While small, the Northern Rhône includes some of France’s most prestigious appellations. The name of one, Côte-Rôtie, or “roasted slope,” tells you what you need to know about the local climate. Here, the summer sun shines all day long on vineyards carved from rocky hills, producing fully ripe grapes and tannic, concentrated, ageworthy red Rhône wines. Hermitage and Cornas, further south but also considered part of the northern Rhône, are likewise celebrated for their red wines. Syrah is the only red grape permitted in this area, but small percentages of white grapes are sometimes blended with the Syrah. The tiny appellation of Condrieu produces impressive white wines made from the Viognier grape.
