Rhone Valley

The Rhone wine region in Southern France is located in the Rhone valley and produces a wide range of wines under several Appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC) labels. Côtes du Rhône AOC is the region's most important appellation in terms of production volume. The Rhône is separated into two sub-regions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône, each having its own vinicultural heritage. The northern sub-region provides red wines made from the Syrah vine, which is often combined with up to 20% white wine grapes, as well as white wines made from the Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier grapes. The southern sub-region produces a wide range of red, white, and rosé wines, many of which are mixes of various grapes, like at Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

When the Romans left, there was no longer any interest in the region's wine. When the Popes and their immense purchasing power relocated to Avignon in the 13th century, wine production increased dramatically. The wines were so heavily trafficked that the Duke of Burgundy prohibited the import and export of non-Burgundian wines.

Over 6,000 wine producing properties, including 1,837 individual wineries and 103 cooperatives, produce the diverse AOC wines of the Rhône Valley area. Vineyard owners who do not vinify their own wines sell their grapes in quantity to a winemaking cooperative, such as Cellier des Dauphins, or to one of the 51 négociants (wine makers and merchants) who mix, distribute, and export on a large scale. Every year, the Rhône area produces around 4 million hl of wine, more than half of which is designated as Côte du Rhône and Côte du Rhône-Villages. The famous Northern Rhône appellations produce fewer than 5% of all Rhône wines.

Location: France