Located on the west bank of the Rhône river, just across the water from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in the southern portion of the Valley. Lirac long tried to recreate the success of the rosés of Tavel, which it broders just to the south. The wines were not the same, but today this region is quickly improving the quality of its whites, reds and rosés, somthing Tavel can claim only for the pink stuff. The soil has a high proportion of sand, clay and galets, the small oval-shaped stones found in various parts of the Rhône.
Mostly red wine is produced from the usual southern Rhône mix of primarily Grenache, with Cinsault, Mourèdre, Syrah and incresingly less Carignan and the white varieties Picpoul, Clairette and even Ugni Blanc. The wines are beefy, rustic and a little clunky, though they usually offer a nice mix of spice, game and fruit for a reasonable price. White wines have been increasing in quality since 1992 when Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier were permitted along with the older and less desired varieties of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, and Picpoul. Small amounts of rosé is produced from the red varietals.
Lirac is home to the Château de Clary, said to be where the root louse phylloxera was first discovered on the continent of Europe in 1863. Experimentation with native American vines led to the destruction of almost every vine in Europe, and the devastation of many wine industries that still spreads today, checked only by the grafting of European vaireties onto American rootstocks.
France → Rhône → Southern Rhône
French AOC
| Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Lirac Blanc 2004 | Lirac | White |