Hermitage is a wine that originated from France from the Rhone wine region south of Lyon. It is mostly a red wine made from the Syrah grape, but white wines are made as well.
The history of this wine is somewhat legendary: After the crusades of Albigensian, a knight by the name of Gaspard de Sterimberg returned wounded and was allowed to recover in a small refuge where he produced wine and lived as a hermit. In 1642 Louis the XIV sampled some of his wine during a visit and then presented his findings to the king who was delighted by the quality. The appellation of Hermitage was established in 1937.
The primary grape in Hermitage is Syrah with about 15% of Marsanne or Roussanne added to the mix. The wine has aromas of leather, red berries, earth and cocoa. This wine has a great ability to age. In Roman times this wine was referred to as Vienne wine or St. Christopher Hillside wine. Hermitage goes well with beef, game and spicy meals such as curry dishes or cuisine with chili peppers.