Rhône Wine

The Northern Rhône stretches from Vienne to Valence. In this area, the vines cling to extremely steep south-east-facing slopes, imposing harsh conditions on the vines and necessitating work carried out exclusively by hand. The vines are planted on terraces on granitic and schist soils, lending tension, finesse and minerality to the wines of the Côtes du Rhône. The northern vineyards produce some of the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the Rhône Valley.

In the North, Syrah reigns supreme over the Cotes du Rhone red wine. The vertiginous terraces provide excellent sun exposure, encouraging the slow ripening of this grape variety in a continental climate. Syrah produces powerful, well-structured wines with aromas of pepper, violet and black fruits. With age, they develop notes of leather and truffle, and remarkable depth.

The Northern Rhône also excels in its great white wines. Viognier, the iconic grape variety of Condrieu and Château Grillet, produces white Côtes du Rhône wines that are often rich, round and highly aromatic. Marsanne and Roussanne lend structure, power and elegance to the age-worthy white wines of Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage.

From Montélimar to Avignon, the landscape changes. Separated from the northern Rhône Valley by some fifty kilometres of land without vineyards, the southern vineyards are subject to a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, whilst winters are mild and sunny. This area is often swept by the Mistral, which drives away moisture and protects the vines from disease. Southern Rhone reds are also produced on soils of rounded pebbles, particularly in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which store heat and release it at night. These conditions are favourable for the ripening of the grapes and for the development of powerful wines.

In the southern Rhône, blended wines are the norm. Cotes du Rhone red wine is often dominated by Grenache, accompanied by Syrah and Mourvèdre. Warm, full-bodied and round, this wine exudes aromas of ripe fruit, spices and garrigue. This wine-growing region also produces high-quality white wines, notably made from Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne.

Wine from the Rhône Valley comes in red – which accounts for over 70 per cent of production – as well as white and rosé. It offers a wide range of styles, appealing to both those keen to explore new flavours and seasoned connoisseurs.

The regional AOCs of Côtes du Rhône wine are undoubtedly among the leading appellations of the Rhône Valley. The Côtes du Rhône AOC is produced on both the right and left banks of the Rhône, between Vienne and Avignon. Côtes du Rhône red wine is characterised by spicy and fruity notes, and structured yet supple tannins. Elegant and full of freshness, the Côtes du Rhône white wine releases delicate floral aromas on the nose. The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC covers defined areas in the southern part of the region. Wines from this appellation are more expressive, concentrated and complex.

The most famous wines of the Rhône Valley come from the Côtes du Rhône appellations.

In the Northern Rhône, the Hermitage AOC is renowned for its dense, full-bodied red wine, with notes of black fruit, spices and leather. The Côte Rôtie AOC also produces some of the region’s finest red wines, blending Syrah and Viognier grapes. This red wine captivates wine lovers thanks to its unrivalled finesse and unique aromatic intensity. The Saint Joseph AOC offers elegant, well-balanced red wines and white wines of great finesse. Other northern appellations also produce red and white wines of excellent quality, such as Saint Péray, Crozes Hermitage and Cornas. Producing exclusively white wines, Condrieu captivates with its exceptional floral wines, boasting outstanding aromatic richness. In the southern sub-region, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is undoubtedly the most iconic, with its 13 authorised grape varieties. This appellation offers powerful, complex wines with very good ageing potential. The Vacqueyras and Gigondas stand out thanks to their powerful, well-structured Rhône red wines. It would also be remiss not to mention Tavel rosé, an exceptional rosé from the south, full-bodied and vinous.

The year 1937 marked the recognition of the Rhône wine-growing region with the creation of the Côtes du Rhône AOC. This extensive appellation covers vineyards situated within the appellation area of designated communes in the departments of Ardèche, Gard, Loire, Drôme, Rhône and Vaucluse. To highlight the distinctive characteristics of certain terroirs, a hierarchy has been established within the Côtes du Rhône appellation: AOC Côtes du Rhône Régionale, AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages and AOC Côtes du Rhône Communales.

The appellations of the Northern Rhône Valley are situated between Vienne and Valence. This wine-growing region produces prestigious red wines with ageing potential, as well as excellent still white wines.

The northern part of the Rhône Valley includes, in particular:

• A regional appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC
• Four sub-regional appellations: Clairette de Die, Châtillon en Diois, Crémant de Die and Coteaux de Die

Guigal, Georges Vernay, Combier, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Chapoutier and Domaine Clape are among the best-known producers in the Northern Rhône Valley.

The southern part of the Rhône Valley, from Montélimar to Avignon, also boasts a large number of appellations:

• A regional appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC
• Sub-regional appellations: Luberon, Ventoux, Côtes du Vivarais and Grignan les Adhémar
• Côtes du Rhône Villages, whether or not followed by a commune name, covering more than 90 communes

Two appellations also produce naturally sweet wines in this area: Rasteau and Muscat Beaumes de Venise. Among the finest producers in the southern Rhône Valley are Clos des Papes, Château de Beaucastel, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe and Domaine Chante Cigale.

In addition to the regional appellation and the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations, the Rhône Valley is home to communal appellations, also known as ‘crus’. These exceptional crus produce outstanding wines of world renown.

Here is the list of legendary wines from the Northern Rhône Valley:

• Château Grillet: this small 3-hectare appellation is planted exclusively with Viognier to produce white wine. This vineyard produces white wines with a distinctive minerality.
• Condrieu: a global benchmark for white wines, this appellation is a prime terroir for Viognier. The Condrieu AOC is renowned for its highly aromatic and delicate white wines, combining texture and finesse.
• Cornas: produced in the commune of Cornas, this AOC is planted exclusively with Syrah, which produces spicy and powerful red wines.
• Côte Rôtie: this prestigious appellation is renowned for its great red wines made from Syrah and Viognier (up to 20 per cent), combining delicacy, fine tannic structure and elegance.
• Crozes Hermitage: the largest vineyard in the northern Côtes du Rhône, this appellation produces red wines made from Syrah and white wines made from Marsanne and Roussanne.
• Hermitage: named after the legendary hill of the same name, this cru ranks among the finest appellations in the Rhône Valley. This vineyard produces exceptional red wines made from Syrah (with up to 15 per cent Roussanne and Marsanne permitted) and white wines made from these white grape varieties.
• Saint Joseph: on the right bank of the Rhône, this appellation covers 23 communes in the Ardèche and 3 communes in the Loire. This AOC produces powerful, well-structured red wines and a limited production of white wines.
• Saint Péray: stretching out at the foot of the Château de Crussol, this appellation produces white wines in the communes of Saint-Péray and Toulaud. This AOC produces subtle and delicate wines made from Marsanne and Roussanne.

Here is a list of the prestigious wines of the southern Rhône Valley:

• Beaumes de Venise: stretching across the south-eastern slope of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the vines are rooted in a terroir with three distinct characteristics: black marl, fine Triassic soils and marly clay-limestone soil. Powerful and well-structured, the red wines from this appellation develop a complex and expressive bouquet.
• Cairanne: bordering the eponymous hilltop village, this appellation is renowned for its complex wines with a sunny freshness.
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape: this appellation is undoubtedly the most famous in the Rhône Valley. Traditionally, 13 grape varieties are authorised within this AOC. This appellation produces great, powerful red wines with excellent ageing potential, as well as exceptional white wines renowned for their roundness, fullness and subtle oaky notes.
• Gigondas: nestled at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Gigondas appellation is situated on alluvial clay terraces. This AOC produces full-bodied, well-structured red wines as well as superb rosés of remarkable elegance with toasty notes.
• Tavel: situated in the town of the same name, this appellation produces exclusively rosé wines celebrated by Honoré de Balzac. Grown on soils of rounded pebbles, clay and sand, the vines yield complex, full-bodied and fruity rosé wines.
• Lirac: neighbouring Tavel, this appellation is situated on limestone terroir across four communes in the Gard. The white wines produced in this AOC are fresh and round on the palate, whilst the red vintages develop fine power and a solid structure. The Lirac AOC also produces rosés with lovely acidity.
• Rasteau: facing due south and sheltered from the Mistral, the Rasteau vineyard stretches across rugged terrain and a wide variety of soils. This appellation produces generous and highly aromatic wines.
• Vacqueyras: cultivated on steep terraces, the vines of this appellation grow on varied terroirs: stony soils over a sandy-marl subsoil or rounded pebbles over a clay subsoil. This AOC is renowned for its powerful red wines, its fresh and persistent white wines, and its aromatic rosés.
• Vinsobres: rooted around the village of the same name, the Vinsobres vines grow on stony terroir with red to brown soils. This appellation produces exclusively red wines that combine body, richness and a long finish.