Located in Southeast France, the Southern Rhône gets its name from the Rhône River that flows from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. Vineyards are on both banks of the river, and benefit from long, warm summers and moderate winters. Home of the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, wine has been made in the region since the time of the Romans.

One of the most famous wine producers in the Southern Rhône is Famille Perrin, considered by some as the “First Family of the Rhône Valley.”

In Orange, Vaucluse, France, Famille Perrin have been owners of a Rhône winery, Château de Beaucastel, since 1909. This is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation where 13 known grapes are grown: Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Vaccarese, Counoise, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc and Roussance.

The sandstone terroir hails from the Miocene period, and the vineyards are surrounded by galets (rounded stones) torn from the rocks of the Alps and deposited here. These stones serve a purpose in retaining the daytime heat to emit during the cool evenings, and the mistral (wind) of the region dries the vines.

My 3 Famille Perrin recommendations:

2017 La Gille Gigondas

Made from the black grapes known as Grenache and Syrah, harvested from vines in the appellation of Gigondas, where cool winds and shade from the Dentelles de Monmirail contribute to the grape’s character and, ultimately, the wine’s finesse and aromas of cherries, blackberries mixed with spice, violet and dark chocolate. On the palate: bright red berries and licorice with a pinch of white pepper.

This vintage has been documented as having the driest growth conditions in 30 years, yet an optimal harvest condition, producing a small yield with big character for its Grenache grapes.

Recommended food pairings: risotto, duck, quail, lamb, pasta dishes and all cheeses.

2017 Les Cornuds Vinsobres

The terroir of Vinsobres, a beautiful village north of Châteauneuf du Pape, is the perfect location to grow tiny Syrah grapes. For this wine, the grapes were harvested exclusively from older vines, from the highest plots of the estates, averaging around 1,000 feet above sea level and handpicked. This is an early drinking wine that presents black fruit flavors, black pepper and herbal, complex tertiary flavors in the bottle.

Recommended food pairings: red meat, game, pasta dishes w/Mediterranean flavors, and all cheeses.

2017 Les Sinards Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Les Sinards Rouge is made from grapes grown on the young vines at Chateau de Beaucastel, and a neighboring vineyard farmed by Famille Perrin. It’s a classic grenache -- ripe, full-bodied with a high alcohol level. If left in the cellar, it would most likely develop complex flavors of dried fruit and caramel. There is also a bit of Syrah and the rustic Mourvèdre.

Recommended food pairings: beef, veal, venison, duck, squab, capon and hard cheeses.

Fun Fact: Today, the fifth and sixth generations of Famille Perrin work in all aspects of the family business. Fifth generation family member Marc Perrin currently serves as CEO as well as the newest president of Premum Familiae Vini, a curated group of 12 family-run wineries from around the world.

Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, California is a U.S. sister property to Famille Perrin. It took over a decade of waiting for permission to plant the rootstock legally. The Tablas Creek wines are very similar to the wines listed above.

Charlene Peters is a travel writer passionate about exploring wine destinations around the world. She can be reached by email: SipTripper.com