One of the Most Ancient Wine-Growing Areas
In the fourth century BC, during the Greek colonisation, grapes were grown in Marseille. In the northern part of the Rhône Valley, wine-growing developed in the first century AD. These archaeological finds, together with historical research, prove that the Rhône vineyards are some of the oldest in the world. The Romans, sailing up the Rhône, founded the town of Vienne and planted vineyards, which soon became famous for their wines.
Côtes du Rhône vineyards
Côtes du Rhône A.O.C. wines represent 75% of Rhône Valley vineyard. Their vineyards extend from Vienne to Avignon, bordered by the Massif Central, the Alpes Mountains and south by the Mediterranean.
Côtes du Rhône A.O.C. is produced in 171 towns, on 6 departments (Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, Loire, Rhône and Vaucluse) stretching across 101.313 acres. They bring together Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages with and without a specific geographic name And finally, Côtes du Rhône Crus coming from specific terroirs are located at the top of the pyramid. We add the natural sweet wines of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Rasteau.
Richness and diversity
In 1937 the Côtes-du-Rhône attained the designation AOC and this quality security established a collective motivation for all the vineyards. The grape varieties, the soils, the climate and the quality of winemaker’s work, give the wines their big diversity of expression.
Côtes du Rhône Villages
Côtes du Rhône Villages A.O.C., situated essentially in the southern part, today consist of 95 towns, but only 21 geographical names are mentioned on the label: Chusclan, Gadagne, Laudun, Massif d’Uchaux, Plan de Dieu, Puyméras, Rousset-les-Vignes, Roaix, Rochegude, Sablet, Saint-Gervais, Saint-Maurice, Saint-Pantaléon-les-vignes, Sainte-Cécile, Séguret, Signargues, Suze-la-Rousse, Vaison-la-Romaine, Valréas et Visan, and Saint-Andéol.
17 Côtes du Rhône Crus
Northern Crus
Situated from Vienne to Valence, the very narrow configuration of the Rhône Valley offers a moderate continental climate, characteristic to these seven fine wines in the north: Condrieu, Cornas, Côte-Rôtie, Croze-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph and Saint Péray.
Southern Crus
In the south of Montélimar, the valley opens, and vineyards can spread out on both banks of the Rhône up to the calcareous reliefs rising in the both the East and the West. A lot of microclimates allow a highly varied grape planting and multiple blends for a large variety of ten typical wines: Beaumes de Venise, Cairanne, Gigondas, Lirac, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Tavel, Vinsobres, Muscat de Beaumes deVenise et Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau.
Grape Varieties
21: That’s the number of grape varieties used to make Côtes du Rhône wines. In the north, Syrah grapes form red wines while Viognier grapes shape the whites. In the south, Grenache is blended with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault to create elegant reds and rosés. Whites are gracefully produced using Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier grapes.
Mediterranean Climate
Nourished by the cleansing Mistral wind, the vineyard enjoys an exceptional climate with four distinct seasons: two dry seasons, and two rainy seasons. Summer is hot and dry, owing to climbing subtropical anticyclones, interspersed with sometimes violent storms. Winters are mild. Precipitation is frequent and snow is rare.
Wine tourism
Authentic, festive and full of contrasts; there are many different sides to the Côtes du Rhône vineyards. Wine estates, museums, undulating footpaths, award-winning villages, breath-taking landscapes and unforgettable cultural icons line the region’s 9 wine trails. Excellent tourism potential, driven by a vibrant, future-facing industry are illustrated by the measures we take to ensure a warm welcome for all and to protect the landscape and environment. Just a few hours from Paris, life in the Côtes du Rhône is lived in the slow lane, at a leisurely pace just perfect for discovering the secret nooks and crannies of this major tourist region.
There are 336 “Terroirs d’accueil” cellars, among which 37 have been awarded a Wine Tourism Distinction.
“A major event in the world of wine
In 2019, the Best Sommelier in the World competition will be blowing out its 50 candles in the magnificent Flemish city of Antwerp from the 11th to the 15th of March.
This is a unique opportunity for Côtes du Rhône wines to support a profession which greatly contributes to their reputation!
Belgium, much more than just a neighbour to the Rhône Valley Vineyards
A great love affair exists between Côtes du Rhône wines and the Belgium people.
Walloons and Flemish alike are enthusiastic drinkers of Côtes du Rhone wines and visitors to the region’s vineyards.
They are very familiar with the different Villages and Crus and they keep asking for more!
All the more reason, if needed, to take part in this prestigious celebration.
To summarize, we have great admiration for sommeliers who do a fantastic job of translating our passion for our wines to the public- what better reason to take part in this prestigious celebration! “