Rhône Wine

Rhône wine is any wine produced in the Rhône Valley region of southeastern France, which follows the north-south course of the Rhône river and is consistently one of France’s largest wine-producing regions by volume. Rhône wine is crafted in a variety of styles. It can be dry or sweet; red, white or pink; and still or sparkling (though not much of the latter is produced).

The Rhône Valley is located in southeastern France, tracing the Rhône river south for about 150 miles from Lyon to the Rhône Delta. It spans 32 different appellations, which are often categorized as either northern Rhône or southern Rhône.

Because the Rhône Valley is so large, it’s most often divided into two parts: the northern Rhône and the southern Rhône. Each of these areas contains several different smaller appellations.

While all of the Rhône's wine regions produce wines worth trying, a few areas are much more well known, and their wines are much more available. Some important Rhône regions to know are Côte Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint-Joseph in the northern Rhône, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueras in the southern Rhône.

Côtes du Rhône is also a name worth knowing. This is a region-wide appellation that covers more than 74,000 acres of vineyards across the northern and southern Rhône areas. Wines labeled Côtes du Rhône typically do not qualify for an appellation with stricter standards, but are often delicious.

The northern Rhône and southern Rhône differ in geography and climate. Different grapes are preferred in each area, and the quality and quantity of wines each region produces can vary greatly.

The northern Rhône is considered to be the area between the town of Vienne to just south of Valence, and contains more widely recognized appellations. Less wine is made here than in the south, but the wines from the northern Rhône are often more sought after. The region has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers, and much of its vineyards are located on steep, terraced slopes along the Rhône River. The area is dominated by Syrah for red wine production, and Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier for white wine production.

The southern Rhône is thought to cover the area around Montélimar to that just south of Avignon, and as much as 95% of the Rhône Valley’s wines are made here. It has a more Mediterranean climate than the north, with mild winters and warm, dry summers. The terrain is varied, which creates several different microclimates and allows for a greater range of wine production. Most wines made here are blends, made primarily from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre for the reds, and Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne for the whites.

Generally speaking, northern Rhône red wines are big, bold and spicy, often with firm tannins. Its white wines are typically lush or rich, with complex stone fruit and tropical flavors, and floral or honeyed characteristics.

Typically, red wines of the southern Rhône are rounded and warming, with generous red fruit flavors. The southern Rhône’s white wines, meanwhile, are generally rich, dry and full bodied, with flavors of ripe stone fruits, melon and lemon curd, plus citrus, honey and white flowers.

Red grapes and white grapes both thrive throughout the Rhône Valley, and they are used for the production of dry and sweet wines; red, white and pink wines; and still and sparkling wines. The overwhelming majority of Rhône wines are blends of grapes. The top red grapes are Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise. The top white grapes are Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.