Hermitage is an AOC for wine made in the Rhône valley, south of Lyon in France, in a fairly small area on a hill site near Tain l'Hermitage in the Rhône wine region. The vines grow on the south west side of a steep hill facing the afternoon sun. It is considered by many professionals along with Côte-Rôtie and Cornas, other AOCs from the northern Rhône, as the best appellation for growing syrah in the world. Most wines produced are elegant, powerful and tannic reds, made from the Syrah grape. They are long-lived and can age over forty years. Whites are produced from Marsanne with some Roussanne. Vin de paille or ‘straw wine’ is also produced in this region.
