The Côte-Rôtie appellation is situated in the northernmost part of the Northern Rhône Valley; terraced vineyards are planted on some of the steepest slopes in all of France, making manual vineyard work in this region arduous and tasking. However, the steepness does not scare the Vernay family, but actually empowers them to create distinct, unique expressions of classically-styled Syrah. For three generations, the family has diligently worked their sheer vineyard sites and produced incredible results. Drawing on the ancient history of the Romans, who originally planted the vines in this region some 2,000 years ago, the Vernays focus on a combination of tradition and modern innovation—bringing together the best of both worlds.

In the vineyards, organic farming and biodiversity are key to healthy vines. The land of the estate has been kept relatively wild, allowing for a natural environment to thrive, and the vineyards are an integral part of this diverse ecosystem. This approach respects the traditions of the ancient Romans and allows the wines to reflect the true history of the land, flora and fauna. The natural approach in the vineyards allows for serious expression of terroir, and the never-ending quest for perfection in the cellar makes the Vernay family’s wines distinct and desirable. Modern empirical analysis, continual tasting of the grapes and wines as they develop, and dedicated research make each vintage a little bit better than the last. This is one of the reasons I have always loved the wines of Domaine Georges Vernay; although the wines are always incredible, the family has never settled in their pursuit of perfection. With each vintage, minor changes based on the passionate research they have done improves the wines year after year—bringing the quality of their bottlings to a whole different level of satisfaction. For the 2012 Blonde du Seigneur, 5% of Viognier is blended into this supple Syrah to add just the right amount of finesse.