Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller took place from October 13 - October 23. The tour started in Lyon and ended in Châteauneuf-du-Pap/ Avignon. There were 8 of us including Annette and me.
Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône
This domaine has been in the Cuilleron family for three generations and it was 3rd generation Yves Cuilleron who started in 1987 to extend the estate beyond the original holdings in the Saint-Joseph and Condrieu appellations. Today they farm 185 acres across the Northern Rhône appellations including the additional appellations in Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Péray and IGP Collines Rhodaniennes. Due to the variety of appellations with their different grape varieties and soils Yves Cuilleron produces a broad range of red and white wines, blends and single vineyard wines made from Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne as well as from ancient grape varieties such as Petite Serine. Only spontaneous fermentation is used for all wines. The reds undergo regular punchdowns and pumpovers and spend 18 months in barrels where they undergo malolactic fermentation. Whole cluster pressing is used for the Condrieu wines that are then fermented in barrels and aged for a minimum of nine months on their lees depending on single vineyard wines or cuvées.
Domaine Yves Cuilleron - Skurnik Wine Import
The Cuilleron family domaine, located in the hamlet of Verlieu (part of the town of Chavanay) was founded several generations ago (1920). Yves Cuilleron’s grandfather was the first to bottle wine for commercial purposes in 1947. Antoine Cuilleron, the uncle and immediate predecessor of Yves, assumed control of the domaine in 1960 and significantly increased the percentage of wine bottled at the estate and extended the scope of the domaine. Yves assumed full ownership and direction of the domaine in 1987 and, since that time, has built an entirely new facility while at the same time acquiring additional vineyard property. The domaine is now (as of 2012) significantly larger in scope with 52 hectares of vineyards that cover multiple appellations, including principally, Condrieu, Saint Joseph Rouge and Blanc, Cote Rotie, Saint Péray and a series of Vin de Pays from the Collines Rhodaniennes.
Most of the vineyards are situated in and around the commune of Chavanay which is just south of the town of Condrieu; obviously, the holdings in Cote Rotie extend north into Ampuis and the holdings the furthest south are in the village of Saint Péray. A large majority of the vineyards are set on terraces which makes most mechanization difficult, if not impossible. Thus, much of the vineyard work continues to be done by hand. To control yields, Cuilleron does extensive debudding and, when necessary, practices a “green harvest”.
In the cave, the grapes (harvested manually) are fermented using indigenous yeasts. The fermentations of the appellation controlée white wines are done in small barrel of one to four years age; malolactic fermentations are done in barrel as well and the elevage continues for nine months before the wines are bottled. The whites are in constant contact with the lees during elevage with regular batonnage. The whites are lightly filtered before bottling. The AOC reds are partially destemmed and the fermentation occurs in open top cuves for approximately three weeks. Pigeage and remontage are done regularly throughout the cuvaison. After the alcoholic fermentation the reds are racked into small barrel (aged between one and four years) for an elevage of approximately eighteen months. The reds are bottled with an egg-white fining but no filtration. The Vins de Pays undergo a more brief elevage (between six to eight months), some in barrel and some in stainless steel, depending on the cuvée.
Arriving in Lyon: Saucisson Sec, Saint-Marcellin Cheese and a Bottle of Rhône Rouge at Le Broc'Bar for Dinner - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Sunday Morning Stroll on the St. Antoine Market on the Banks of the Soane River Market in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Meet&Greet (+ Introduction to the Rhône Valley Region) at Grand Hôtel des Terreaux in Lyon and Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
"Menu Tradition" at Grand Café des Négociants - Created in 1864 - in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
At the Foot of the Hermitage Hill and Tasting at Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with a View of the Hermitage Hill at Brasserie Route N7 in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Quick Stop at Valrhona, the Famous Chocolate Producer, in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet,
Croze-Hermitage, with Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet - Rhône Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai in Tain L’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Caveau Ferraton Père & Fils in Tain
L’Heremitage, with Jerome Nuss - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône, with Thibaut Jager - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Next to Maison Guigal: Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour at Maison Guigal and Guigal Tasting at Château d’Ampuis, with Kim Conley - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Focus
on "Natural Wine": Meeting Alice Feiring at Le Moderne Wine Bar of
Romane Vallon in Toulon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
in the Cellar at Cave Sébastien Blachon in Saint-Jean de Muzols,
Northern Rhône, with Sébastien Blachon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting from Barrel and from Bottle at Domaine
Alain Graillot in Pont-de-l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Maxime Graillot - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
High-end
Wine Pairing Lunch at La Grand Table Maison Chabran, with Chef Louis
Chabran and Legend Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
High-end Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Alary in Cairanne, Southern Rhône, with Jean Etienne Alary and Senior Boss Denis Alary - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône, with Valérie Chaume-Arnaud and Virginia Fréguin - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Le Mesclun in Séguret, with Artist Chef Christophe Bonzi - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
and Cellar Tour at Domaine Saint Gayan in Gigondas, Southern Rhône,
with Owner/ Winemaker Christian-Yves Carré de Lusançay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at Restaurant Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers in Sablet, Southern Rhône, with Jean Claude, Philippe and Perrin Lambert - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting in the Front-yard at Domaine La Ligière in Beaumes-de-Venise - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course
Lunch at Restaurant Auberge Saint Roch in Beaumes-de-Venise, with the
Husband and Wife Team Johann and Isabelle from Corsica - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
in the Cellar at Domaine La Martinelle in Lafare, Ventoux, with Owner/
Winemaker Corinne Faravel - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Charcuterie and Cheese Dinner with Rosé Wines at Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivié, Les Baux de Provence - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Olive
Trees Tour, Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Mas de
Gourgonnier in Mouriès, Alpilles, with Owner/ Winemaker Eve Cartier - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Lunch at Le Mas Teulière in Maussane-les-Alpilles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Van Gogh and the Romans: Sightseeing in Arles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with a View at Restaurant Les Terrasses at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Avignon - Town of the Popes: Guided Tour of the Palace of the Popes and of Pont Saint-Bénézet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Light Dinner in Avignon at the Palace of the Popes - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pègau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger (from Austria) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Vignobles Alain Jaume,
Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Hélène Jaume and Chef Axel Thomas - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Berthet-Rayne in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laure Berthet-Rayne (Laure Capeau) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Light Dinner in the old part of Avignon near "Les Halles", the Central Food Market - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Bottleing and Tasting at Château de Ségriès in Lirac, with Owner/ Winemaker Henri de Lanzac - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
Château de Beaucastel Wines at Boutique Famille Perrin in the Village
of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at La Mule du Pape in the Center of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Gigognan in Sorgues,
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Head Winemaker Jenna Le Lay - Rhône Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Michelin-star
level Wine-pairing Dinner at Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
