Southern Rhône
SEPTEMBER 2026
France's Southern Rhône Valley has ten Crus – top quality Rhône wines. The Cru designates the blend for the area, alcohol levels, and quality. The ten Crus include several you may have never heard of: Beaumes-de-Venise (famous for its dessert wine) and Vinsobres. We regularly have other Crus in the shop, but they are generally lesser-known: Cairanne, Laudun, Lirac, Rasteau, and Tavel (known for its crazy, deep, orange-pink rosé... one of which arrived on our shelves last month, a must try). Then you have the three Crus for which the Southern Rhône Valley is known: Vacqueyras, Gigondas, and the crème de la crème, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Top photo: Mont Ventoux as viewed from Rasteau vineyards // Photo above: village of Rasteau
The next level down on the quality pyramid has (on the label) Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages with the name of the village added in. Twenty-two of these designations exist. Several make it to Seattle on the regular: Sablet, Plan de Dieu, Séguret (pictured above), Valréas, but most don't: Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Suze-la-Rousse, Saint-Andéol and more. These wines are not generally as complex as the Crus, but they don't cost as much either, offering great value.
The next level down the pyramid simply states Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages on the label and signifies a middle tier wine that follows specific rules for 95 designated villages in the Southern Rhône. Finally, the base of the pyramid is made up of Côtes-du-Rhône wines, the wonderful, well-priced table wine from this region.
Your 2-bottle club this month features a Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Séguret blanc and a red from Cru Rasteau. If you're a 3-bottle club member, you get a red from Cru Vacqueyras in addition. Absolutely stellar wines. Hope you enjoy them!
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Rasteau
Southern Rhône Cru
Red blends from around the village of Rasteau must be at least 50% Grenache and Syrah; Mourvèdre must make up an additional 20% of the blend. Originally (from 1934-1996) the wines from this area were fortified, but starting in 1996, vintners could sell dry wines under the Côtes-du-Rhônes Villages Rasteau label. In 2002, Rasteau winegrowers asked for their own Cru appellation and in 2010 it was granted. Today, 97% of the appellation's production is unfortified.
Camille Cayran, also called Cave de Cairanne, is a cooperative for the village of Cairanne (also a Cru). Founded in 1929, it currently has 65 growers and includes vineyards in surrounding appellations, including your club wine which is from Rasteau (which shares a border to the southeast of Cairanne).
The vineyards are made up of stone, chalk & clay. The co-op winemakers have the philosophy of low intervention which includes "minimal or no sulphur, concrete tanks and [the] wines spend time on their fine lees for silkiness and protection against oxygen." –co-op notes.
Camille Cayran 2022 Rasteau • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59
Amazing value! 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah. Beautiful herbal, earthy notes, garrigue. Dark raspberries, Maraschino cherries. Super intriguing nose. Flavors of red & black raspberries, wild strawberries, really fun, juicy herbal-earthy notes. Acidity keeps this wine fresh. Medium+ bodied. Blackberries, orange rind on the softly dry finish. Killer!! Jens: This wine is so good! Drink now to 5 years. The co-op suggests pairing with duck (pictured) or lamb.
Séguret
Côtes de Rhône Villages
One of the most stunning villages in the Southern Rhône, Séguret is built into one of the many hillsides in the Vaucluse. The AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret is large (see map above) climbing the hillsides of the Dentelles and extending to the Ouvèze River.
Domaine de l'Amauve is a 11.5 hectare, organic, family-run estate. They make wonderful red wines (we have one on the shelf), but they have a passion for white wines. Christian Voeux (pictured above) took over for his parents when they retired in 2005.
His philosophy includes: respect for the fauna and flora, organic agriculture, living soil with a permanent natural wild weed cover alternating one row every two, no irrigation, small yield, use of wild yeasts, limited use of sulfur in wines, little or no filtration.
Domaine de l'Amauve 2025 Séguret Blanc • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
Organic blend of Grenache Blanc 40%, Clairette 30%, Viognier 15%, Ugni-Blanc 15% from soil of sand, clay, marl, limestone, and stones.
This wine compares to a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, but for a fraction of the price. Aromas of fresh hay, white flowers, wet stones and pear. Surprisingly rich & full-bodied, yet 12.5% alcohol. Flavors of white peach, apple, pear, citrus & wet stones, with a long, fresh, minerally finish. A hidden gem in the Rhône Valley. Drink now to 5 years. Enjoy with roasted chicken, hearty fish stew, salmon & more.
We bought every bottle our Seattle supplier had, so we hope to have this wine on the shelf until Thanksgiving. (Would be perfect with that meal!) We'll see if we make it....
Photo: Vins de Séguret wine festival
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Vacqueyras
Southern Rhône Cru
Producing wines since the 1400's, Vacqueyras – sometimes called the poor man's Châteauneuf – neighbors Gigondas and has been a Cru since 1990. Known for red wines, they tend to be fuller-bodied with a pleasant earthiness, considered lots of wine for your money.
Charles Carichon planted the original 25 hectares of Domaine Brunely estate vines with his father, Rémy. Over the years they grew the estate to 70 hectares including vineyards in Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-du-Rhône, Ventoux and Cairanne. Recently, Charles' son, Edouard, has joined him in the management of the estate (pictured together above).
Domaine Brunely 2023 Vacqueyras ‘Les secrets de la Licorne’ • Southern Rhône, France • Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
Old-vine Grenache 60%, Syrah 40% — 50 to 80 year old vines. Part of the wine (30-50%) is aged in 225 liter French oak barrels for 8-12 months.
Wonderful nose of garrigue (soft sage, lavender, earth) and dark fruit. Body is medium+ and smooth. Flavors add in dark plums, licorice. Wonderful acidity. Fine tannins on the spicy, herbal finish. Sip and enjoy a delicious glass or pair with a steak, lamb chop, morel mushrooms & bacon lardons over pasta (pictured below) & more… so many fall dishes.
A Note from Jens:
Southern Rhône seldom disappoints, and this club is no exception. The wines are friendly and easy to like, and at the same time they still have complexity and nuance. Hope you love them! We think they're crazy-good.
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. We host this tasting so that you can taste and learn about your wines before enjoying them at home.
You'll also be able to taste the Portalis EXPLORES club wines. Our September theme is Two Italian Varietals – one from Italy & one not: Nero d'Avola from Sicily and Sangiovese from Adelaide Hills, Australia!
Great tasting. Hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online sign-up. You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).