Roussanne: an In-Depth Wine Profile

Best Food Pairing for Roussanne Wines

Roussanne wines make great partners for many different foods. Thanks to their rich texture, full body, and complex flavours, they work well with a wide range of dishes. The wine’s notes of stone fruits, honey, herbs, and nuts can make a good meal even better. Here are some excellent pairings to try:

• Bouillabaisse: The rich and aromatic flavours of bouillabaisse beautifully complement Roussanne's complex notes.

Food Pairings

• Bouillabaisse: This French seafood stew works beautifully with Roussanne. The wine's herbal and fruit flavours match the rich taste of the stew, while its acidity cuts through the richness of the shellfish and saffron.
• Roasted Chicken: Roussanne's full body and herbal scents pair perfectly with roast chicken. The match is even better when the chicken is flavoured with lemon or herbs.
• Shellfish: Lobster, crab, and scallops are all great with Roussanne. The wine's rich texture works well with buttery or creamy sauces, and its acidity keeps things fresh.
• French Onion Soup: The pear and honey flavours in Roussanne go wonderfully with caramelized onions and melted cheese. The wine's acidity also helps balance the richness of this classic soup.
• Chicken Alfredo: Creamy pasta dishes taste even better with Roussanne's fruit flavours and a slight nuttiness. If the wine has been aged in oak, it adds a warm, toasty quality that improves the pairing.
• Seafood Paella: Roussanne's herbal and apricot notes match well with the many flavours and textures in paella. The wine balances the richness of the rice and seafood perfectly.
• Risotto with Squash or Pumpkin: The sweetness of squash risotto pairs beautifully with Roussanne's pear and honey flavours. The wine's acidity keeps the dish from feeling too heavy.
• Cauliflower Steak: Roasted or grilled cauliflower tastes great with Roussanne. The wine's floral and fruit notes complement the caramelized flavours of the vegetable.
• Asian Cuisine with Aromatics: Dishes with ginger, lemongrass, or sesame oil match Roussanne's complex aromas. The wine's richness balances these strong flavours without overpowering them.
• Pork Chops with Fruit-Based Sauces: Pork with peach, apricot, or apple sauces creates a wonderful pairing with Roussanne. The wine's fruity and herbal qualities enhance these fruit-forward dishes.

‍

Best Regions for Roussanne Wine: Northern Rhône

Roussanne grows well in many different wine regions around the world. It’s most famous in its home country of France, but it has also found success in several New World wine areas. This adaptable grape can produce different styles of wine depending on where it’s grown, from light and floral to rich and full-bodied.

• France: The Rhône Valley is the traditional home of Roussanne, where it is often blended with Marsanne.
• United States: California is emerging as one of the best regions for Roussanne wine, producing both single-varietal wines and blends.
• Australia: The warm climate of regions like Barossa Valley allows Roussanne to thrive and develop rich, complex flavours.

Key Regions for Roussanne

• Rhône Valley, France:
  • Northern Rhône: This is where Roussanne originated. It's an important grape in well-known wine areas like Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Saint-Péray. Here, it's often mixed with Marsanne to make elegant wines with good acidity that can age well.
  • Southern Rhône: In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Roussanne is one of just six white grapes allowed by wine laws. It's used in both white and red blends, and Château Beaucastel makes a famous wine using 100% Roussanne.
• Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon, France: These sunny Mediterranean regions work well for Roussanne, which likes warm weather. The wines here tend to be rich and full-bodied, with honey and pear flavours. Winemakers often blend Roussanne with other grapes like Vermentino for added complexity.
• California, USA: In California, Roussanne has found a happy home in the Central Coast area. These wines are known for their rich texture and flavours of stone fruits and honey. It's commonly blended with Viognier or Chardonnay to create unique wines.
• Australia: Roussanne grows in regions like the Yarra Valley, Hunter Valley, and McLaren Vale. In cooler areas, the wines are floral and delicate, while warmer regions produce fuller-bodied wines with honey and pear notes.
• Italy: In Italy, you'll discover Roussanne primarily in Liguria and Tuscany, which makes sense considering that Liguria shares a border with France to the west. It's usually part of blends, such as Montecarlo Bianco, where it adds aromatic complexity and richness.
• Chile: Chile's coastal regions, like the Colchagua Valley, have a great climate for Roussanne. Here, winemakers often blend it with Marsanne, following Rhône traditions, to make balanced and complex wines.

Climate and Terroir

Roussanne thrives in cooler climates with well-exposed, stony soils, making the Rhône Valley an ideal region for its cultivation. The combination of the region’s poor clay-limestone soils and continental climate creates the perfect conditions for producing wines with complex flavours and aromas. The terroir of the Rhône Valley imparts a unique character to Roussanne wines, enhancing their depth and complexity. Beyond France, Roussanne is also successfully grown in regions like California and Australia, where it is often used to produce varietal wines that highlight its distinctive qualities.

‍

Tips for Serving and Storing Roussanne Wine

Roussanne wines are known for their complex flavours and ability to age well. Following the right serving and storage practices helps bring out the best in these special wines.

• Serving Temperature: Roussanne tastes best when served between 45°F and 55°F (7°C to 13°C). This temperature range helps showcase the wine's aromas and flavours, keeping it fresh and lively. If served too cold, you'll miss many of the floral, fruit, and herbal notes. If it is too warm, the wine might taste flat or dull. Finding this middle ground ensures you'll enjoy all the flavours Roussanne has to offer.
• Glassware: The right glass makes a big difference when enjoying Roussanne. A Burgundy glass works best because its wide bowl gives the wine room to breathe. This is important for Roussanne, which is full-bodied and aromatic. The shape of the glass also makes it easier to swirl and smell the wine, enhancing your overall experience.
• Storage: To keep your Roussanne in good condition, store it in a cool, dark place where the temperature stays steady, ideally between 45°F and 65°F (7°C to 18°C). Avoid places with direct sunlight or strong smells, as these can harm the wine's flavour and cause it to age too quickly.
• Aging Potential: Roussanne wines can improve with age. Most good quality bottles can develop nicely for 5 to 10 years, gaining deeper and more complex flavours over time. Be careful not to age them too long, though, as they might become too sweet or develop less pleasant flavours after the recommended period. Drinking them at the right time ensures you'll enjoy them at their best.

Following these simple guidelines will help you get the most enjoyment from your Roussanne wine.

‍

Similarities and Differences Between Roussanne and Viognier Wines

Roussanne and Viognier are two important white grape varieties from France’s Rhône Valley. While they share some common traits, they also have clear differences in how they taste, feel in the mouth, and grow in the vineyard. Both grapes play important roles in making the Rhône Valley’s distinctive white wines, whether on their own or blended together.

Similarities

• Aromatic Qualities: Both Roussanne and Viognier are very aromatic white wine varieties with floral notes and stone fruit aromas.
• Blending Partners: These grapes are often blended together or with other varieties to create more complex and balanced wines.
• Full-Bodied Nature: Both produce fuller white wines, though each has its own style of richness.
• Rhone Varietals: Viognier is most famous in Condrieu (northern Rhône), while Roussanne is a key grape in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage (southern Rhône).
• Aging Potential: Wines from both grapes can develop nicely with age, especially when part of a well-made blend.

Differences

• Body and Texture: Viognier usually makes wines that feel richer and more lush in the mouth, with accentuated tropical fruit flavours. Roussanne tends to create more elegant, less heavy wines.
• Flavour Profile: Viognier is celebrated for its tropical fruit flavours, while Roussanne usually features more herbal and nutty notes. Viognier offers bold flavours such as lychee, dried apricots, and honeysuckle. In contrast, Roussanne presents subtler tastes of pear, green tea, green apple, and herbs.
• Acidity: Roussanne typically has higher acidity than Viognier, making it taste more refreshing and helping it age better.
• Growing Challenges: Roussanne is harder to grow, as it can get diseases easily and doesn’t always ripen evenly. Viognier is more adaptable but needs careful management to prevent overcropping.
• Regional Importance: Viognier has become the signature grape of Condrieu in the northern Rhône, while Roussanne finds its best expression in the southern Rhône, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

‍

Sustainability and Future Trends for Roussanne Wines

Sustainability has become an important part of making Roussanne wines, offering benefits that go beyond just helping the environment. When winemakers use earth-friendly methods, they can protect nature while still making excellent wines that show off Roussanne’s special qualities. These approaches also help make sure Roussanne vineyards will stay healthy for many years to come. Here are some of the main sustainable practices being used today.

• Organic and Biodynamic Farming: More and more Roussanne producers are choosing organic farming or biodynamic farming, moving away from artificial chemicals and focusing on keeping their soil healthy. These methods let the grape’s natural flavours come through better, often creating wines with more layers and complexity. Biodynamic farming takes this even further by treating the vineyard as a complete ecosystem. This approach typically leads to stronger vines that can better resist diseases, all while being gentler on the environment.
• Water Conservation: Water is a precious resource, especially in places where Roussanne grows well, like the sunny Rhône Valley and parts of California. To address this challenge, many winemakers have started using smart water-saving techniques such as drip irrigation and collecting rainwater. These methods keep the vines healthy while using less water, helping to reduce the environmental impact of making wine.
• Soil Health and Vineyard Management: Healthy soil leads to healthy vines. That’s why many Roussanne producers have started using practices like reduced plowing and planting cover crops. These techniques help prevent soil erosion, improve fertility, and encourage more plant and animal life in the vineyard. By creating a thriving soil environment, winemakers can use fewer fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to more balanced vine growth and better-quality Roussanne grapes.

Science Behind Aromatic White Wines

Aromatic white wines, such as Roussanne, are distinguished by their dominant floral aromas, which are the result of specific aroma compounds found naturally in grapes. These compounds, known as terpenes, are also present in flowers and other plants, contributing to the floral scents in aromatic white wines. Monoterpenes, a subgroup of terpenes, are particularly abundant in aromatic white wines and are responsible for aromas of rose, geranium, and orange flowers. The interplay of terpenes and other aroma compounds in Roussanne wines creates a complex and nuanced bouquet that is both powerful and elegant, making each sip a sensory delight.

‍