Roussanne

Roussanne comes from the northern Rhône in France. VIVC records France as its country of origin, and Jancis Robinson describes it as a "Red-berried ('russet') North Rhône variety". Its parentage is unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded. The passport does flag offspring, but WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data links no children or siblings for Roussanne.

• VIVC prime name: Roussanne; VIVC variety number 10258; country of origin: France
• Place of origin: northern Rhône, France
• Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
• Offspring: flagged in the VIVC passport; none linked in WineWiki's lineage data

Roussanne is a traditional grape variety of the northern crus of the Rhône Valley, where it is often associated with Marsanne. Its name comes either from the French 'rousse', the feminine form of 'redhead', or from the French for freckles, a reference to the speckled, russet-gold colouring the grapes develop as they ripen. It yields irregularly and is less popular with growers than Marsanne, but improved clones are available.

• Originates in the northern Rhône Valley, where it is a traditional variety of the northern crus
• Name linked to 'rousse' (redhead) or to the French for freckles, after the russet-gold colouring of the ripening grapes
• Yields irregularly and is less popular with growers than Marsanne
• Improved clones are available

Roussanne is a white variety with a weighty profile and palate richness, and moderate acidity at best. Its wines show floral scents of honeysuckle and iris, evolving towards dried fruit and honey. In cool Savoie, where the grape is known as Bergeron, Chignin-Bergeron gives the lightest style of Roussanne: reliably fresh, even if the acidity is only moderate. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the variety develops a more opulent texture, often with riper flavours ranging from Williams pear to quince and pineapple.

Roussanne is grown throughout the Rhône Valley. It is a traditional variety of the northern crus and is also grown in the south of the region, where plantings now far outweigh those in the north. In the northern Rhône it is often blended with Marsanne and can contribute to all the white wines south of Condrieu: Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Péray, though Marsanne is much more common there. Châteauneuf-du-Pape permits 18 grape varieties, Roussanne among them, while Marsanne is not permitted. Beyond the Rhône, a little is planted in the Languedoc, and in Savoie the grape is known as Bergeron, permitted in only one Vin de Savoie sub-region, Chignin-Bergeron. Roussanne is also grown in Italy, small amounts are found in Australia, California and Washington, and some growers have had success with it in California's Central Coast.

• Northern Rhône: Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Saint-Péray; often blended with Marsanne, which is much more common there
• Southern Rhône: one of the 18 varieties permitted in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where Marsanne is not permitted; plantings in the south now far outweigh those in the north
• Savoie: known as Bergeron, and permitted in only one Vin de Savoie sub-region, Chignin-Bergeron
• Beyond France: grown in Italy, with small amounts in Australia, California and Washington; some growers have had success with it in California's Central Coast

Roussanne's fruit leans to white-fleshed pear and lychee, alongside white blossoms, and it smells of mountain herbs. Its wines are floral, with scents of honeysuckle and iris that evolve towards dried fruit and honey. Style shifts with the site: in Châteauneuf-du-Pape it becomes more opulent and concentrated, often with riper flavours ranging from Williams pear to quince and pineapple, while higher-altitude southern Rhône sites such as Ventoux, Luberon and Séguret tend to bring out its lighter, floral side and a little more natural acidity. Across these styles it keeps white-fleshed fruit, white flowers and a distinct textural grip and grain, and it can age better than Marsanne.

• Youth: white-fleshed fruit such as pear and lychee, white blossoms, and floral scents of honeysuckle and iris
• Maturity: notes of dried fruit and honey
• Texture: a weighty profile and palate richness, with a distinct textural grip and grain
• Ageing: Roussanne can age better than Marsanne

Roussanne takes well to barrel ageing, and when it is well handled, oak can further accentuate its luxurious texture and rich flavour profile. In the cellar it needs a delicate touch: in the presence of oxygen it is prone to reacting, causing a loss of colour and flavour. At Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, about one third of the Roussanne is fermented and aged in small French oak barrels one to five years old, half in large French oak foudres and the remainder in stainless steel; there, the oak brings structured richness while the stainless steel emphasizes the wine's minerality and floral aromatics. At Château de Beaucastel, the 2023 Roussanne Vieilles Vignes was fermented 30 percent in oak barrels and 70 percent in stainless steel tanks, then aged for eight months in the same proportions.

• Takes well to barrel ageing; well-handled oak accentuates its texture and rich flavour
• Needs careful handling: in the presence of oxygen it is prone to reacting, losing colour and flavour
• Tablas Creek (Paso Robles): about one third in small French oak barrels, half in large French oak foudres, the rest in stainless steel
• Château de Beaucastel Roussanne Vieilles Vignes 2023: fermented 30 percent in oak barrels and 70 percent in stainless steel tanks, then eight months of ageing in the same proportions

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave's white Hermitage is mainly Marsanne. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel's Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is made from 100% very old Roussanne vines, and only 6,000 bottles of the 2023 vintage are produced. In California, Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles ensured the authenticity of its Roussanne clones by importing vine cuttings directly from Château de Beaucastel, and Roussanne forms the core of the estate's Esprit de Tablas Blanc.

• Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc: a white Hermitage that is mainly Marsanne
• Château de Beaucastel Roussanne Vieilles Vignes (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): 100% very old Roussanne vines; only 6,000 bottles of the 2023 vintage produced
• Tablas Creek Vineyard (Paso Robles, California): imported Roussanne vine cuttings directly from Château de Beaucastel; Roussanne forms the core of its Esprit de Tablas Blanc

Roussanne is notoriously tricky to grow, which is one reason the locals favour Marsanne. It is sensitive to powdery mildew and grey rot, and it yields irregularly. At Tablas Creek, it is generally the latest-ripening of the white Rhône grapes the estate grows. Improved clones are available, and some growers have had success with it in southern France and California's Central Coast.

• Sensitive to powdery mildew and grey rot
• Irregular yields
• At Tablas Creek, generally the latest-ripening of the white Rhône grapes grown there
• Improved clones are available, and some growers have had success with it in southern France and California's Central Coast

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=10258 ; https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/roussanne-grape-variety ; https://www.beaucastel.com/en/products/chateau-de-beaucastel-roussanne-vieilles-vignes-blanc-2023 ; https://tablascreek.com/story/vineyard_and_winemaking/grapes/roussanne Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/roussanne ; https://www.decanter.com/premium/a-most-curious-variety-roussanne-around-the-world-537451/ ; https://www.winespectator.com/articles/jean-louis-chave-chat-with-wine-spectator-41007 Last verified 2026-10-20