Roussanne – A White Wine with Complexity to Attract Red Wine Drinkers

Roussanne is a small white grape that grows in compact bunches and produces rich white wines. When ripe, the grape is reddish-gold in color. The name is derived from the French word roux, meaning “russet” or reddish-brown.

The grape is thought to have originated in the Northern Rhône River Valley area of France in the early 1900s. It is now most commonly found in this region in the appellations of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Saint-Péray. Roussanne is famous for being an important variety in Northern Rhône blends. In the well-known Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, Roussanne is one of six white wine grapes allowed to be grown and is often a dominant percentage of these blends.

There are also plantings in Languedoc-Roussillon, which is southwest of the Rhône Valley. And outside of France, some notable acreage exists in Italy, Israel, Australia, South Africa, California’s Central Coast, Washington, and Texas.

Around the world, the grape is most commonly blended with Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier. It is a varietal that makes for a perfect blending grape because it can be manipulated to achieve different flavors with different winemaking techniques.

The Roussanne vine ripens late and prefers a long, hot growing season. Aging the wine in barrels can produce a full-bodied, rich, oaky white. In blends, the grape adds aromatics, a heavier texture in the mouth, and acidity that allows for longer bottle aging. In Texas, the grape has been used in blends for years and has become more common as a single-varietal wine in the past four years.

Known for aromas similar to herbal tea, Roussanne is considered an elegant wine with flavors of pear, stone fruit, and honeycomb. Expect intensity on the palate and even an oily texture. In most cases, the finished wine is medium in acidity, medium to full-bodied, and dry with no residual sugar. The style can be buttery like an oaked California Chardonnay or more fruit-forward and floral. The styles are so varied, if you try a bottle and don’t like it, try another!

Because of the full-bodied texture of Roussanne, these wines pair best with heavier textured foods like lobster, crab, foie gras, and pâté. It’s also excellent with foods that enhance the fruit notes, so consider a roasted pork tenderloin topped with pear or apricot.

For an ideal French example, look for Yves Cuilleron 2018 “Les Vignes d’a Cote” Roussanne from the Rhône Valley. In Texas:

• Serrano Wine near Johnson City offers a 2021 from Farmhouse Vineyards, fermented and aged in French oak barrels with full body and rich flavors.
• Haak Vineyards & Winery in the Houston area has a 2022 vintage from the Texas High Plains with apricot and lemon zest on the palate.
• Whisper Path Cellars in San Antonio sells a 2021 from Crooked Post Vineyard in the Texas High Plains, which has won a Gold Medal from the 2022-2023 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition.

If you like a rich, flavorful white wine that has enough complexity to entice a red wine drinker, don’t overlook Roussanne. It may be a grape you don’t know, but you should!