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| OHCC LIVING | JUNE 2020 | 11 Back in the not so distant past, one could make a visit to one of the most beautiful, historic, interesting wine growing areas in the world, the Rhône valley in the south of France. Wine has been grown there since before the Romans, around 600 BC, possibly by the Greeks. After the Romans came, and left, interest in the wine of the region left as well. The Rhône came back as a wine region when in the 13th century the Pope relocated the Papacy from Rome, which at the time was afflicted with malaria, floods and barbarians, to Avignon, a quiet city on the Rhône river. The Pope's wealth helped to regenerate the wine business in the region. Today there are over 6,000 wine growing properties in the Rhône valley. The northern Rhône has harsh winters but warm summers and produces some white wine. The only red wine grape grown in the north is Syrah (Shiraz in the English-speaking world), and there are many whites of Viognier. The northern Rhône produces around 5% of the total. Southern Rhône enjoys a more Mediterranean climate with milder winters and hot summers. It can be very dry, but producers are allowed limited irrigation. Some wine growers stash large pebbles around the base of the plants to absorb some of the summer heat, and conversely to keep them warm after dark. The most famous red wine from the Rhône is Châteauneuf-du- Pape, a blend of up to 19 types according to the Appellation d'origine Contrôlée rules. Grenache is the main one. Châteauneuf can be quite expensive in the USA. Years ago, some of us had the pleasure of going to a vertical wine tasting at a winery in CDP. Seven consecutive years of the same Châteauneuf-du-Pape was an incredible experience. And we remained vertical. Other wines are called Côtes du Rhône, made from aggregated production, and they are cheaper but still good. Côtes du Rhône Villages often shows the village name and has a higher requirement for grape maturity and is usually of a higher standard than Côtes du Rhône. Rhône Valley wines are usually red, but some excellent whites can also be found. Examples of all of these can be found in Trader Joe's and Total Wine and More. The Wine Tasting Club will someday meet again and host group wine tastings in members' homes. Annual dues are $12. Wine Tasting Club Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone vineyard Rhone River at Arles