Description
Rhône Valley is an Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC, or controlled designation of origin) wine region running roughly 200 km south of Lyon, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes administrative region in the central-southeast of France. Although strictly one region, the Rhône realistically can be split neatly into two the north and south.
In Northern Rhône, Syrah is king, with famous appellations such as Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas and Crozes-Hermitage producing stunning wines along with lighter tones from the whites based around Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne from Condrieu, Château Grillet, St-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St-Péray. In Southern Rhône, Syrah combines with Grenache and Mourvèdre in the enchanting wines of Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and the eminently drinkable wines of Côtes du Rhône. With its diversity of terroir and famous appellations, the Rhône Valley gives the wine-lover a great range of wine styles from some of the world’s most famous subregions.
About this region
Climate
Northern Rhône has a continental climate with greater seasonal temperature variations compared to Southern Rhône.
Soil
Granitic and schistous soils in the north and heavier clay soils in the south
Key Varietals
Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Syrah and Grenache
