Detailed map of the Rhône wine region, with separate maps of Southern Rhône and Northern Rhône

The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various AOC designations. The region is generally divided into two sub-regions with distinct vinicultural traditions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. The northern sub-region produces red wines from the syrah grape, sometimes blended with white wine grapes, and white wines from viognier grapes. The southern sub-region produces a variety of both red and white wines, often blends of several grapes such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The first cultivated vines in the region were likely planted in 600 BC; however, the origins of the two most important grape varieties in the northern Rhone (Syrah and Viognier) are unknown.

 

Northern Rhône

The northern Rhône is characterized by a continental climate with harsh winters but warm summers. Its climate is influenced by the mistral wind, which brings colder air from the Massif Central. Northern Rhône is therefore less warm than southern Rhône, which means that the mix of planted grape varieties and wine styles are slightly different.

Syrah is the only red grape variety permitted in red AOC wines from this sub-region. The grape, which is believed to have originated in or close to the Rhône region, is also widely known as Shiraz, its name in Australia and much of the English-speaking world, and has recently become very popular with consumers around the world. Syrah is used exclusively for wines bearing the Cornas AOC designation, whereas other reds from the northern Rhône sub-region may be blended with the white wine grapes Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.

Viognier by itself is used for white wines from Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Marsanne and Roussanne are in turn used for the whites from Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and Saint Péray.

From north to south the appellations in the northern Rhône are:

• Côte-Rôtie AOC - reds with Syrah and up to 20% Viognier.
• Condrieu AOC - whites with only Viognier.
• Château-Grillet AOC - whites with only Viognier.
• Saint-Joseph AOC - reds with Syrah and up to 10% Marsanne and Roussanne, whites with only Marsanne and Roussanne.
• Crozes-Hermitage AOC - reds with Syrah and up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne, whites with only Marsanne and Roussanne.
• Hermitage AOC - reds with syrah and up to 15% Marsanne and Roussanne, whites with only Marsanne and Roussanne.
• Cornas AOC - reds with only Syrah.
• Saint-Péray AOC - sparkling and still whites with only Marsanne and Roussanne.

Northern Rhône reds are often identified by their signature green olive and smoky bacon aromas. Well-known Côte-Rôtie wines include Marcel Guigal’s three “LaLa’s”: La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque. Some of the more renowned wines from Hermitage are J. L. Chave’s Cuvee Catelin and Paul Jaboulet Aine’s La Chappelle, as well as several of Chapoutier’s wines. These and other top class reds from Northern Rhône command consistently high prices, but can age effortlessly for decades.

Some well-regarded producers from the area include: Vidal-Fleury, Rene Rostaing, Delas Freres, Chateau Grillet, Chapoutier, Guigal, Chave, and Jaboulet.

Southern Rhône

A vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in southern Rhône.

The southern Rhône sub-region has a more Mediterranean climate with milder winters and hot summers. Drought can be a problem in the area, but limited irrigation is permitted.

The southern Rhône’s most famous red wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend containing up to 13 varieties of wine grapes, both red and white, as permitted by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC rules. Other nearby AOC regions including Coteaux du Tricastin AOC, Côtes du Ventoux AOC, Côtes du Vivarais AOC, Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC and Vacqueyras AOC may contain even more varieties in the blend. Gigondas AOC, on the other hand, is predominantly made from Grenache Noir has a more restricted set of permitted grapes. Depending on the specific AOC rules, grapes blended into southern Rhône reds may include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsaut.

White wines from the southern Rhône sub-region, such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites, are also typically blends of several wine grapes. These may include Ugni Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, and Clairette.

Fortified wines (vin doux naturel) are made in the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC and Rasteau AOCs.

Some well-regarded producers from the southern Rhône include Paul Jaboulet Aine, E. Guigal, Château de Beaucastel, Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, Chapoutier, Mordoree, Grand Veneur and Château La Nerthe

Côtes du Rhône

Côtes du Rhône AOC is an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée that covers both the northern and southern sections of the valley. Typically it is only used if the wine does not qualify for an appellation that can command a higher price. Produce from vineyards surrounding certain villages Cairanne, Rasteau and others may be labeled Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC.

Other appellations

Other appellations falling outside the main Rhône area in terms of wine styles but administratively within it are Clairette de Die AOC, Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC, and Côtes du Luberon AOC. These are more similar to Provence wines. Costières de Nîmes AOC has recently been added to the Rhône department in the official sense. Its wines largely parallel the wines of Southern Rhône proper.