Rhône Wines

The Rhône Valley region stretches from Vienne to Avignon. It is home to nearly 6,000 vineyards, spread across 77,175 hectares. The northern part of the region has a temperate continental climate, while the south enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized 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 the other appellations: Vacqueyras, Beaume de Venise, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, Tavel, and 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 making red wines. As for white wines, the varieties include Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. Winemakers in the southern part of the region use Grenache, Carignan, and Cinsault for their red wines, and Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Clairette for their white wines. 

The grapevines grow in the Rhône Valley since Roman times. They gained significant recognition during the period when the popes resided in Avignon from 1309 to 1418. In 1650, the winemakers established regulations designed to guarantee the authenticity of the wine’s origin and to preserve the characteristics of the local vintages. The reputation of the Côte du Rhône was established in 1937, at the initiative of Baron Le Roy, with the granting of the Côtes-du-Rhône AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée).

A Trip Along the Rhône to Discover Wine

Spanning 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, through a series of stops highlighting both wine and history, a few examples of the fruits of the labor of some six thousand passionate and discerning winemakers.

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 along its right bank, you find yourself in Condrieu, world-famous for its white wine. Its vineyards, planted on narrow terraces, are also ideal for growing another Rhône wine—this one red: Côte-Rôtie. Both wines benefit from vineyards that run along the river and face south, situated on cliffs with granite soil. While the origins of the Viognier grape—the main component of Condrieu wine—date back to Greek civilization, it wasn’t until the second or third century CE that the Romans established viticulture in this northern region of the Rhône wine-growing area.

Wine from the Northern Rhône, Left Bank

As we continue our river journey, let’s explore the largest vineyard among the northern Rhône wine appellations: the Crozes-Hermitage vineyard. A prestigious cru, Crozes-Hermitage is known for its red wines made from the Syrah grape variety and its white wines made from the Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties. 

A little further south, as we head east, we come across this very distinctive Rhône wine—a sparkling wine produced using a traditional carbonation method: the prestigious Clairette de Die.

Wine from the Southern Rhône

Once past the town of Montélimar, you begin to catch glimpses of these “southern” regions where Rhône wine ripens thanks to the sun’s generous warmth. These wines now bear the “Côtes du Rhône Villages” appellation. Located mainly on the left bank of the Rhône, you can explore these vineyards by traveling along small, winding roads that connect charming towns and villages situated in what is known as “la Drôme Provençale.” Across this region, the variety of soils gives this family of Rhône wines as many distinct flavors as there are differences in soil composition. 

To the west, between the Ardèche and the Rhône, we find the Côtes du Vivarais and the wines of Saint-Andéol. If the weather is favorable during our journey, we may catch a glimpse of Mont Ventoux, a sign that we’ll soon be arriving in Provence.

Wine from the Southern Rhône, Avignon region

In this bountiful region of Provence, on the left bank of the river and far beyond, in the lands between Avignon, Orange, and Vaison-la-Romaine, we will discover the wines that—thanks to abundant sunshine—have made the Rhône wines so famous. The name “Châteauneuf-du-Pape” alone is enough to convince us of this. 

In the fourteenth century, Pope John XXII, while staying in Avignon, decided to cultivate grapes on soil composed of red clay and quartz pebbles, and that is how these vineyards came to flourish throughout the region—the Rhône wines that delight our taste buds: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, of course, as well as Beaumes-de-Venise, Cairanne, Gigondas, Vacqueyras … 

On the other bank of the Rhône, you’ll find this rosé wine: Tavel, and red Lirac. Continuing south, you’ll finally discover a Rhône wine made from grapes grown 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.