The Rhone Rangers Grapes

The Rhone Rangers dedicate themselves to the grapes whose ancestral home is in France's Rhône Valley.  The French government recognizes 22 varieties in the various appellations that comprise this large and diverse wine-growing region.  Rhône Appellations (including Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Condrieu, Châteuneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Bandol, Côtes du Rhône and several others) each choose a different subset from the collection of grapes known (from their place of origin) as Rhône varietals.  For a wine to be considered a “Rhone Ranger” wine, and poured at an official Rhone Rangers tasting, the 22 recognized accepted varieties must comprise at least 75% of the blend.