Rhône

The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various AOC labels. The region is generally divided into two sub-regions with distinct vinicultural traditions, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône.

The northern sub-region produces red wines from the Syrah grape, sometimes blended with white wine grapes, and white wines from Viognier grapes. The southern sub-region produces a variety of both red and white wines, often blended of several grapes such as you will find in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Syrah is the only red grape variety permitted in red AOC wines from this sub-region. The northern Rhône is characterised by a continental climate with harsh winters but warm summers. Syrah is used exclusively for wines bearing the Cornas AOC label, whereas other reds from the northern Rhône may be blended with the white wine grapes such as Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. Viognier by itself is used for white wines from Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Marsanne and Roussanne are in turn used for the whites from Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and Saint Péray.

The southern Rhône 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 southern Rhône's most famous red wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend which can contain up to 13 grape varieties, both red and white are permitted by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC rules.