If you haven’t already, it’s time to get to know the Southern Rhône’s most underrated appellation.
It’s a well-known strategy for finding value: Look to wine regions that neighbor more prestigious, more expensive ones. Lirac is a poster child for this approach. Located just across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it shares the same grape varieties, strong mistral wind and soil types—including the famously recognizable large stones, galets roulés, that blanket many vineyards. And top names in Châteauneuf are now investing in Lirac, because it can yield wines with freshness in this warming climate.
Learn more about this previously overlooked appellation in senior editor Kristen Bieler’s Dec. 31 issue column!
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