Crozes Hermitage is the largest of the northern Rhône appellations. Syrah is the main varietal grown, followed by smaller plantings of Marsanne and Roussanne. Fruit for Domaine des Grands Chemins is all hand picked, plot by plot, as grapes achieve optimal levels of ripeness. Batches are cold soaked and vinified in traditional open concrete fermenters. Daily cap punching and pumpovers are employed for maximum extractions over a period of ten to twelve days maceration. Upon completion, the wine is treated to fourteen months maturation in a combination of tank and small Burgundian prior use oak barrels. A regimen of regular rackings introduces the essential aeration to round out the tannins.