Rhone Rangers Uncorked: The Wines That Rewrote America’s Red Blend Playbook

Just as Bordeaux shaped the New World’s ideas and practices for Bordeaux-style red blends, the Rhône Valley gave us the blueprint for Rhône-style red blends. And the New World’s foremost producers of these wines are California’s Rhône Rangers.

Rhône-style red blends are wines made from grape varieties traditionally planted in the Rhône Valley. Along with Bordeaux blends, they represent some of the most famous blended wines in the world. (As with Bordeaux, Rhône grapes don’t have to be blended, but often are, because the region’s varieties offer beautifully complementary traits. A grape with weight but lower acidity can be balanced by one with freshness and lift, creating wines of greater harmony and complexity.)

While many New World regions produce Rhône-style blends, the movement’s beating heart lies with a group of primarily California winemakers known as the Rhône Rangers. Conceived in the 1980s and gaining renewed momentum in the 1990s, the Rhône Rangers helped ignite America’s enduring love affair with Grenache- and Syrah-based red blends.

Thanks to the wide range of Rhône varieties planted in California — and a climate that suits them exceptionally well — the wines produced by the Rhône Rangers are nothing short of sensational. Which means our tasting of Rhône Ranger red blends promises to be as delicious as it is mesmerizing.

If you enjoy California red wines, from Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel, or classics of the Rhône Valley, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Côte Rôtie, this is a tasting you won’t want to miss.

Wines to be tasted: TBA

All prices listed reflect regular retail. Significant discounts will be offered on all wines tasted.
Due to the highly allocated nature of some selections, wines may change without notice.

Charcuterie boards are now available in Delafield.