Wine Variety:
Viognier - Stories of Viognier coming from Croatia have been found to be incorrect and Viognier is now thought to be a northern Rhône Valley variety, most likely coming from around Condrieu and Ampuis, a region which is still its centre of production for fine wine. Analysis of Viognier has shown it to be related to both Syrah and Nebbiolo. Viognier has to be carefully cultivated and vinified to rein in its propensity for heaviness; it is naturally a highly aromatic variety giving rich, exotic fruit.
Grenache Blanc - There are two contenders for point of origin of the Grenache grape, both having seemingly equal claim. Sardinia has been growing this grape under the local name Cannonau for centuries, but whether longer than Garnacha has been cultivated in Spain is unknown. Grenache, like Pinot Noir, is prone to mutation and known "sports" include this, the white version, a pink-skinned version and a plant with hairy undersides to its leaves. Genetically these are all identical, something acknowledged in the laws of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where Grenache Blanc is not considered a separate variety. Thus it could be said that rather than 13 permitted varieties in this appellation, there are actually 14 (15 if one includes Clairette Rose).

Wine Region: We are near Nimes here in the Languedoc: a part of the southern Rhône Valley. This is a truly Mediterranean region of long, warm summers and mild winters and here vineyards are planted on soil made of “gress”, pebbles rolled by the various floods of the Rhone in the Quaternary era.

Wine Producer: Château de Campuget lies in the Costières de Nimes, an appellation influenced by - and now considered part of - the Rhône Valley. The Dalle family came here from the north of France during the war.