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FranceCurated by Michele Edington, Certified Sommelier
Tain-l’Hermitage is the classic river-cruise stop, with the granite hill of Hermitage rising right above town. This is some serious Syrah country, but the whites matter too. Pay attention to Viognier in Condrieu, and Marsanne/Roussanne for Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, and Saint-Joseph.
Grapes
red: Syrah
white: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Wines & pairings
Cote-Rotie / Hermitage / Saint-Joseph (Syrah)
Starters
- Caillette (Herb and Pork Terrine) — Packed with pork, greens, and herbs, caillette carries the same savory character that makes Northern Rhône Syrah so captivating. Pepper, herbs, and dark fruit settle naturally beside every bite.
- Black Olive Tapenade — Olives, capers, and garlic pull the wine's own olive and savory notes into sharper focus. It's one of those pairings where the landscape seems to echo from plate to glass. My personal favorite.
- Mushroom Tart — Earthy mushrooms and buttery pastry bring out Syrah's woodland character. Fresh acidity keeps the richness moving while peppery spice lingers through the finish.
Entrées
- Daube de Bœuf — Hours of slow braising soften the beef into something wonderfully rich. Northern Rhône Syrah wraps around those deep flavors with pepper, dark fruit, and savory spice that feel completely at home.
- Grilled Lamb with Herbes de Provence — Lamb and Syrah have grown up together across southern France. Wild herbs, smoky grill marks, and juicy meat seem to draw every layer of the wine into the conversation.
- Duck Breast with Cherry Reduction — Duck welcomes Syrah's blackberry fruit and earthy spice with remarkable ease. A cherry sauce picks up the wine's ripe fruit while the peppery finish keeps every bite lively.
Desserts
- Saint-Marcellin or Picodon Cheese — Creamy regional cheeses bring out Syrah's savory side while dark fruit and spice continue to unfold across the palate. It feels like the meal reaching its natural conclusion.
- Dark Chocolate Tart — A Syrah with generous fruit and soft tannins settles beautifully beside bittersweet chocolate. Blackberry, cocoa, and pepper weave together from first bite to last.
- Black Cherry Clafoutis — Warm cherries and tender custard seem to borrow their fruit from the wine itself. Syrah's blackberry and black cherry notes carry the dessert through a long, elegant finish.
Condrieu (Viognier)
Starters
- Seafood in cream sauce, or foie gras — Viognier's lush stone-fruit and floral richness needs an equally rich starter to match it.
- Lobster with beurre blanc — There's something about Viognier and butter that just works. The wine keeps its freshness while the lobster suddenly tastes sweeter and more delicate.
Entrées
- Roast chicken or a mild coconut curry — Viognier's apricot richness and low acidity flatter creamy poultry and gentle spice.
- Roast chicken with herbs — This is one of those pairings that never seems to go out of style. The golden skin, the herbs, and the wine's orchard-fruit richness feel like they were always meant to arrive at the table together.
- Mild coconut curry — Most people don't immediately think of Condrieu with curry, but they should. The wine's floral character wraps itself around gentle spice beautifully, turning the whole meal into something unexpectedly seamless.
- Pork tenderloin with apricot glaze — When the fruit in the dish mirrors the fruit in the glass, magic tends to happen. The apricot notes seem to bounce back and forth between plate and wine until it's difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Desserts
- Peach tart — Viognier already smells a little like biting into a perfectly ripe peach. Put an actual peach tart beside it and suddenly the entire pairing feels like late summer in liquid form.
- Apricot galette — Condrieu has spent decades practicing for this moment. The wine's stone-fruit character settles into the warm apricot filling so naturally it almost feels inevitable.
Featured along
- Rhone & Saone — Tournon-sur-Rhone, Tain-l'Hermitage
Common questions
- What wine is Northern Rhone known for?
- Northern Rhone, in France, is known for Cote-Rotie / Hermitage / Saint-Joseph (Syrah), Condrieu (Viognier), made from grapes such as Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne.
- What grapes are grown in Northern Rhone?
- Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne.
- What food pairs with Northern Rhone wines?
- Classic local pairings include Peach tart, Roast chicken or a mild coconut curry, Seafood in cream sauce, or foie gras, Saint-Marcellin or Picodon Cheese, Daube de Bœuf.