Côtes du Rhône

Situated on either side of the Rhône between Vienne, Valence and Avignon, the Côtes-du-Rhôneappellation draws its personality from an astonishing diversity of soils, climates and grape varieties. Dating back to 1937, the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation area was extended in 2004 to cover 171 communes. There are essentially 5 types of soil in the Côtes-du-Rhône. Pebbly soils with clay soils, stony "clay-limestone" soils and stony outwash soils (on the slopes of the hills) provide the vines with a regular water supply and the ability to release, during the night, the heat stored during the day by the stones. They are particularly well-suited to the production of long-keeping wines. Loessic and sandy soils offer a more contrasted water supply. They are better suited to the production of white and rosé wines, as well as lighter red wines.

Climatic conditions, but also the nature of the soil, have conditioned the planting of grape varieties. Each grape variety brings its own qualities and, when combined with the others, achieves balance and harmony. Inred Côtes-du-Rhône wines, Grenache, the basic grape variety, brings fruitiness, warmth and roundness. Syrah and Mourvèdre give the wine spicy aromas and a deep color and structure that's well-suited to aging. Cinsault brings finesse and allows us to produce fruity rosés and vins primeurs. White wines combine aroma and freshness, thanks to a blend of different grape varieties such as Bourboulenc, Grenache blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette and/or Viognier. At the suggestion of the winegrowers, a new appellation decree was adopted in 1996, with the aim of reinforcing the typicity of Côtes-du-Rhône wines. For red and rosé wines, Grenache must represent at least 40% of the grape varieties (with the exception of Syrah-based wines produced in the northern part of the appellation). Similarly, for white wines, Grenache blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier must account for 80% of the grape varieties.

A number of great houses offer excellent Côtes-du-Rhône wines that showcase the diversity of grape varieties and terroirs: M. Chapoutier, Domaine Tardieu Laurent, Maison Delas Frères and the indispensable E. Guigal.