Clairette
Clairette is a southern grape-variety. It is one of the oldest. It is used with others in white and rosé wines of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence and Rhône Valley. Clairette is used for some "muscats" and for sparkling wines such as the famous Clairette de Die in the Drome. It happens to be associated to other varieties in the white wines of Provence and, even in the red wine of Châteauneuf du Pape.


Grenache Blanc
Grenache Blanc is the white-berried equivalent of Grenache Noir, and, like its red variant, is drought-resistant, vigorous, and easy to graft. The varietal originated in Spain and still plays a role in the wines of Rioja and Navarre. It is the fourth most commonly planted white grape varietal in France. Its high-sugar, high-acid, straw-colored bunches produce wines that are high in alcohol, with green apple flavors and aromas. Although it can stand confidently on its own, its crispness and long finish make it a tremendous blending component. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the crisp acidity of Grenache Blanc is often used to balance the honeyed richness of Roussanne.


Marsanne
The white workhorse grape of the Southern Rhône and much of Southern France. Marsanne is a sturdy, hardy grape that produces a full-bodied wine -- with the heft of a good Chardonnay. Its relatively simple fruity flavors make it a natural candidate for a blending base.


Roussanne
Roussanne's name comes from its russet-colored skin. The grapes are somewhat prone to rot, but high in acidity and in aromatic qualities. The same qualities that make Roussanne a racy, lively wine also give it the potential to age, setting it apart from the other Rhône whites. In the Southern Rhône, roussanne is often the premium component of white blends.


Viognier
Viognier may be the world's least widely planted premium grape, but currently one of the most prized. In the vineyard, yields and acid levels tend to be low, and susceptibility to disease and rot high. In the winery, it is temperamental. But once in the bottle or the glass, a well-made Viognier comes with a deep, yellow color and an exquisite, exotic bouquet -- apricots, pears, tropical fruits. In the Northern Rhône, Viognier is the basis of the wines of Condrieu and Château-Grillet.


Carignan
Semi-classic grape commonly used for making red wines in Southern France and Spain. It is also successfully grown in California's Central Valley, often ending up in generic blends and "jug" wines, although some old plantings allow small lots of premium extract wine to be made. Blended with other varieties such as Cinsaut, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, it has been used to create red wines in California similar to the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape blend of the southern Rhone region of France.


Cinsault
A high-yielding, early-ripening, hot-weather red grape, generally used in blends. Cinsault tends to be low in tannin, and is often added to blends to add a spicy component.


Counoise
Counoise may be an obscure grape in the United States, but it is a key component of many Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. It is a deep purple-red, and has a rich spicy character, with flavors of anise, strawberries and blueberries.


Grenache
Probably the world's most widely planted red grape, largely in France and Spain. Grenache's reputation would soar if it were treated more respectfully by growers. It should be planted in more suitable locations throughout the world. Early-budding and late-ripening, Grenache has a tendency toward high sugar / alcohol levels, if not planted in the right areas or cropped back. It needs sandy, devigorated soil where it can produce exquisite, luscious wines.


Mourvèdre
Like grenache, the Mourvèdre grape is probably Spanish in origin (where it goes by the name monastrell). Under the name mataro (or no name at all), it has been part of California "field blends" for more than a century. It produces sturdy wines with good acid and some astringency, and can develop enticing blackberry aromas and flavors meaty, intense wines that age well. Mourvèdre is notable in France as the prime ingredient in the red and rose wines of Bandol.


Syrah
This is the eight hundred pound gorilla of Rhône grapes! In the vineyard and the winery, Syrah is typically an easy grape to work with -- healthy, early-ripening, resistant to mildew and rot, suitable for winemaking in a variety of styles. At its best, Syrah can slug it out with high-end Cabernet and Pinot Noir. This is best accomplished when the vines are not allowed to over-bear. As a single varietal, Syrah is the basis for the great reds of the Northern Rhône; as an ingredient in blends, it contributes much of the character and aging potential for wines of the Southern Rhône.