Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller took place from October 13 - October 23. The tour started in Lyon and ended in Châteauneuf-du-Pap/ Avignon. There were 8 of us including Annette and me.
At the Foot of the Hermitage Hill and Tasting at Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with a View of the Hermitage Hill at Brasserie Route N7 in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Quick Stop at Valrhona, the Famous Chocolate Producer, in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet,
Croze-Hermitage, with Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet - Rhône Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai in Tain L’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Caveau Ferraton Père & Fils in Tain
L’Heremitage, with Jerome Nuss - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône, with Thibaut Jager - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Next to Maison Guigal: Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour at Maison Guigal and Guigal Tasting at Château d’Ampuis, with Kim Conley - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Focus
on "Natural Wine": Meeting Alice Feiring at Le Moderne Wine Bar of
Romane Vallon in Toulon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting in the Cellar at Cave Sébastien Blachon in Saint-Jean de Muzols, Northern Rhône, with Sébastien Blachon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting from Barrel and from Bottle at Domaine
Alain Graillot in Pont-de-l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Maxime Graillot - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
High-end Wine Pairing Lunch at La Grand Table Maison Chabran, with Chef Louis Chabran and Legend Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Paul Jaboulet Aîné is the smallest of the big négociants businesses of the Rhône region. Jaboulet is a great old name and one of the historic estates in the Rhône.
Exactly 100 years before the AOP system was established, in 1834 Antoine Jaboulet began to transform a sleepy region into one of the most important wine regions of the world and Jaboulet has since become a benchmark in the Northern Rhône. The iconic vineyard site “La Chapelle”, visible from afar because of the chapel in the middle of the vineyard high on the Hermitage hill, belongs to Jaboulet.
grapes from to convert to organic or sustainable vineyard management. Jaboulet wines belong once again to the best of the Rhône Valley wines.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné has been a part of the Rhône Valley wine industry for almost two centuries, beginning with a small plot of land on the hills of Hermitage, before expanding throughout the region. Today, it encompasses more than 100 hectares (250 acres) of vineyards, making wines from the northern and southern Rhône, spanning Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Condrieu and Cornas.
In 1834, Antonie Jaboulet began working the hills of Hermitage, growing and cultivating the vines that would lay the framework for future generations. On his death, the estate was passed to his sons Henri and Paul – the latter eventually giving his name to wines and the company.
The estate was passed through the Jaboulet family until its acquisition by Franco-Swiss real-estate millionaire Jean-Jacques Frey and family in 2006. Winemaking at Jaboulet is overseen by Frey's daughter, Caroline, who also manages winemaking at Frey's other estates (Bordeaux's Château La Lagune and Château Corton-C in Aloxe-Corton) as well has her own project (Mon Jardin Secret) in the Valais.
Hermitage La Chapelle
Hermitage La Chapelle has long been the flagship wine, but with the 2021 vintage Domaine de la Chapelle has been created as a distinct estate, with a new winery in construction. The Chevalier de Sterimbourg white Hermitage will accompany La Chapelle rouge in this new arrangement.
Other wines
On top of this, Paul Jaboulet makes a wide range of wines made in the northern Rhône based on Syrah for reds, and Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier for the whites. This is complemented by several wines from the southern Rhône, including the Parallel 45 Côtes du Rhône.
Caroline Frey/ wine-searcher
... Frey manages three significant French wine estates that have been acquired by her family; as well as Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, there is Domaines Paul Jaboulet in the Rhône and Château Corton C (formerly Corton Andre) in Burgundy – controlling every aspect of viticulture and winemaking. She also owns a vineyard in Fully, in Switzerland.
Caroline's father Jean-Jaques Frey, a billionaire Swiss property developer, owned a number of Champagne houses, including Ayala in the 1980s and '90s. She says growing up in the family vineyards of Champagne was what kindled her ambition to become a winemaker, the Freys continue to maintain interests in Champagne, owning a 45 percent stake in Billecart-Salmon.
During her study of enology at Bordeaux University, Caroline's father purchased Château La Lagune, a Third Growth estate in the southern Médoc's Ludon. It was only natural that Caroline eventually would take the helm of this estate and then their other holdings.
All
the estates have seen significant investments to improve wine quality.
New cellars have been built and viticultural practices overhauled,
gaining organic certification and using biodynamic practices. These
improvements can be clearly seen via Wine-Searcher's aggregated critics
scores. For example, Château La Lagune;
prior to its purchase in 2000, its wines had only attained scores above
90 in exceptional years such as 1990. In the years since 2013, its
aggregated scores have not dropped below 90. Even more spectacularly the
aggregated scores of Jaboulet's Hermitage La Chapelle
have moved from scores in the low 90s, prior to the Frey's purchase in
2005, to regularly achieving scores in the mid 90s. Given the extent of
these transformations, I have been surprised not to have heard more
about Caroline Frey.
Arriving in Lyon: Saucisson Sec, Saint-Marcellin Cheese and a Bottle of Rhône Rouge at Le Broc'Bar for Dinner - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Sunday Morning Stroll on the St. Antoine Market on the Banks of the Soane River Market in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Meet&Greet (+ Introduction to the Rhône Valley Region) at Grand Hôtel des Terreaux in Lyon and Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
"Menu Tradition" at Grand Café des Négociants - Created in 1864 - in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
At the Foot of the Hermitage Hill and Tasting at Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with a View of the Hermitage Hill at Brasserie Route N7 in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Quick Stop at Valrhona, the Famous Chocolate Producer, in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet,
Croze-Hermitage, with Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet - Rhône Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai in Tain L’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Caveau Ferraton Père & Fils in Tain
L’Heremitage, with Jerome Nuss - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône, with Thibaut Jager - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Next to Maison Guigal: Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour at Maison Guigal and Guigal Tasting at Château d’Ampuis, with Kim Conley - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Focus
on "Natural Wine": Meeting Alice Feiring at Le Moderne Wine Bar of
Romane Vallon in Toulon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting in the Cellar at Cave Sébastien Blachon in Saint-Jean de Muzols, Northern Rhône, with Sébastien Blachon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting from Barrel and from Bottle at Domaine
Alain Graillot in Pont-de-l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Maxime Graillot - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
High-end Wine Pairing Lunch at La Grand Table Maison Chabran, with Chef Louis Chabran and Legend Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy
WineTours
High-end Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Alary in Cairanne, Southern Rhône, with Jean Etienne Alary and Senior Boss Denis Alary - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône, with Valérie Chaume-Arnaud and Virginia Fréguin - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Le Mesclun in Séguret, with Artist Chef Christophe Bonzi - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
and Cellar Tour at Domaine Saint Gayan in Gigondas, Southern Rhône,
with Owner/ Winemaker Christian-Yves Carré de Lusançay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at Restaurant Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers in Sablet, Southern Rhône, with Jean Claude, Philippe and Perrin Lambert - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting in the Front-yard at Domaine La Ligière in Beaumes-de-Venise - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course
Lunch at Restaurant Auberge Saint Roch in Beaumes-de-Venise, with the
Husband and Wife Team Johann and Isabelle from Corsica - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
in the Cellar at Domaine La Martinelle in Lafare, Ventoux, with Owner/
Winemaker Corinne Faravel - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Charcuterie and Cheese Dinner with Rosé Wines at Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivié, Les Baux de Provence - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Olive
Trees Tour, Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Mas de
Gourgonnier in Mouriès, Alpilles, with Owner/ Winemaker Eve Cartier - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Lunch at Le Mas Teulière in Maussane-les-Alpilles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Van Gogh and the Romans: Sightseeing in Arles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with a View at Restaurant Les Terrasses at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Avignon - Town of the Popes: Guided Tour of the Palace of the Popes and of Pont Saint-Bénézet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Light Dinner in Avignon at the Palace of the Popes - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pègau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger (from Austria) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard
Tour, Cellar Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Vignobles Alain Jaume,
Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Hélène Jaume and Chef Axel Thomas - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Berthet-Rayne in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laure Berthet-Rayne (Laure Capeau) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Light Dinner in the old part of Avignon near "Les Halles", the Central Food Market - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Bottleing and Tasting at Château de Ségriès in Lirac, with Owner/ Winemaker Henri de Lanzac - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting
Château de Beaucastel Wines at Boutique Famille Perrin in the Village
of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at La Mule du Pape in the Center of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Gigognan in Sorgues,
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Head Winemaker Jenna Le Lay - Rhône Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Michelin-star
level Wine-pairing Dinner at Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours