Hermitage Hill and Wines Of The Rhone
The hill of Hermitage is something to be seen. It sits behind the town of Tain l’Hermitage in France’s northern Rhône region. At only 335 acres, what this small appellation lacks for in size, it more than makes up for in reputation and prestige. This is the birthplace of Syrah, and without question one of the world’s most important, impressive, and imposing winemaking terroirs.
Only a handful of winemakers call Hermitage home and tonight you will visit one of its elite producers. Founded in 1835 Frères Delas has been making award winning wines since its first gold medal in Sydney in 1879, They produce an impressive range of reds and whites over several appellations, including Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Côte Rôtie and Condrieu.
From the dock in Le Pouzin, you will be met again by our superstar sommelier Kelly. He will escort you to the Freres Delas winery approximately 30 minutes away. Along the way he will educate you on Northern RhÔne wines and the unique Hermitage Hill. Your destination is the brand new Delas winery, opening its doors for the first time exclusively for Ridge Vineyards guests. in 2016, Delas hired the highly respected architect, Carl Fredrik Svenstedt to design the most modern facility in the Rhône Valley. Nestled in the heart of the village of Tain, its maturing cellar takes the form of a giant winding garden wall built from limestone. you will tour this very special place before enjoying a selection of their award-winning wines, including their flagship Les Bessards, perhaps the most famous vineyard in Hermitage, along with their wines from other appellations such as Côte Rôtie and Condrieu.
Following the tasting, you will walk to the nearby restaurant, a local favorite called Les Mangevins, known as the "winemaker's and wine lover's imperative dining experience", for a wine-paired dinner hosted by Kelly who will introduce you to several of his favorite Rhône wines. After dinner you will rejoin the ship in Tain.