We just had an interview about Vinsobres new classification and here are our answers to some questions:

We are very happy for vinsobres, which for us is the most northern-rhone style southern-rhone wine, and which is for us one of the very best places to grow syrah in the southern rhone valley, because the syrah keeps there the finesse and elegance that it can lose in other places of the southern rhone valley (due to altitude and vinsobres specific climate).

The Vinsobres Cru consists of a selection of the best terroirs of Vinsobres. Only 1300 hectares of the 1800 have been selected based on the geology and exposition (south-exposed vineyards only have been included in the cru delimitation). We believe this will further reinforce the global quality of Vinsobres wines. The non-selected parcels will be allowed to produce 'simple' Cotes du Rhone AOC, which means that the AOC Cotes du Rhone Village disappears.

The blend will now be minimum 50% grenache and minimum 25% syrah or mourvedre.

The INAO comitee has agreed the election of Vinsobres as a Cru. The decrete must now by signed by various french ministers before official publication.