Clairette

Clairette is a late-ripening white grape rooted in Provence and the wider Mediterranean south of France. Its range is broader than its name might suggest: regional sources document still and sparkling wines, dry and sweet styles, single-varietal bottlings and blends. Picking maturity matters. Plantgrape describes wines that can be relatively low in acidity and fairly alcoholic, while Inter Rhône highlights a versatile aromatic profile from apple and fennel to apricot, peach and lime blossom. Clairette de Bellegarde offers a particularly clear regional expression, but “Clairette” can also be a confusing local name for other grapes, so the appellation and cultivar identity matter.

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Roussanne

Roussanne is a white grape of the Northern Rhône, often paired with Marsanne but capable of a more individual voice. Its name reflects the russet-gold colour of ripe berries. Plantgrape describes powerful yet fine wines with floral and fruit notes of honey, hawthorn and apricot, while Inter Rhône notes honeysuckle and iris that can evolve toward dried fruit and honey. The variety asks for attentive vineyard work: long shoots need careful trellising, and mildew and grey rot are notable risks. In the right site and vintage, its structure can support wines with ageing potential.

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Grenache Blanc

Grenache Blanc is the pale-skinned mutation in the Grenache family, with Spanish roots and distinct regional identities under the names Garnacha Blanca and Garnatxa blanca. In Terra Alta it has become a defining white variety, while in the Southern Rhône it is one of the central blending grapes. The styles differ accordingly: Plantgrape describes broad, full-bodied dry whites that can lack acidity, while Inter Rhône emphasizes the volume and roundness it brings to blends. Its drought adaptation and wind resistance are useful vineyard traits, but disease sensitivity and magnesium deficiency remain practical considerations.

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