Rhône (262)

Rhône Wine: Demanding High Culture and Joyful Wine Enjoyment

Preferred wine-growing region of the popes of the Middle Ages, forgotten for decades or even centuries multiple times, and finally rediscovered in the 1980s: the Rhône Valley is considered the cradle of wine culture in France. A wine journey through the Rhône region leads from the predominantly varietal red wines of the north to fruity, lively cuvées in the south.

Northern Rhône: Concentration on the Essentials in Continental Climate

Eight major appellations and a single red grape variety: we are in the realm of Syrah, the only permitted red grape variety for the steep slopes between Vienne and Valence. Only five percent of all Rhône wines come from this part of the wine region. Hot summers and, thanks to mild Mediterranean influences, only moderately cold winters in the upper Rhône Valley meet the needs of Syrah. In the best locations, dry and stony soils interspersed with clay, chalk, gravel, and granite debris, as well as a cool microclimate, allow the development of powerful aromas and delicately intricate notes. Excellent examples of the region's great wines are classics like the La Chapelle Hermitage Rouge from Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné and the Côte Rôtie La Landonne AOC from Maison Delas.

In some smaller AOCs along the Drôme, a tributary of the Rhône coming from the pre-Alps, as well as in the northern part of the AOC Côtes du Rhône, other red grape varieties are cultivated alongside Syrah. White grape varieties account for less than one-tenth of the northern Rhône region.

Southern Rhône: Plump Variety with Southern Flair

Red wines also dominate along the Rhône from Orange to Avignon, as well as the further eastern appellations like Côtes du Ventoux and Côtes du Luberon. The Mediterranean climate and the variously structured soils swept dry by the Mistral favor a large variety of red and white grape varieties - with the latter taking up no more than three percent of the total cultivation area.

Although Syrah is also grown in the AOCs Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône-Villages, the main role in the southern Rhône Valley is played by cuvées based on Grenache. The grandseigneur of the region is the AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where both varietal variants and cuvées made from up to 13 grape varieties are crafted. Almost opposite, on the western bank of the Rhône, lies Tavel, the only appellation where only rosé wines are produced. Among the high-quality AOCs, Vacqueyras and Gigondas stand out from the majority of everyday wines.

The Most Important Grape Varieties of the Rhône Region

Red Grapes

Northern Rhône

• Syrah
• Gamay and Pinot Noir (smaller cultivation areas on the Drôme)

South of Valence to the Camargue border

• Grenache
• Mourvèdre
• Carignan
• Cinsault

White Grapes

• Viognier 
• Grenache Blanc
• Clairette Blanche
• Marsanne
• Roussanne
• Bourboulenc
• Piquepoul Blanc

Things to Know About the Rhône

When and how did the Rhône become a famous wine-growing region?

When the Greeks founded the city of Marseille in the 6th century BC, they likely brought the first grapevines with them. Winegrowing in the Rhône Valley has been documented for about 2,400 years. Bishop Gregory of Tours mentioned wine from Avignon in the year 500. In the 13th century, Pope John XXII had his own vineyard created on calcareous gravel soil slightly north of Avignon - the Châteauneuf-du-Pape saw the light of day.

How is the AOC system structured in the Rhône Valley?

- The AOC Côtes du Rhône encompasses about 80 percent of the total cultivation area in this wine-growing region and is almost entirely part of the southern Rhône Valley. According to AOC regulations, a maximum of 51 hectoliters of wine per hectare may be produced here.

- Côtes du Rhône-Villages denotes the next highest quality level, with a permissible maximum yield of 45 hectoliters/hectare. A portion of the wine-growing communities of this AOC may additionally mention the village name on the label, where a maximum yield of 42 liters per hectare is allowed; in bountiful vintages, it may be a bit more.

- The crus include the 17 highest-rated AOCs of the region. The permissible yield is regulated individually: it is 40 for Hermitage, 36 for Vacqueyras, 35 for Gigondas, and 33 hectoliters per hectare for Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Are there interesting white wines in the Rhône region?

The cultivation of white grape varieties makes up a very small part of the vineyards in the Rhône Valley. Nevertheless, powerful white wines with complex minerality are also produced in the Rhône, including the varietal Marsanne Chante Alouette Hermitage Blanc AOC from Maison Chapoutier or the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc AOC Vieux Télégraphe, a cuvée made from Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne. In the northern Rhône, the indigenous Viognier grape is cultivated in small but growing amounts as a varietal wine. Up to 20 percent of this aromatic grape may be blended with Syrah, and several white grapes can also be found among the grape varieties used for red Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Discover Rhône Wines Online at VINELLO

Enjoy premium wines from the Rhône at affordable prices from our online shop. At VINELLO, you will find a representative selection of winemakers and wineries from the Rhône. When you shop with us, you can do so securely and look forward to a quick delivery of your order. Additionally, we offer you a variety of payment options to choose your preferred method.

Another advantage at VINELLO: Our sommeliers are available to you by phone for detailed advice to introduce you to the world of Rhône wines. This way, you can more easily and quickly find your favorites, whether for a special occasion, an evening with friends, or for your own, private enjoyment.