Rhone Valley
The vineyards of the Rhone valley extend from each side of the Rhone. They start at Vienna (north) and go as far as Avignon (south). The region has developed a critical axis of European development, connecting Europe to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. It passes through six departments:
* Rhone, Loire, Ardeche and Gard on the right bank
* Drome and Vaucluse on the left bank
It separates the vineyards into two main parts:
* The northern vineyards in the Rhone Valley and the northern area
* The southern vineyards of the Rhone Valley and is the area south
The history of the Rhône
The vineyards of the Rhone Valley are among the oldest in France. Indeed, the Gallic established the first vineyards there are over 2000 years ago. Subsequently, the Romans continued to develop, before the barbarians came to invade and destroyed most of the vines.
However, the Church has played a key role in its preservation since the Middle Ages, the monks continued the work begun by the Romans.
Later, in the twelfth century, the first vineyards of the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape were planted on the initiative of the Templars.
The wines of the region were for a long time considered popular wine for the masses, of a certain dubious quality.
However, interest was created by the popes that gave them their letters of nobility two centuries later .Recognizing its value; in 1650 winemakers took the decision to protect the name "Cote du Rhone”.
This reputation continued to grow until the nineteenth century, during which the vine planted area diminished.
Today, however, the vineyards have once again extended to occupy a total area of 77,175 ha. The growers finally received recognition in 1937 of the Appellation d'origine contrôlée Côtes du Rhône. This makes it the second French AOC wine both in size, product and volume.
Key figures for Rhône
* 77,175 hectares
* 6000 Farms
* Production of about 2.8 million hectoliters of wine a year, 420 million bottles of wine
* A turnover of more than 740 million euros, 296 million in export
* 145 countries are consumers of Rhone Valley wines
Climate and soil type
Sector Northern Rhone (North)
The climate is continental temperate zone. The vines planted southeast and southwest and receive plenty of sunshine.
Summer: Sunny and warm
Autumn - Spring: cooler than in the south
Winter: more difficult than the south
Rhone Southern Area (South)
The climate is Mediterranean in this area, with strong winds.
Summer: sunny, dry and hot
Fall-spring: warm and sunny
Winter: mild and sunny
The Mistral is important because it acts as a antibacterial agent, cleansing the air and keeping temperatures low which allow the vines to fight against disease.
Soils are different in different areas.
In the north, the soils are mainly of granite, but in the southern sector they are much more diverse. Indeed, there are stony clay-limestone, sandy soils and sandy clay.
Winemaking in the Rhone
North Zone (North)
Red Grapes
* The only authorized grape variety is Syrah.
White Grapes
* Roussane
* Marsanne
* Viognier
South Zone (Southern)
There are more common varieties in this region, which is linked to favorable conditions offered by the climate and soil diversity.
Types of red
* Grenache
* Syrah
* Mourvedre
* Carignan
* Cinsault
Other reds
* Cournoise
* Black Terret
* Camarèse
* Black Counoise
* Grenache gris
Main white varieties
* White Grenache
* Bourboulenc
* Picpoul
* Clairette
* Roussane
* Marsanne
Other white varieties
* Ugni Blanc
* Muscat (used in particular for natural sweet wines)
The appellations of the Rhône:
Northern Zone
It is the AOC are entitled to the appellation of Cotes du Rhone, they are considered CRU.
* AOC Côte-Rôtie: 229 ha, 8,425 hl per year. Only red wine.
* AOC Condrieu: 124 ha, producing 4,385 hl per year. Only white wine.
* Chateau-Grillet AOC: 3 ha, producing 90 hectoliters per year. White wine only.
* AOC St Joseph: 1005 ha, producing 36,000 hl per year. White and red.
Crozes-Hermitage AOC *: Production of 1428 ha, 60,700 hl per year. Only red.
* The Hermitage AOC: production of 134 ha, 4,295 hl per year (White and Red)
* AOC Cornas: 102 hl, production 3530 hl per year (Red only)
* AOC St-Peray: 52 hectares, producing 1,683 hl per year (only white)
Southern Zone
* Cotes du Rhone area
44,000 hectares
Production is mostly red wine appellation
Red grapes used: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
White Grapes used: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier, Roussane, Marsanne, Cinsault.
* Côtes du Rhone Villages
7000 ha.
Red Grapes: 20% minimum for Syrah and Mourvedre, Grenache 50% minimum, 50% maximum for other varieties
White Grapes: Clairette Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Bourboulenc, 20% maximum for other varieties.
* Côtes du Rhône villages with commune name
Saint Pantaleon vines: 61 hectares, annual production 2037 hl
Chusclan: 259 hectares, annual production of 9,580 hl
Laudun: 298 hectares, annual production of 11,315 hl
God's Plan: 367 hectares, annual production of 12,852 hl
Puyméras: 81 hectares, annual production of 3,243 hl
Cairanne 760 hectares, annual production of 24,600 hl
Rasteau: 733 hectares, annual production of 25,657 hl
Massif Uschan: 178 hectares, annual production of 5,830 hl
Rochegude: 135 hectares, annual production of 4,462 hl
Rousset vines: 52 hectares, annual production 2041 hl
Sablet: 230 hectares, annual production of 8,163 hl
Saint-Gervais: 137 hectares, annual production of 5,109 hl
Visan: 419 hectares, annual production of 15,510 hl
Saint-Maurice: 136 hectares, annual production of 4,982 hl
Signargues: 219 hectares, annual production of 12,349 hl
Roaix: 96 hectares, annual production of 3175 hl
Seguret: 268 hectares, annual production of 9,176 hl
Valréas: 479 hectares, annual production of 16,883 hl
The Cru
* AOC Lirac: 625 ha, producing 19,000 hl per year
* AOC Tavel: 940 ha, 40 000 hl
* AOC Chateauneuf du Pape: 32,000 ha, 99,000 hl
* AOC Vacqueyras: 1335 ha, 42,300 hl per year
* AOC Gigondas: 545 ha, 17,950 hl per year
* AOC Vinsobres: 995 ha, 16,000 hl per year
Other AOC Cotes du Rhone
Tavel: 938 hectares
The white grape varieties: Picpoul, Bourboulenc, Clairette white
The red varieties: Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mouvèdre, Carignan, Calitor
Wine tasting: 4200 hectares
The white varietals: Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Bourboulenc, Macabeo, Clairette, Roussane
The red varietals: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvedre
Wine type: Red, rosé and dry white
Lirac: 623 hectares
The white varieties are: Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc
Red varieties are: Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache Noir
Odds Vivarais: 700 hectares.
The white varieties: Marsanne, Grenache Blanc
The reds are Syrah and Grenache Noir
There are other wines called "other wines of the Rhone Valley”, that is to say that they do not carry the Côtes du Rhône appellation
* AOC Coteaux du Tricastin: 2830 hectares, annual production of 95,000 hl
* Wine tasting: 41 64 hectares, annual production of 213,728 hl
* AOC coast Vivarais: 700 hectares, annual production of 20,000 hl
* AOC Côtes de Ventoux: 5900 hectares, annual production of 251,622 hl
* AOC coasts of Luberon: 2532 hectares, annual production of 97,258 hl
* Coteaux Pierrevert
* AOC Clairette de Die
* AOC Crémant de Die
* AOC Coteaux de Die
* AOC Clairette de Bellegarde
* AOC Orgnac Aven
* AOC Saint Montan
The natural sweet wines (VDN)
AOC Rasteau: 41 hectares, annual production of 1,114 hl
AOC Muscat Beaumes de Venise: 503 hectares, annual production of 12,741 hl
Source: Official website of Rhone wines