Rhône Valley
France’s Rhône Valley is known for its robust red wines, made in different styles in the northern and southern ends of the Rhone Valley region.
France’s Rhône Valley is known for its robust red wines, made in different styles in the northern and southern ends of the Rhone Valley region.
The Rhône River runs some 500 miles from its source in the Swiss Alps to the Mediterranean. Near Vienne, where the river turns from its westward progression and drops south, the Rhône’s storied winemaking areas begin. The region stretches for 150 miles, with vineyards clinging to the slopes above the river, toward the ancient town of Avignon in the south of France.
Although the Rhône is considered one wine region, it can effectively be split into two distinct parts based on climate and grape varieties used. The steep slopes of the northern Rhône Valley account for just 5 percent of the region’s total wine production, while the southern Rhône Valley produces the vast majority.
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.
Although the Rhône is considered one wine region, it can effectively be split into two distinct parts based on climate and grape varieties used. The steep slopes of the northern Rhône Valley account for just 5 percent of the region’s total wine production, while the southern Rhône Valley produces the vast majority.
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.
Looking south on the Rhône Valley map, many of the towns fall within the famous Cotes du Rhône appellation, and in total produce about half of the Rhône region’s wine. Ninety specific villages may use the Cotes du Rhône-Villages appellation, signifying their special reputations. Though the southern Rhône produces red, white and rosé wines, most wines from the region are blended from any of three red grapes: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape – named for the castle built by Pope John XXII during his 14th-century residence in Avignon – is one more acclaimed Rhône wine, rich and full-bodied, most often made from the traditional red blend and occasionally as a white blend. In 1923, when reputable winemakers became fed up with watered-down and fake versions of the in-demand wine, the leaders of Châteauneuf-du-Pape drew up rules governing how wine was to be produced in the appellation. Those early rules later served as a guideline for the creation of France’s nationwide Appellation d’Origine Controllée system.
Looking south on the Rhône Valley map, many of the towns fall within the famous Cotes du Rhône appellation, and in total produce about half of the Rhône region’s wine. Ninety specific villages may use the Cotes du Rhône-Villages appellation, signifying their special reputations. Though the southern Rhône produces red, white and rosé wines, most wines from the region are blended from any of three red grapes: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape – named for the castle built by Pope John XXII during his 14th-century residence in Avignon – is one more acclaimed Rhône wine, rich and full-bodied, most often made from the traditional red blend and occasionally as a white blend. In 1923, when reputable winemakers became fed up with watered-down and fake versions of the in-demand wine, the leaders of Châteauneuf-du-Pape drew up rules governing how wine was to be produced in the appellation. Those early rules later served as a guideline for the creation of France’s nationwide Appellation d’Origine Controllée system.