Wine of the Week: Roussanne

by Kristine Hansen, Posted Feb 2nd 2010 @ 4:00PM

Roussanne is a fairly modern grape – to the United States at least. It wasn't until the 1990s that central coast producers in California jumped on the bandwagon and began growing Roussanne, a rich and luscious white grape tracing back to the Rhône region of France. Today, 80 percent of France's Roussanne is grown in Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon and Vaucluse.

The grape's first introduction to America, during the 1870s in Northern California, failed miserably and those vines were all pulled out by 1927. Undeterred, several producers along the Central Coast took new cuttings and planted them in more Southern soil. The results have been phenomenal.

A glass of Roussanne has wonderful floral, herbal and honey notes, much of them clothed in spices. It's a great white wine for the winter months, as its full body and intense flavor can stack up nicely against heavier comfort foods. Here are two California Roussannes that we highly recommend. You can pair either of these – or any Roussanne – with rich cheeses, lobster, grilled fish, mildly spicy foods or creamy sauces, and just about any dish containing rosemary.

2006 Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards Roussanne Santa Ynez Valley ($25)
Honey and apricot are on the nose, and there are wonderful notes of spiced pears and figs, ending with a mineral finish. Zaca Mesa's vineyard was first planted in 1973, focused on common varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay, but it wasn't until the 1990s that the winery added Rhône varietals to the fold.

2007 Tablas Creek Vineyard Roussanne Paso Robles ($23)
About ten percent of California's Roussanne is planted at Tablas Creek, which specializes in growing traditional Rhône grape varietals. The winery's Roussanne debuted in 2002. Like the Zaca Mesa, there's no oak in this wine, just fruit and minerals. Honey is on the nose and bright fig notes emerge mid-palate, culminating in a sleek mineral finish. This is a very nicely balanced wine.

Filed Under: Drinks
Tags: roussanne, tablas creek vineyard, white wine, zaca mesa winery