Summary
The most famous hill of the Northern Rhône. Named after a 12th century crusader turned hermit Gaspard de Stérimberg who resided on the hill in solitude. Today, this area is entirely planted (136ha), with many old vines, producing limited quantities of long-lived red wines and blended dry whites (⅓ of total production). The best sites face south, with protection from the Mistral wind and increased sunlight interception. Granitic soils with thin topsoils retain heat encouraging the development of fruit. Areas with clay-limestone soil are often planted with white grapes. Erosion is a problem here, with some areas terraced. Famous producers Jean-Louis Chave create vintage expressive wines from blended sites, whereas Chapoutier is known for single vineyard climat expressions.