What wines to serve at Easter Brunch? Let’s step out of the classics and explore a French Wine Region not known for its whites or rosés. What do you think when I say Rhône Valley? A Big Bold single-varietal Syrah expression from the North? Or a medium-body Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre blends from the Southern Rhône? Undeniably this last one is one of my all-time favorites. Although the region is well known for its red wines, it also makes a wide variety of excellent white and rosé wines that should receive the same attention from wine lovers. Hence, Easter this year, I want to show you a lighter side of France’s Rhône Valley Vineyards and how they are exceptional for outdoor Brunch Season.
What wines to serve at Easter Brunch?
Rhône Valley Vineyards’ white and rosé wines are great options to serve at Easter Brunch or any Brunch. Let’s explore 3 wines to Serve at Easter Brunch from different regions in the Rhône Valley.
M. CHAPOUTIER “La Ciboise” Luberon 2021 (SRP $20)
I have admired this producer for the longest. I have often had M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône paired with different dishes and cuisines. Hence, I was excited to give a try to the white wines of M. Chapoutier a since he is a reference in the Rhône Valley.
A personal connection with the producer drives the name of this bottle. The château of Michel Chapoutier’s grandparents, who used to live in the Tain l’Hermitage, had an Estate named “La Ciboise.” This wine blends Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Ugni Blanc, and Roussanne from sustainable vineyards. La Ciboise has aromas of white blossom, lemon, and exotic fruit. The round texture and crisp flavors are wonderfully balanced, and the finish is lengthy.
Paul Jaboulet Ainé CONDRIEU Les Cassines 2020 (SRP $49)
A gem for lovers of medium-body whites! Since this wine is matured on fine lees for eight months in French oak barrels, stainless steel tanks, and cement eggs after being partially vinified there, the bouquet is complex and unique.
Paul Jaboulet Ainé is a Northern Rhône Condrieu 100% Viognier with fruit-forward aromas of stone fruit, chalk, and citrus. The palate is round, with aromas also present in the palate, elegant stone fruits such as apricots and pears, and secondary notes of minerals and rocks with an elegant aftertaste of citrus lingering.
Château Pesquié AOC Ventoux Terrasses Rosé 2022 (SRP $17)
This Rosé from the Rhône Valley is a GCM because of the grape blend. Pesquie Terraces Rosé, a staple in the lineup, highlights the superb aromatics and funkiness of Cinsault, which is balanced by the fruitiness of Grenache and the acidity of Syrah. While the delicate, sweet-tart, red fruit flavor is always present in plenty, the healthy dose of Cinsault gives this summer beverage an appealing and savory edge.
What should I pair these wines with?
Pair this with typical Brunch Fare, Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, or Huevos a la Mexicana. You can also can combine these wines with anything from desserts like crème brûlée or lemon meringue tart to vegetarian mushroom-based plates such as risotto or lighter meat and seafood entrees. It is easy to enjoy Rhône Valley Vineyards’ white and rosé wines can during Easter brunch or any brunch.
What is unique about the White Wines of the Rhône Valley Vineyards?
Growers in the Rhône Valley Vineyards use many different white grape varietals to make stunning white wine blends and single-varietal bottlings. For instance, some of these varieties are Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. In addition, these wines also use Muscat, Picpoul, Ugni Blanc, Maccabeo, and Vermentino, which are all grown in the Rhône Valley.
Therefore, the white wines of the Rhône Valley Vineyards made with these grapes grown in the distinctive as their terroir have unique conditions to develop a wide array of flavors. Each appellation has the benefits of remarkable terrain, soil types, and climate, which produce wines that claim their unique characteristics. In the North, steep slopes and soils of granite, mica, schist, clay, and limestone coexist with a continental climate characterized by scorching summers and frigid winters with consistent year-round precipitation. Extensive plains, rocky, limestone, and sandy soils represent the region’s southernmost portion with a Mediterranean climate.
