Wines made from Marsanne grapes of Arizona
Discover the best wines made with Marsanne as a single variety or as a blend of Arizona.
Marsanne is a white grape variety that originated in Montélimar in the Drôme, several centuries ago. Marsanne is also found in Cassis, Savoie, Languedoc-Roussillon and Saint-Péray in the Ardèche, where it produces remarkable sparkling wines. The warm, sunny climate of the Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, as well as the dry, stony soil, are ideal conditions for its development. Its bunches are quite large and provide small, juicy berries that are sensitive to grey rot and strong winds. These two grape varieties complement each other perfectly: together they give light wines with little acidity, aromas of yellow fruit, white fruit and flowers with notes of honey and liquorice. This is for example what the appellations Saint-Péray, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Côtes-du-Vallée du Rhône, Corbières, or Cassis express... which represent about 700 hectares.
Arizona is located in the extreme Southwestern corner of the United States of America, bordered by Mexico to the south and southern California to the west. It covers 300,000 km² (114,000 square miles) between latitudes 31°N and 36°N. The main varieties used to make Arizona wines are Syrah, Viognier, Muscat and, of course, the ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. They do best in cooler regions, especially in the southwest.