Rhone Valley

Introduction

The Rhone Valley is a diverse wine-growing region in the south-east of France. The Vineyards flank the Rhone River for 200 kilometres of its journey from Switzerland to Marseilles. It can be broadly divided into two regions, Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone. The separation of the two regions is more than just philosophical. There is an almost 60km stretch between the two regions, where no vineyards exist.

Northern Rhone

Grape Varieties: Shiraz, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne

Key communes

  • Hermitage
  • Cote Rotie
  • Condrieu (Chateaux Grillett)
  • Cornas
  • Crozes Hermitage
  • St Joseph
  • St Peray

Key Points

Accounts for 5% of wine produced in the Rhone valley, but is responsible for the majority of the top wines.

All red wines are made from shiraz, though some viognier is planted in the vineyards especially in Cote Rotie.

White wines from Condrieu are made exclusively from viognier. Whites from Hermitage and surrounding regions are often a marsanne/roussanne blend.

Despite their proximity, the northern Rhone is cooler than its southern sibling.

Most wines are produced by small-scale growers and the focus is on quality.

Hermitage

For many years synonymous with shiraz. Hermitage is the spiritual home of the Rhone. The appellation is less than 150 hectares (though not all of this is arable), with about 40 owners sharing the vineyards.

Shiraz is the principle grape, with up to 15% marsanne and roussanne allowed in the reds. Whites are made from marsanne and roussanne.

Tain l’Hermitage is the only co-operative in the region, and they also make wine for some of the smaller growers without production facilities.

Cote Rotie

The original shiraz/viognier. For many, the wines of Cote Rotie are the pinnacle of wines from the Rhone. Made from shiraz, with up to 20% viognier. Centred around Ampuis, the appellation covers approximately 300 hectares.

There are two distinct sub-regions with differing soil types. Cote Brune and Cote Blonde are divided by the Chemin de la Cote Blonde. Broadly, the Cote Brune has darker soils as opposed to Cote Blonde’s lighter soils (and perhaps more feminine wines). The co-fermentation of viognier is more common in the Cote Blonde.

Since the 1970’s Marcel Guigal has been primarily responsible for the fame and fortune of Cote Rotie with his single vineyard wines.

Condrieu (Chateaux Grillett)

It is easy to think of Condrieu as a niche wine, but it has played a significant role. In the 1960’s the situation was grim. Viognier proved to be a difficult grape to make wine from. Late maturing, low yielding and disease prone, there was little to get excited about. It was only in the last 40 years that people started to take notice. The new world has really embraced viognier, while plantings in Condrieu exceed 130 hectares.

Cornas

Another expression of straight shiraz. Cornas is starting to demonstrate its potential to produce masculine and long lived wines.

Crozes Hermitage

By far the largest appellation in the northern Rhone. Grapes grown are shiraz, marsanne and roussanne. The red may contain all three, (max 15% white) however there is a trend towards straight shiraz. The white wines are usually a blend.

St Joseph

Now extending from St Peray in the south to Condrieu in the north, the expansion of St Joseph has at times jeopardised its reputation. The older vineyards located around Tournon generally produce the best wines. St Joseph has the same grape varieties as Crozes Hermitage, thought only 10% of the white grapes are allowed in the reds. Traditionally, the wines of St Joseph have been earlier to mature than its more illustrious counterparts.

St Peray

A small appellation at the far south of northern Rhone, St Peray only makes white wines from marsanne and roussanne. These can be both sparkling and still.

Southern Rhone

Key Grape Varieties

  • Red: Grenache, cinsault, shiraz & mouvedre
  • White: Clairette, grenache blanc, marsanne & roussanne

Key communes

  • Beaumes de Venice
  • Costieres de Nimes
  • Coteaux du Tricastin
  • Cotes du Rhone
  • Cotes du Rhone – Village
  • Cotes du Ventoux
  • Cotes du Vivarais
  • Chateauneuf de Pape
  • Gigondas
  • Lirac
  • Rasteau
  • Tavel
  • Vacqueyras

Key Points

  • There are many differences here as compared to the north.
  • Co-operatives are the major producers (by volume at least)
  • Chateauneuf de Pape has several large vineyard holdings
  • Grenache is the workhorse variety
  • Blends are the norm – up to 13 varieties in CNdP and 24 in a Cotes du Rhone
  • Cote du Rhone is the generic appellation that covers white and red wine from the Rhone Valley

Beaumes de Venice

Whilst Beaumes de Venice has its own appellation for red wines. It’s slightly fortified sweet wines, however, are most recognised for in Australia.

Coteaux du Tricastin

A diverse range of wines come from the various microclimates within the appellation.

Cotes du Rhone

This is the general appellation that applies to wines from the Rhone Valley. Grenache is the main variety planted for red and clairette and grenache blanc dominate the whites. There is a move to planting the more classical varieties, (e.g. shiraz, marsanne and roussanne) to improve the quality of wines produced.

Cotes du Rhone – Village. A distinct step up in quality here. Only selected communes can use the Village suffix on their wines. Maximum yields are reduced here, and alcohol strength must be 12.5% or greater. Twenty villages are allowed to add their name to the Cotes du Rhone – Village appellation, and these should be the best wines. Indeed many of these villages are trying to emulate Gigondas, and be elevated to their own appellation.

Chateauneuf de Pape

Chateauneuf de Pape is the most highly regarded district within the southern Rhone. Red wines are based on grenache, and a small amount of white wine is also made.

Gigondas

Typically excellent wines made predominantly from grenache. Gigondas has the potential to challenge Chateauneuf de Pape as the best region in the southern Rhone. Gigondas was the first Cotes du Rhone – Village to be awarded its own appellation in recognition of the quality of wines produced. Production focuses on red wine, though whites are also produced.

Lirac, Rasteau & Tavel

These three have all been upgraded to appellation controlee in recent years.

  • Tavel is most recognised for its fine roses
  • Lirac is considered to be a reliable and good value source of white, red and rose
  • Rasteau produces fuller bodied reds in general

Vacqueyras

Like Gigondas, Vacqueyras has been upgraded from Cotes du Rhone – Village to Appellation Controlee. Reds, whites and roses can all be made, but red wines based on grenache predominate.