Exploring the Southern Rhône with Master Sommelier Josh Orr
An Inside Look at La Ferme du Mont
Recently, the Broadbent Selections team gathered for an in-depth educational session hosted by Master Sommelier Josh Orr, focusing on the wines of La Ferme du Mont and the broader Southern Rhône Valley. With Josh’s deep knowledge and engaging style, the team explored the unique characteristics of the region and gained valuable tools for telling the story of these expressive wines.
A Journey Through the Southern Rhône
Josh kicked off the session with an overview of the Southern Rhône, a diverse and dynamic wine region known for its Grenache-based blends, complex terroirs, and historical winemaking traditions. His goal was to help the team understand not just the wines of La Ferme du Mont, but how they fit into the broader Rhône narrative.
“I want you to have that perspective,” Josh explained. “So you’re not hyper-focused only on La Ferme. If someone brings up a Domaine de Bousquet, you’ll understand the context—and be able to pivot to a wine from Stéphane’s portfolio that complements or contrasts beautifully.”
Tasting Highlights: Vendange, Capelan, and More
During the tasting, Josh compared La Ferme du Mont’s flagship wines, notably the Vendange and the Capelan, describing how each reflects different facets of Rhône terroir and winemaking style.
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Vendange: Classic Grenache expression from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Red fruit, sun-baked stones, and elegant balance.
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Capelan: More brooding and structured. A meditative, age-worthy wine with depth and evolution in the glass.
“The Capelan is like Musar—it changes, evolves, and makes you think,” said Josh. “But the Vendange is pure Châteauneuf-du-Pape sunshine in a glass.”
Deep Dive: Terroir, Vinification, and Rhône Complexity
For the wine geeks and professionals in the room, Josh offered a masterclass-level breakdown of the region’s key variables.
Terroir Specifics
The Southern Rhône is a mosaic of soils—clay, limestone, galets roulés, and sand—each influencing the final wine in different ways.
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Galets roulés: Retain heat, ripen grapes fully. Common in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
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Sand soils: Found in rarer pockets (like Château Rayas). Promote elegance, aromatics, and soft tannins in Grenache.
Josh connected these elements to La Ferme du Mont’s portfolio and even referenced Barossa Valley’s Vine Vale and old-vine Grenache as a comparative framework for understanding Grenache on sand.
Winemaking Philosophy
Winemaker Stéphane Vedeau takes a minimalist approach in the cellar:
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Native yeast fermentation
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Gentle extraction
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Minimal new oak
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Emphasis on vineyard expression
This philosophy lets each cuvée—from the expressive Vendange to the age-worthy Capelan—speak clearly of its origin.
“Stéphane’s wines aren’t overworked. They’re polished but raw in the best way—allowing terroir to lead,” Josh noted.
Serving & Cellaring Tips
Josh’s pro tip: Serve young Rhône wines with a slight chill, especially those that are fruit-forward. Older vintages benefit from classic cellar temperature (~55°F) to allow secondary characteristics to shine.
What Makes Rhône Wines Special?
Team member Adam Dixon commented on how this session changed his view of the Rhône:
“I’ve tended to overlook Rhône wines—they always felt too big, too broad. But this helped clarify what makes them unique and worth championing.”
Josh agreed, adding that understanding soil, varietal behavior, and stylistic intention is key to connecting with Rhône wines—whether you’re selling them, pairing them, or just enjoying a bottle.
Final Thoughts
As the session wrapped up, the team walked away with more than just tasting notes—they left with a deeper appreciation for La Ferme du Mont, the Southern Rhône, and how to communicate these wines’ stories to customers and buyers alike.
“Every wine tells a story,” Josh concluded. “The more you understand that story, the better you can share it.”
