Roussanne is a relatively rare variety of grape grown originally in the Rhône River Valley in France, and used in some white wines there and in the Tuscany region of Italy. The grape is also planted in various wine-growing regions of the New World, such as California, Washington, and Australia. The berries are distinguished by their russet color when ripe — roux is French for the reddish brown color russet, and is probably the root for the variety's name.