What does Hermitage mean in wine?

What does Hermitage mean in wine?

Hermitage is not a grape, but rather an appellation, or wine region, in the Northern Rhône Valley of France. Red Hermitage wines are made from Syrah (not Pinot Noir), and the whites from Marsanne and Roussanne grapes. Usually, someone referring to Hermitage is talking about a wine made in that region, or about Syrah.

What is the legend of Hermitage?

According to legend, the chapel was built by a knight, Gaspard de Stérimberg, after he was wounded in a battle during the 13th century Crusades. He became a hermit, the story goes — hence the vineyard’s name.

Why is Hermitage expensive?

Hermitage is a small appellation with 140 hectares (345 acres) of vineyards, responsible for France’s most enduringly prestigious wines. These wines are expensive because of the labor-intensive processes required to create them, but they are also rich, full flavored and very long-lived. …

Is Hermitage a Burgundy?

#3 Hermitage was used for more than 100 years as part of the blend of Bordeaux and Burgundy to give body, tannin and color to the wines. #4 Hermitage wine can be the longest lived wine in the entire Rhone Valley. #5 Hermitage was originally known as Ermitage.

Is Hermitage a grape?

Pinotage /ˈpɪnətɑːʒ/ PIN-ə-tahzh is a red wine grape that is South Africa’s signature variety. It was cultivated there in 1925 as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut (Cinsaut was known as “Hermitage” in South Africa at that time, hence the name).

What type of wine is Crozes-Hermitage?

As with the northern Rhône in general, Crozes-Hermitage produces primarily red wines, with Syrah the only red grape permitted under appellation rules. The rules allow the addition of up to 15% of the white grapes Marsanne and Roussanne. Those two varieties are also used in the white wines in the appellation.

What does Hermitage wine taste like?

You’ll still find plenty of black fruit flavors, pepper, and some earthiness in the wine, but these will be overpowered by tannin. After about ten years, these wines become more refined and complex, developing notes of mushroom, smoke, black cherry, and most importantly, that signature Hermitage spice.

Is Pinotage red or white?