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Val de Vie is producing the following Rhône varietal wines, namely:
White varietals are Clairette Blanche, Grenache blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne and Ugni blanc, while the Red varietals are Petite Sirah, Cinsaut, Carignan, Grenache noir, Mourvedre and Syrah or Shiraz.
The Rhône Valley in southern France is formed by the Rhône River flowing from its source in the Swiss Alps through Geneva and turning due south into neighboring France, from where it flows in an almost straight line into the Mediterranean. It is sunny, yet not as hot as Provence, stony with several different soil types that make it ideal for the cultivation of these varietals.
One may ask: “Why Rhône varietals on a South African estate?” The answer lies in the terroir. The original farm on which Val de Vie is situated, contains the same rocky or stony formations that are found in the Rhône Valley, hence the first name of the farm on which Val de Vie is now situated. The original name meant rock spine or stony spine. Thus, these French varietals are eminently at home on Val de Vie.
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