Rhône wines

The Rhône Valley stretches from Vienne to Avignon. It has nearly 6,000 vineyards spread over 77,175 hectares. The north of the region enjoys a temperate continental climate, while the south has a Mediterranean climate marked by the mistral wind. The Rhône Valley is home to renowned terroirs such as Gigondas, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie. It is also home to prestigious appellations such as Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 

Discover other appellations: Vacqueyras, Beaume de Venise, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Tavel, Costières de Nîmes.

The grape varieties of the Rhône Valley vary depending on the location of the vineyards. In the north, Syrah is the only grape variety authorized for producing red wines. As for white wines, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier are used. Winegrowers in the south of the region use Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault for their red wines, and Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Clairette for their white wines. 

The vines grow in the Rhône Valley since Roman times. They gained significant recognition when the popes settled in Avignon from 1309 to 1418. In 1650, winegrowers established regulations to guarantee the authenticity of the origin and preserve the characteristics of local wines. The reputation of the Rhône Valley was established in 1937, under the impetus of Baron Le Roy, with the granting of the Côtes-du-Rhône AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée, or controlled designation of origin).

A trip along the Rhône to discover wine

Stretching just over two hundred kilometers from Vienna in the north to Avignon in the south, Rhône wine invites us on a journey along the Rhône River. We invite you to discover, in a few wine-growing and historical stages, some examples of the fruit of the labor of some six thousand passionate and demanding winegrowers.

Wine from the northern Rhône, right bank

When you leave the city of Vienne, with its Roman ruins and ancient theater, and follow the river for a few minutes on its right bank, you arrive in Condrieu, famous throughout the world for its white wine. Its narrow terraced vineyards are also ideal for growing another wine, this time a red Rhône wine: Côte-Rôtie. Both wines benefit from vineyards backing onto the river and facing south, located on cliffs with granite soil. Although the origin of the Viognier grape variety, the main ingredient in Condrieu wine, dates back to Greek civilization, it was not until the second or third century AD that the Romans sanctified the cultivation of vines in this northern region of the Rhône wine country.

Wine from the northern Rhône, left bank

Continuing our journey along the river, let's discover the largest vineyard in the northern Rhône wine appellations: the Crozes-Hermitage vineyard. A prestigious vintage, Crozes-Hermitage produces red wines made from the Syrah grape variety and white wines made from the Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties. 

A little further south as we head east, we find this very special Rhône wine, a sparkling wine produced using an ancient method of carbonation: the prestigious Clairette de Die.

Wine from the southern Rhône region

Once past the town of Montélimar, you begin to glimpse the "midday" territories where Rhône wine ripens thanks to the generous presence of the sun. The wines now benefit from the "Côtes du Rhône Villages" appellation. Mainly located on the left bank of the Rhône, these vineyards can be discovered by traveling along small winding roads connecting beautiful towns and villages in what is known as "la Drôme Provençale." All of these wines are produced on a variety of soils, giving this family of Rhône wines as many flavors as there are differences in soil composition. 

To the west, between Ardèche and Rhône, we find the Côtes du Vivarais and the wines of Saint Andéol. If the weather is favorable during our journey, we can see Mont Ventoux, which tells us that we will soon arrive in Provence.

Wine from the southern Rhône region, Avignon area

In this generous Provençal region, on the left bank of the river and beyond, on land located between Avignon, Orange, and Vaison-la-Romaine, we will discover wines that have benefited from generous sunshine and made all Rhône wines famous. The name Châteauneuf-du-Pape alone is enough to convince you. 

In the fourteenth century, Pope John XXII, who was staying in Avignon, decided to cultivate wine on soil composed of red clay and quartz pebbles. This led to the development of vineyards throughout the region, producing Rhône wines that delight our taste buds: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, of course, but also Beaumes-de-Venise, Cairanne, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and more. 

On the other bank of the Rhône, we find this rosé wine: Tavel, and red Lirac. Continuing south, we finally discover a Rhône wine from vineyards located between the river and Nîmes, the Costières de Nîmes.

Discover other wineries in the Rhône region: Dambrun, Xavier Vins, Remizières, Sang des Cailloux, Florane, Tardieu Laurent, Bernard Gripa, Marcel Richaud, Usseglio, Fondreche, Montine, Dauvergne Ranvier, Citadelle, Mordorée, Faury, Raspail Ay, Gallety,Colombier,Cayran, Guigal, Nalys, and Alain Voge.