📜 Saint-Joseph

Saint-Joseph is an appellation on the west bank of the Rhône river in France, in the Northern Rhône. It produces reds from Syrah and whites from Marsanne and Roussanne. The appellation is a protected designation of origin (PDO). The vineyards stretch along steep slopes beside the river.

The reds of Saint-Joseph are made from Syrah. They can be full-bodied, with the smell of black berries, pepper and herbs. They are often softer and more approachable than the wines of neighbouring appellations such as Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage. The white wines from Marsanne and Roussanne are fragrant, with shades of pear, flowers and honey, but they are made in smaller amounts.

The slopes here are granite, and vines grow on terraces. The appellation stretches along the river for tens of kilometres and covers many villages. Saint-Joseph suits meat, game and cheeses. The wines keep well for several years. It is an example of how different styles meet on one bank of a river.

When Saint-Joseph was recognised as an AOC in 1956, it covered only six communes around Tournon. A 1969 extension added about twenty more, bringing the total to 26: 23 in the Ardèche and 3 in the Loire. The subsoil is mostly granite, with limestone in parts of Châteaubourg and Guilherand-Granges.