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Detailed map of the Rhône wine region, with separate maps of Southern Rhône ("Zoom A") and Northern Rhône ("Zoom B").
Detailed map of the Rhône wine region, with separate maps of Southern Rhône ("Zoom A") and Northern Rhône ("Zoom B").

The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designations. Southern France (or the South of France) colloquially known as Le Midi, is a loosely defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that The Rhone, or the Rhône is one of the major Rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France. Appellation d’origine contrôlée ( AOC) which translates as "controlled term of origin" is the French certification granted to certain French The region's major appellation in terms of production volume is Côtes du Rhône AOC. Côtes du Rhône (Rhone Hills is a Wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for the Rhône wine region of France The region is generally divided into two sub-regions with distinct vinicultural traditions, the Northern Rhône (referred to in French as Rhône septentrienal) and the Southern Rhône (in French Rhône méridional). The northern sub-region produces red wines from the Syrah grape, sometimes blended with white wine grapes, and white wines from Viognier grapes. Syrah is a dark-skinned variety of Grape used in Wine. Syrah is grown in many countries and is primarily used to produce powerful Red wines which enjoy Viognier (vee-ohn-yay is a white Wine Grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley The southern sub-region produces an array of red, white and rosé wines, often blends of several grapes such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an AOC for Wine made near the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France

The first cultivated vines in the region were likely planted in 600 BC; however, the origins of the two most important grape varieties in the northern Rhone (Syrah and Viognier) are unknown.

Contents

Production

The various AOC wines of the Rhône Valley region are produced by over 6,000 wine growing properties including 1,837 private wineries and 103 cooperatives[1]. Those vineyard owners which do not vinify their wines themselves deliver their grapes in bulk either to a winemaking cooperative, of which there are 103 in the region, or sell them to one of the 51 négociants (wine producers and merchants) who blend, distribute, and export on an industrial scale. A négociant is the French term for a Wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name

Northern Rhône

The steep hill on which the Hermitage AOC grapes are produced, to the right, stands above the Rhône, on this northward view from the heights of Tournon-sur-Rhône.
The steep hill on which the Hermitage AOC grapes are produced, to the right, stands above the Rhône, on this northward view from the heights of Tournon-sur-Rhône. Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of The Rhone, or the Rhône is one of the major Rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France. Tournon-sur-Rhône is a commune in the Ardèche department in southeastern France.

The northern Rhône is characterized by a continental climate with harsh winters but warm summers. Its climate is influenced by the mistral wind, which brings colder air from the Massif Central. The Mistral in France is a fresh or cold often violent and usually dry Wind, blowing throughout the year but is most frequent in winter and spring The Massif Central ( Occitan: Massís Central / Massís Centrau) is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of Mountains and Northern Rhône is therefore less warm than southern Rhône, which means that the mix of planted grape varieties and wine styles are slightly different.

Syrah is the only red grape variety permitted in red AOC wines from this sub-region. This is a list of varieties of cultivated Grapes whether used for Wine, or eating as a Table grape, fresh or dried ( Raisin, currant, sultana The grape, which is believed to have originated in or close to the Rhône region, is also widely known as Shiraz, its name in Australia and much of the English-speaking world, and has recently become very popular with consumers around the world. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For wines bearing the Cornas AOC designation, Syrah must be used exclusively, whereas other reds from the northern Rhône sub-region may be blended with white wine grapes, either Viognier or Marsanne and Roussanne, depending on the appellation. Cornas is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon Marsanne is a white Wine Grape, most commonly found in the northern Rhône, where it is often blended with Roussanne. Roussanne is a white Wine Grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne However, while this is allowed by the AOC rules, blending with white grapes is only widely practiced for Côte-Rôtie.

Viognier by itself is used for white wines from Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Condrieu (From the French coin de ruisseau meaning "corner of the Brook " is a French wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Château-Grillet is a Wine -growing AOC and Winery in the northern Rhône wine region of France, near Vienne. Marsanne and Roussanne are in turn used for the whites from Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and Saint Péray. Crozes-Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France. Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Saint-Joseph or St-Joseph is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France Saint-Péray is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the northern Rhône wine region of France.

From north to south the appellations in the northern Rhône are:

Northern Rhône reds are often identified by their signature green olive and smoky bacon aromas.

Southern Rhône

A vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in southern Rhône.
A vineyard in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in southern Rhône.

The southern Rhône sub-region has a more Mediterranean climate with milder winters and hot summers. Drought can be a problem in the area, but limited irrigation is permitted. The differing terroirs, together with the rugged landscape which partly protects the valleys from the Mistral, produce microclimates which give rise to a wide diversity of wines. A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the Climate differs from the surrounding area A feature of the cultivation of the region is the use of large pebbles around the bases of the vines to absorb the heat of the sun during the day to keep the vines warm at night when, due to the cloudless skies, there is often a significant drop in temperature.

The southern Rhône's most famous red wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend containing up to 13 varieties of wine grapes, both red and white, as permitted by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC rules. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an AOC for Wine made near the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France [2] Other nearby AOC regions including Coteaux du Tricastin AOC, Côtes de Ventoux AOC, Côtes du Vivarais AOC, Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC and Vacqueyras AOC may contain even more varieties in the blend. Coteaux du Tricastin is a Wine -growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France, but outside the broad Côtes du Rhône AOC Côtes du Vivarais is a Wine -growing AOC in the northwestern extreme of the southern Rhône wine region of France. Lirac is a Wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the department of Gard situated Tavel is a Wine -growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France, across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Vacqueyras is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France. Gigondas AOC, on the other hand, is predominantly made from Grenache Noir has a more restricted set of permitted grapes. Gigondas is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France. Grenache (pronounced gren-ash) (in Spanish, Garnacha, in Catalan, Garnatxa) is probably the most widely planted variety of red wine Depending on the specific AOC rules, grapes blended into southern Rhône reds may include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault. Mourvèdre, is a variety of red Wine Grape grown around the world Carignan is a red Wine grape that originated in Cariñena Aragon and was later transplanted to Sardinia, elsewhere in Italy, France Cinsaut or Cinsault (pronounced "san-so" is a red Wine Grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it important in Languedoc-Roussillon The reds from the left bank are full bodied, rich in tannins while young, and are characterized by their aromas of prune, undergrowth, chocolate and ripe black fruit. The right bank reds are slightly lighter and fruitier.

White wines from the southern Rhône sub-region, such as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites, are also typically blends of several wine grapes. These may include Ugni Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, and Clairette. Trebbiano is a Grape variety that probably makes more white wine in the world than any other Bourboulenc is a white Wine Grape variety primarily grown in southern France. Since about 1998 Viognier is increasingly being used and is also appearing as a single varietal. Viognier (vee-ohn-yay is a white Wine Grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley

Tavel AOC, produced in the special microclimate of the sillon rhodanien (the furrow of the Rhône) by some thirty producers including Château d'Aqueria, Domaine Maby, Domaine de la Mordorée, Domaine Pelaquier, is an elite rosé only, which has been referred to as 'the wine of kings". Tavel is a Wine -growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France, across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC

Fortified wines (vin doux naturel) are made in the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC and Rasteau AOCs. Fortified wine is Wine to which alcohol (usually Brandy) has been added Vins doux naturels are lightly Fortified wines typically made from white Muscat grapes or red Grenache grapes in the south of France. Beaumes de Venise is an appellation of wines from the eastern central region of the southern half of the Rhône Valley Rasteau is a Wine -growing AOC in the southern Rhône wine region of France.

Côtes du Rhône

Côtes du Rhône AOC is an AOC that covers both the northern and southern sub-regions of Rhône. Côtes du Rhône (Rhone Hills is a Wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for the Rhône wine region of France Typically it is only used if the wine does not qualify for an appellation that can command a higher price. Therefore, almost all Côtes du Rhône AOC is produced in southern Rhône, since the northern sub-region is covered by well-known appellations and also is much smaller in terms of total vineyard surface. This AOC is also used by the commercial blenders (négociants) who buy grapes in bulk from various parts of the region to bottle, distribute, and export on an industrial scale. This nevertheless makes it the most commonly known, produced, and distributed appellation of the region. Produce from vineyards surrounding certain villages including Cairanne, Rasteau and others may be labeled Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC. Cairanne is a commune of the Vaucluse département, in southern France and the region of Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur Côtes du Rhône (Rhone Hills is a Wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for the Rhône wine region of France

Red Côtes du Rhône is usually dominated by Grenache.

Other appellations

Other appellations falling outside the main Rhône area in terms of wine styles but administratively within it are Clairette de Die AOC, Crémant de Die AOC, Coteaux de Tricastin AOC, Côtes de Ventoux AOC, Côtes du Vivarais AOC, Côtes du Luberon AOC. Clairette de Die AOC is a natural sparkling wine made from the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (75% minimum and Clairette (25% maximum grape varieties Clairette de Die AOC is a natural sparkling wine made from the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (75% minimum and Clairette (25% maximum grape varieties Coteaux de Tricastin is the northernmost Wine -growing AOC area of the southern ( méridional) Rhône wine region of France. Côtes du Vivarais is a Wine -growing AOC in the northwestern extreme of the southern Rhône wine region of France. Côtes du Luberon is a Wine -growing AOC in the southeastern extreme of the Rhône wine region of France, where the wines are produced in 36 communes These are more similar to Provence wines. Provence ( Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm is a region of southeastern France In 2004 ten new appellations were officially added to the Rhône region, 9 in the Gard and one in the Vaucluse, which largely parallel the wines of Southern Rhône proper, while two appellations were discontinued for reasons of reforesting and urban encroachment. [3]

In 2004, Costières de Nîmes AOC, which previously had been counted as part of eastern Languedoc, was also attached to the Rhône wine region. Costières de Nîmes is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for wines that are produced in an area between the ancient city of Nîmes and the western Rhône Languedoc wine, including the Vin de pays labeled Vin de Pays d'Oc, is produced in southern France. In that year, INAO moved the responsibility for oversight of this appellation's wine to the regional committee of the Rhône valley. The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine is the French organization charged with regulating controlled place names [4] Local producers of Côtes du Rhône-styled wines made from Syrah and Grenache lobbied for this change since the local winemaking traditions did not coincide with administrative borders, and presumably due to the greater prestige of Rhône wines in the marketplace. Côtes du Rhône (Rhone Hills is a Wine -growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for the Rhône wine region of France Such changes of borders between wine regions are very rare.

Other wines

Many private wineries also produce wines of their own creation from the available varieties including sparkling and fortified wines, single varietals - particularly from the Syrah grape - and even brandies. These wines however are not usually covered by the rules of a VDQS or AOC, but are nevertheless of excellent quality. They are usually only sold on the premisses.

Several wineries produce wines from organically cultivated vines that, provided they comply with the rules for varieties, plant spacing, pruning and maximum yield, are admitted in the AOC.

The excess production of many domains and cooperatives is released as Vin de Pays which are marketed as Vin de Pays du Gard, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, etc. Vin de pays is a French term meaning "country wine" Vins de pays are a step in the French wine classification which is above the table wine ( Vin de table , or are sold to blenders of Wine from the European Union, and mass food distribution for sale as own brands. Excess wines of the lowest quality, Vin de Table, occasionally become part of the wine lake and are reprocessed into industrial alcohol. In the United States table wine is used as a legal definition to differentiate standard Wine from stronger (higher alcohol content Fortified wine or

Classification

Rhône does not have an official classification using "Grand cru" or similar terms, in difference to Bordeaux or Burgundy. The classification of Wine can be done according to various methods including but not limited to place of origin or Appellation, vinification methods A grand cru ( French for great growth) is a Regional wine classification that designates a Vineyard known for its favorable reputation in producing A Bordeaux wine is any Wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Burgundy wine ( is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France. There is however a difference between the Rhône AOCs as to the geographical delineation and naming practices of the various AOCs, which provide a classification into four categories of AOCs:

See also

Sources

Footnotes
  1. ^ Inter Rhône: Committee for the promotion of the technology, economy, communication and marketing of Rhône Wine (2005)
  2. ^ Lichine, Alexis (1967). Alexis Lichine's Encyclopedia of Wines and Spirits. London: Cassell & Company Ltd. , p. 450-452.  
  3. ^ Inter Rhône
  4. ^ JORF n°177 du 1 août 2004 page 13753 texte n° 25: Arrêté du 19 juillet 2004 relatif à la composition des comités régionaux vins et eaux-de-vie de l'Institut national des appellations d'origine

External links

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