The Rhône Valley Vineyard
The Rhône Valley vineyard stretches over more than 200 kilometers, from Vienne to Avignon. As the second largest wine region in France after Bordeaux, it now covers around 70,000 hectares. There are more than 7,000 estates producing AOC Rhône Valley wines.
The region mainly produces red wines, which account for 80% of total production. Winemakers craft wines renowned worldwide, with 28 appellations and 27 grape varieties that make French viticulture proud.
The Terroirs That Shape the Wines' Character
Surrounded by the Massif Central, the Alps and the Mediterranean—and more precisely located between Vienne and Avignon—the Rhône Valley offers highly varied terroirs for vine growing. The hillsides can be steep and narrow. The region benefits from a northern vineyard with a more moderate, rainy climate, and a southern vineyard with a sunny Mediterranean climate.
The Northern Part: Granitic Soils
Located on the foothills of the Massif Central, the northern section starts about 30 kilometers south of Lyon. The soil is mainly granitic, clayey, and friable. Syrah is the signature grape here, producing red wines with a very mineral profile.
The Southern Area: Pebbles and Clay
Stretching from Montélimar to Avignon for about 80 kilometers, this region features hilly terrain with limestone soils. The southern land is exposed to the mistral wind, which creates drier soils. This area produces generous, full-bodied red wines, including all those under the Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages appellation.
The Influence of the Mediterranean Climate
The Mediterranean climate gives the Rhône Valley vineyards over 2,700 hours of sunshine per year. The sunlight helps the grapes reach optimal ripeness, leading to concentrated and powerful red wines.
The mistral, a characteristic dry and cool wind of the region, plays a key role in keeping the vines healthy. Its natural drying effect helps protect the vineyards from diseases, enabling more environmentally friendly viticulture.
These unique climate conditions result in red wines with deep color and expressive aromas of ripe fruit—ready for you to discover through our selection!
Red Grape Varieties of the Rhône
There are 37 grape varieties in the Rhône Valley. We present the most common ones and their characteristics to help you better understand the wines of the region.
Syrah: Queen of the North
Syrah reigns supreme over the prestigious appellations of the northern Rhône. This exceptional grape finds its most refined expression in the great crus such as Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Côte-Rôtie.
On the steep slopes of the Rhône hillsides, it develops a unique aromatic profile that improves with age. Its remarkable tannic structure offers great aging potential for top-tier estates.
Syrah wines stand out for their length on the palate, their power balanced by soft tannins, offering a perfect harmony between strength and finesse.
Grenache: King of the South
In the southern part of the valley, Grenache dominates blends. Grenache Noir is used for red wines. Its exceptional resistance to drought and the mistral makes it ideal for this Mediterranean terroir.
Winemakers particularly appreciate its ability to produce powerful wines with aromas of ripe dark fruits and spices. A prime example: the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where this grape truly shines.
Well-suited to the rocky and clay-limestone soils of the South, Grenache accumulates high sugar levels, resulting in rich red wines.
Key Complementary Grape Varieties
Mourvèdre is the fourth most planted grape in the region. It adds depth to Rhône blends thanks to its powerful, low-acidity tannins and notes of dark fruits and spices.
Carignan, mainly grown in the south, is a tannic grape that produces bold and age-worthy wines.
Cinsault is known for its aromatic delicacy, producing easy-drinking and flavorful red wines. With its soft, balanced flavors of fresh red fruits, it’s a valuable blending partner.
What Are the Appellations of the Côtes du Rhône?
Names like Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, or Châteauneuf-du-Pape likely ring a bell if you're a Rhône wine enthusiast. Here are the key appellations and their characteristics to help you make the best choice.
The Prestigious Crus of the North
Côte-Rôtie stands out as the jewel of the northern Rhône appellations. Its wines are rich in aromas and tannins, resulting from a delicate blend of Syrah and Viognier.
Saint-Joseph, which spans 50 kilometers along the right bank of the Rhône, produces exceptionally elegant wines. Its granitic slopes give rise to refined, fruity reds.
Atop the iconic hill of Tain-l'Hermitage sits the Hermitage appellation. Its wines embody Rhône Valley excellence, combining ripe red fruit flavors with notes of cocoa.
Renowned Southern Appellations
The southern Rhône Valley is home to prestigious appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a world-renowned cru producing powerful red wines with complex aromas of dark fruits and spices.
Gigondas offers refined reds with remarkable structure, full-bodied and delicately spicy.
Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise complete this lineup of excellence with their red wines noted for exceptional fruit character.
Côtes du Rhône Villages
The Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation includes 95 communes across four departments: Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, and Vaucluse. It accounts for nearly 300,000 hectoliters of wine each year.
These terroirs benefit from clay-limestone soils, ideal for cultivating Grenache—the mandatory grape in blends. The AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages spans a wide variety of soils, resulting in highly diverse wines.
Just like the wines of the Côtes du Rhône Villages, each Rhône Valley red wine has its own personality. We invite you to read the descriptions on each product page to learn more about the nose and palate of every wine listed above.
