Hermitage Wines

With a history that dates back to 600 B.C., Hermitage is both a historic and renowned winemaking region in the Rhone Valley, comprising nearly 137 hectares on a steep hill next to the Rhone River. The region is home to a diverse range of soils, from clay deposits that beautifully complement Marsanne and Roussanne to granite stones that produce possibly the world's greatest Syrah. With legendary estates such as Jaboulet, JL Chave, and M. Chapoutier, Hermitage wines are one of France's most sought-after wines and a beauty for any collector to keep in the cellar. 

Understanding the Hermitage AOC

The Hermitage appellation is a diverse and vast winemaking region, covering roughly 137 hectares on a hill that curves elegantly around the Rhone River's western side. A small chapel, St. Christopher, sits at the top of the hill, becoming an iconic landmark that helped earn Hermitage a national heritage listing on June 5, 2013. While official winemaking records do not begin until the 13th century, researchers have found clues that point to vine cultivation as far back as 600 B.C. 

At this point, the appellation was still known as Ermitage and did not see a name change (Hermitage) until the 17th century. Further, it was not for another 200 years— in 1937— that Hermitage was formally classified as an AOC.