The northern Rhône valley
An exceptional geographical location in the heart of the Rhone vineyards
Situated in one of France's most prestigious wine-growing regions, between Saint-Péray and Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, our estate benefits from a unique terroir. Nestling on the 45th parallel, this region is renowned for its ideal microclimate, perfect for the development of vines. Between the famous cities of Valence and Vienne, jewels of French gastronomy, the Clairmont vineyards lie at the heart of a land of excellence.
Since 1972, Clairmont has been located on the left bank of the Rhône, in the commune of Beaumont-Monteux, in the immediate vicinity of Tain-l'Hermitage and just a few kilometres from Valence, in one of the most renowned wine-growing areas in the Rhône Valley.
Clairmont, in brief
Surface
130ha
90% AOP Crozes-Hermitage
1% AOP Saint-Joseph
9% IGP Collines-Rhodaniennes
Appellations
3
AOP CROZES-HERMITAGE
AOP SAINT-JOSEPH
IGP COLLINES RHODANIENNES
Grape varieties
7
Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon & Pinot noir
On the 45th parallel
The largest appellation in the northern Rhône Valley, Crozes-Hermitage covers 1964 hectares in 11 communes on the left bank of the Rhône.
Closely linked to the history of Hermitage, the hillsides and terraces of Crozes-Hermitage and its neighbours gained their independence in 1937 with their own appellation and clearly identified terroirs.
In 1952, new communes joined the Crozes-Hermitage appellation: Érôme, Serves-sur-Rhône, Gervans, Larnage, Tain-l'Hermitage, Mercurol, Chanos-Curson, Beaumont-Monteux, La Roche-de-Glun and Pont-de-l'Isère.
A diverse terroir for exceptional wines
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"Les Chassis"
This area, made up of Mercurol, Pont-de-l'Isère and La Roche-de-Glun, is characterised by a thick layer of rolled pebbles inherited from different ice ages. These pebbles are sometimes mixed with red clay, creating a draining soil conducive to exceptional wines.
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Chanos-Curson
Characterised by very old terraces, more clayey and colder.
This area benefits from a soil with unique geological qualities, favouring the production of more acidic wines, ideal for blending. -
Beaumont-Monteux
The soil here is sandy-clay, made up of glacial alluvium that drains well.
The presence of stones and the marked depth of the soil give the vines an interesting mineral richness and texture. -
Crozes-Hermitage
The commune of Crozes-Hermitage is renowned for its granite soils, which are ideal for growing vines. The draining soil and mineral composition reinforce the authenticity and typicality of the wines produced in this area.
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Érôme-Gervans
This area, situated at an altitude of 180 metres, is underlain by deep limestone soils composed of fine sandy loam and clay loam.
The limestone enriches the soil with minerals, giving the wines a balanced structure, freshness and a fine minerality.
On the slopes of the Rhône
From the 14th century until the French Revolution, the vineyards belonged to the Carmelite monks of the Order of Mount Carmel.
A statue of the saint stood on the hillside between Tournon and Mauves.
On the right bank of the Rhône, the appellation begins at Guilherand-Granges in the Ardèche and stretches as far as Chavanay in the Loire, covering a total of 26 communes.
In its southern part, it encircles the crus of Saint-Péray and Cornas.
Ruby-red and tender, Saint-Joseph wines are the dandies of the northern Rhône.
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Sarras
Located in the commune of Sarras, in the north of the Ardèche department, on the sunny slopes of the right bank of the Rhône, our vineyard benefits from a unique terroir.
It is on these granite arenas, at an altitude of 340 metres and perfectly exposed to the South/South-East, that the Syrah grape reveals all its complexity and characteristic aromas.
