imported their own clones. Styles While Northern Rhone wines are often monovarietal, Southern Rhône wines are almost always blends. Rhone Rangers wineries produce both varietal wines and blends depending on their stylistic preferences. Principal styles of red wines are: "Châteauneuf-du-Pape" - (also known as GSM) various proportions of Grenache (for fruit and acidity), Syrah (for dark color, spice, and mineral) and Mourvedre (for tannin and structure), occasionally rounded out with minor amounts of other varieties to give complexity. "Northern Rhone" - Syrah either 100% or blended with small amounts of Viognier. Varietal - Grenache and Mourvedre, rarely found on their own in the Old World, are often produced as varietals by Rhone Rangers winemakers. "Hot weather" - Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan in varying proportions for early drinking. "Australian" - Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon Principal styles of white wines are: Varietal - The white Rhone varieties Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, and increasingly Grenache blanc are produced as monovarietal wines by Rhone Rangers winemakers. "Hermitage Blanc" - Marsanne-Roussanne is the classic Northern Rhone blend for whites. "Châteauneuf-du-Pape" - Blends based on Roussanne and Grenache blanc, often with additions of other white Rhone varieties. Grape varieties The main red varieties used in Rhône Rangers wine are Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Muscardin, Syrah, Piquepoul Noir, Terret noir and Vaccarèse. Durif is a grape from southwest France, widely grown in California as Petite Sirah and is permitted in Rhone Rangers wines. In 2002, after DNA testing by ampelographers showed that Durif was a cross between Peloursin and the popular Rhône grape Syrah, Petite Sirah was officially voted in as a member of the Rhône Ranger varieties. The main white varieties are Bourboulenc, Clairette blanc, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Picardin, Picpoul blanc, Roussanne, Ugni blanc and Viognier. The Rhone Rangers Organization The Rhone Rangers is based in Paso Robles, California and includes winery, grower, associate and consumer members. Its mission statement is "advancing the knowledge and enjoyment of Rhone wines produced in America". It organizes trade and consumer tastings, seminars and dinners around the United States. In recent years these tastings have visited San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington, DC and New York. There are also local chapters in Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, El Dorado and the North Coast. See also Côtes du Rhône Gigondas AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Notes and references External links Official website Wine terminology Wine merchants