Where in the World Do You Rhône?

By Faith Wells

Where in the world would you find the largest celebration of international Rhône wines? San Francisco? Paris? Sydney? Good guesses however, the correct answer is in Paso Robles, California at the 19th Annual Hospice du Rhône extravaganza April 28 – 30, 2011 at the Paso Robles Event Center.

 

Paso Robles has played host to the Hospice du Rhône event weekend for the past 15 years. Like clockwork, each Spring, Hospice du Rhône hosts Rhône producers and enthusiasts alike from throughout the world.

The Hospice du Rhône weekend is a palate provoking weekend that embraces the enchantment, history and tastes surrounding all things Rhône. The three-day event boasts serious Rhône education coupled with bursts of fun that creates the passion and energy found at the annual event. Come on, how can you go wrong when a wine event kicks-off with an annual bowling tournament, slides in extremely in-depth Rhône focused seminars, hosts tastings featuring over 130 Rhône wine producers and concludes the weekend with an all-American BBQ? This event, friends, is some “Serious Fun!”

Showcasing the diverse world of Rhône is what Hospice du Rhône is all about and throughout the weekend you will be immersed into the Twenty-two Rhône varieties. Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Picpoul Blanc, Cinsault are just a few of the wondrous Rhône wines that will fill your glass during the weekend. Not to mention the regions from which these wines and producers hail from — France, South Africa, Australia, Washington State, Arizona, California and beyond. Your passport is not needed, though at the end of the weekend you will feel as if you just took an amazing wine focused trip around the world.

Hospice du Rhône provides many unique opportunities which keep Rhône zealots coming back year after year. It could be that many wines poured at the seminars have never landed on US soils before. It could be the fact that the winemakers themselves come to this event. It could be the wines crafted exclusively for the Live Auction. It could be the friendships cultivated from events past. It could simply be the awe-inspiring and spirited world of Rhône.

 

So this Spring, get your Rhône on in Paso Robles at the 19th annual Hospice du Rhône celebration. Weekend Passes and individual event tickets are available on the organizations website, www.hospicedurhone.org.

Faith Wells is Hospice du Rhône's communicator, and a true Rhône fanatic. You can follow Hospice du Rhône on Facebook and Twitter.