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Côtes du Rhône
Very diverse wines take most advantage of the weather and winemaking conditions of the Rhône valley.
Côtes du Rhône wine information
Find all the information on Côtes du Rhône wine
region in one page
Côtes du Rhône geography and wine
region /
Map
of Côtes du Rhône
Geography,
weather, main cities, population, local interests, etc
Wine making in Côtes du Rhône
/
History of Rhône
Vineyards, soil, wine production, grapes in Côtes du Rhône
Wines of Côtes du Rhône
10 appellations in Côtes du Rhône:
Côte Rôtie -
Condrieu -
Château Grillet -
Crozes Hermitage -
Cornas -
Gigondas -
Châteauneuf du Pape -
Côtes du Ventoux -
Côtes du Rhône aoc -
Côtes du Rhône Villages -
Maps of Côtes du Rhone
Côtes du Rhône Wine Information
Côtes du Rhône is probably the most
diverse wine region in France. From the very different full-body
red wines of Côte Rôtie
in the north and Châteauneuf du Pape
in the south to the exquisite white wine of Condrieu
and Château Grillet
and the fruity red wines of Crozes Hermitage
and of the southern Rhône region.
Grenache 55%
Côtes du Rhône region information:
The Côtes du Rhône (Rhône Valley) is a long narrow area which
stretches on both banks of the Rhône river banks. Côtes du Rhône
begins just south of Lyon and finishes 200 kilometres
(125 miles) further, just south of Avignon. Very diverse wines take most advantage of the weather and winemaking
conditions of the Rhône valley. The climate in Côtes du Rhône is hot and sunny, more constant than
in the other French wine producing regions. The soil is stony,
mainly made of granite. The main grapes in Côtes du Rhône are
Grenache, Syrah and Carignan for red wine, Clairette, Ugni Blanc and
Grenache Blanc for white wine. Côtes du Rhône is also famous for the
Viognier white wine made in the northern part of the region (Condrieu,
Château Grillet)
which is one of the most distinctive in France.
Over 75% of Côtes du Rhône wines are red. They are generally thick,
robust and their alcoholic content higher than that of most French
wines.
Côtes du
Rhône was with Provence the first region to produce wine in France. It seems
that the first vine was planted by vine growers coming form Marseille.
Because of the Rhône river, it was easy to send the bottles of wine to an
harbor on the Mediterranean sea (Marseille). The vineyards was then
developed by the Romans. The oldest vineyards are Côte Rôtie and Hermitage.
The Rhône region has many Roman monuments to visit such as in Vienne city.
In the
middle age, monasteries began to manage vineyards such as Châteauneuf which
was rename Châteauneuf du Pape when the Popes used to spent their holidays
there ! A clear sign of recognition for the region.
White Grapes in Rhône:
Red Grapes in Rhône:
Clairette 35%
Grenache blanc 20%
Ugni blanc 20%
Bourboulenc
Marsanne
Roussanne
Viognier
Syrah 15%
Carignan 15%
Mourvèdre
Wines of Côtes du Rhône can be separated into two geographic areas:
Northern vineyards:
Côte Rôtie
The Côte Rôtie with its hills bathed in sun, produces a warm, robust, full-bodied, richly colored red wine. Harsh and dark when they are young those wines become softer and develop with age an excellent bouquet. Two grape-varieties dominate the production, Viognier and Syrah.
Wines of Côte Rôtie are often considered as the best Côtes du Rhône.Hermitage
The "Coteaux (slope) de l'Hermitage" dominates the small town of Tain l'Hermitage. The first plantations date from the 10th century but it is under Louis the XIV that l'Hermitage obtains its credential letters... It was the favourite cru of the Tsar court in Russia.
The red wines of Hermitage are generous and well balanced, strong aromas and a complete bouquet. They tolerate aging very well and become smooth and mellow when they mature.Southern vineyards:
The southern vineyards produce 80% of Côtes du Rhône wines.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
The Châteauneuf du Pape is the most famous Côtes du Rhône wine. The "Coteaux" (slope) is between Orange and Avignon, in one of the most beautiful landscapes of Provence, where the Popes had their summer residence.
The Châteauneuf du Pape is thick, harsh, powerful and richly colored. It is elaborated with 13 authorized and controlled grape-varieties among which Syrah, Grenache and Clairette.Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Village
They are produced in large quantity and are of a very good value for every day consumption.
Other regions: Alsace - Burgundy - Bordeaux - Champagne - Loire - Provence - Languedoc - South West - Corsica