Boutinot’s love affair with the Southern Rhône spans thirty years of making wine in the region. In 2010, the relationship was sealed with the purchase of a winery and vineyards above the village of Cairanne. Domaine Boutinot’s seven vineyards are planted with classic southern Rhône grape varieties – old vine Grenache Noir and Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir – and they all sit within the Cairanne Cru boundaries, sanctioned in 2016 when Cairanne was granted its own appellation status.

Working with vigneron neighbours, they are helping to revive traditional grape varieties such as Cinsault and Counoise. In the cellar they prefer time-honoured winemaking methods such as a long cuvasion aided only by natural yeasts, gentle remontage, manual pigeage and patient maturation in a nursery of French oak barrels.

The Rhône Valley, stretching from Lyon to the Mediterranean, is one of France’s most diverse and historic wine regions. Divided into the Northern and Southern Rhône, it offers a wide range of climates, soils, and wine styles.

The Northern Rhône has a continental climate with steep, terraced vineyards on granite and schist soils. This area is renowned for Syrah, the only permitted red grape, producing deeply coloured, age-worthy wines with flavours of blackberry, black pepper, olives, and smoke. Notable appellations include Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Cornas. Whites here, made from Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne, are rich, floral, and full-bodied. The best example is Condrieu.

The Southern Rhône enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and a variety of soils, including limestone, sand, and the famous galets roulés (rounded stones). Blends dominate here, with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre forming the backbone of reds that are generous, spicy, and fruit-forward. Côtes du Rhône is the largest AOC, known for easy-drinking, fruity styles. Flagship appellations include Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Vacqueyras, producing rich and powerful wines.

Grenache Blanc is the white-skinned variant of the red Grenache (Garnacha) grape and is believed to have originated in northeastern Spain. Today, it is widely planted in southern France, particularly in the Languedoc and southern Rhône Valley, and is also grown in Spain (as Garnacha Blanca), South Africa, California, and increasingly in Australia.

This variety thrives in warm, dry climates and is often used in blends, particularly in white Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône wines, where it adds body, texture, and freshness. It is frequently blended with Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier, but varietal expressions are also growing in popularity.

Grenache Blanc typically produces medium- to full-bodied wines with moderate acidity and a generous texture. Aromas often include green apple, pear, citrus peel, and stone fruits, along with herbal or floral notes such as fennel, white flowers, and occasionally a hint of saline minerality. With age or oak influence, it can develop richer, honeyed and nutty characteristics.

Viticulturally, Grenache Blanc is drought-tolerant and productive, making it well-suited to hot, arid environments. However, it can be prone to oxidation if not handled carefully in the cellar. Maintaining freshness and balance is key, especially in warmer climates where acidity may drop quickly as ripeness advances.

Roussanne is a high-quality white grape variety native to France’s Rhône Valley, where it is a key component of both northern and southern Rhône white blends. It is most famously found in appellations such as Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, often blended with Marsanne or Grenache Blanc to create wines of depth and elegance. Outside France, Roussanne is also planted in California, Washington State, Australia, and parts of Italy.

Roussanne is prized for its distinctive aromatic profile and its ability to produce complex, age-worthy wines. It typically offers aromas of pear, peach, and honey, complemented by floral notes such as acacia and herbal hints like chamomile or fennel. As it ages, it develops nutty, toasty, and lanolin-like characteristics, gaining richness and complexity. On the palate, it is often medium- to full-bodied, with a silky texture and balanced acidity.

Viticulturally, Roussanne is notoriously challenging to grow. It is late-ripening, susceptible to mildew and rot, and sensitive to wind and drought. Its low yields and tendency to oxidise require careful vineyard and cellar management. Despite these challenges, Roussanne’s elegance and distinctive character make it one of the Rhône’s most prestigious and sought-after white grape varieties.