Hermitage

Is there a more immediately recognisable hill in the wine world?

A visit to the Northern Rhône is never complete without a trip to the Hermitage Hill. It has become an important rite of passage for so many Rhone wine lovers. Grab a bottle & a baguette and trek to the summit for a truly inspiring view of some of the most beautiful vineyard landscape in the world.

The hard yakka is worth every step - it is so quiet at the top, with the sun beating down you can take a seat by the iconic La Chapelle and feel centuries of winemaking tradition flow through the landscape, with the mighty Rhône river and the town of Tain l'Hermitage in the distance to complete the picture.

'The hill', as it is known amongst Rhône lovers, is a huge chunk of south facing granitic soil that is covered in some 140 hectares of vineyards. Two estates alone account for nearly 55 of those, and a hugely successful cooperative takes up much more, so it is easy to understand the scarcity of land, scarcity of wine and just why there are so few new producers coming through.

Decent parcels coming up for sale are as rare as hen's teeth. In great years, the most noble and upright expressions of Syrah, long lived and densely packed. For the dedicated Rhône fan, the wines of Hermitage are a relative bargain in the context of the fine wine world.