Hermitage
Covering 318 acres, Hermitage Hill lies on the eastern bank of the Rhône River. The town of Tain L’Hermitage, with its southward facing slopes boasts the finest terrain of the entire Rhône Valley.
The Knight Gaspard de Stérimberg was originally given permission by the Queen of France to build a small refuge to recover in after he returned home wounded in 1224 from the Albigensian Crusade. He remained living there as a hermit, hence the regions name Hermitage.
Composed of granite and gravels soils, the region produces extraordinarily fine Syrah grapes. Marsanne and Roussanne grape varieties are used to make Hermitage Blanc fine wines.
La Chapelle of the Paul Jaboulet Ainé winery is the legendary and most famous premium Hermitage. Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, M. Chapoutier, Delas Frères, Domaine Marc Sorrel and Domaine Bernard Faurie are also outstanding producers, each producing one red hermitage, a white fine wine, and one premium version.
