in the Rhône Valley of France. There are two main regions:
- Côtes du Rhône South (Méridional)
- Côtes du Rhône North (Septentrional)
Côtes du Rhône North
In the North, the main grape is Syrah.
The grapes grows on very steep slopes, and are manually picked in hillside trolleys, wich adds to the price.
Côtes du Rhône South
In the South, the main grape is Grenache.
The area is famous for its GSM wines: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.