Rhone Valley

Rhone valley (Côtes du Rhône) is one of the 12 major wine regions of France. Located in the South-East of the country, runs for 240 km along the river Rhone from North to South: from Lyon to the Rhone Delta, near the Mediterranean coast.

This extension means that the wine from this region represent a wide range of results, born of different soil types and different mesoclimate. Wine territory so stretched that there was almost certainly taken all the wine division of the Northern part of the fault and the southern part of the region. Between them there is a discernible interval of about 40 km between the towns of valence, Montélimar – where there are almost no vineyards.

This division is reflected not only in geography and preferred grape varieties, but in the quality and quantity of the wines.

A smaller, more attentive to quality, the Northern part is almost entirely focused on red wines from Syrah and white wines from the grape varieties Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

The bigger, the more fertile southern part uses a much more varieties, the main of which is the Trinity, called “Rhone blend”: Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre, which is a hallmark of southern Rhone.

While the Northern half is rich granite slopes and close to the continental climate, the southern half is rocky, sandy plains and warmer winters, close to the conditions of the Mediterranean.

According to the degree of prestige of the North and South of the Rhone Valley is also not equal. The North the patrimony of the old and established names, such as Hermitage and Cote roti, components, while only 5% of the total volume produced in the valley wines. The other 95% produces the South, mostly by little-known brands. But we cannot say that the South is nothing to brag about, because here is the famous appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Châteauneuf-du-Pape).

One common constant for both parts of the Rhone Valley is the common appellation Cotes du Rhone, allowing to produce red, rose and white wines in any part of the region, a total of 171 communes: from Vienne (Vienne) in the North to Avignon in the South – cities that mark the beginning and end of the main valley, where the wines are produced at common appellation, but do not reach the more stringent requirements of the specific terroirs San Joseph (Saint-Joseph) and Gigondas (Gigondas), which separate appellations.

Cotes du Rhone Vilyazh

The appellation Cotes du Rhone Vilyazh tied to specific villages, which allows terroir to produce a wine of slightly higher quality than the regional average. And so it was that they skuchkovalis in the southern part of the Rhone near orange.

A select group of about 20 of these villages (the list is not permanent) are allowed to add their name to the label Cotes du Rhone Vilyazh on the label, leading to those wonderful designs for we love French labels, like Cotes du Rhone Villages Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues.

And there is another important piece of territory, distracting from the obvious division of “North-South”: the district Di (Die) in the Eastern part of the Rhone. The ancient city of Di is 50 km from valence and Montelimar, at the foot of the French Alps.

It produces sparkling wine under the appellation Claret de Di (Clairette de Die) and the Crémant de Di (Cremant de Die). And a little bit of quiet white Coto de Di (Coteaux de Die)

Di is not the only example of a specific white wine of the Rhone Valley.

Condrieu (Condrieu) in the North – a rich, mostly dry white wine from the Viognier variety with interesting floral and honey bouquet.

Muscat de beaumes de Venise (Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise) – sweet white wine, completing the stylistic repertoire of the Rhone Valley.

Source: portal WineSearcher