Côtes du Vivarais

TheCôtes-du-Vivarais AOC vineyards stretch out on both sides of the Ardèche Gorges on the Gras plateau, at an altitude of 250 meters. The appellation area covers 14 municipalities, nine of which are located in the Ardèche department and five in the Gard department.The grape varieties selected forthe Côtes du Vivarais AOC are Grenache and Syrah for red wines, Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault for rosé wines, and Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne for white wines. The AOC red wines have aromas of black fruits and spices, fairly robust tannins and a pleasant freshness. They inherit their character from Grenache, which gives them structure, and borrow their spiciness from Syrah. The different vintages vary in color (deep red, purple-red) and aromas.  The fresh rosés, made from the same grape varieties as the reds, have a deep color and intense aromas, thanks to the presence of Grenache. The Marsanne and Grenache grape varieties give the appellation's white wines a surprising minerality and freshness.