Wines of the Rhone Valley
Between mountain and sea, ground of sun, the valley of the red wines
Geography and terroir
From Vienna to Avignon, the vineyard of the Cote du Rhone crosses the departments of the Rhone, of the Loire, of Ardeche, of Drome, the Vaucluse and part of the Gard.
It is the 2nd area in France producing wine with the appellation controlée.
The control of the output enables a constant improvement of the wines' quality.
The various microclimates, the diversity of type of vines and the grounds, make it possible to produce constructed and "gouleyant" wines.
Grape Varieties
For red wines:
- Grenache
- Syrah
- Mourvedre
For white wines:
- Roussane
- Marsanne
- Viognier
- Grenache Blanc
- Clairette
- Bouboulenc
Appellations
The AOC "Cote du Rhone" is divided into 3 main groups:
- In local name, there are 13 vintages of "Cote du Rhone", of which Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage or Cote-Rotie.
- The regional AOC Cote du Rhone applies to soils of production like Luberon or Ventoux.
- Names "Cote du Rhone Villages" distinguish from the vineyards cultivated on certain communes: Cairanne, Seguret, Valreas...
Red wines
Chateauneuf-du-Pape: strongly constructed wine. Its vegetable odor and its red fruit flavours will accompany perfectly the sauce dishes.
Hermitage: fruity, fleshy and tender wine, with the characteristic flavours. He is advised for the red meats and the roasted poultries.
Cote-Rotie: wine with the persistent and developed red fruit flavours which will charm a roast or a marinated hare.
Rose wines
Tavel: wine to be served fresh in accompaniment of poultries or small games.
French version