The Rhone Valley is a key wine-producing region in the south-east of France. The valley follows the north-south course of the Rhone river for about 150 miles (240km) as it flows from Lyon to its end point at the Mediterranean coast.
The length of the valley means that Rhone wines are the product of a wide variety of soil types and mesoclimates. The wine-producing areas of the region cover such a distance that there is a widely accepted division between the north and south parts of the valley. Rather neatly, these northern and southern winemaking zones are separated by a 25 mile (40km) gap between the towns of Valance and Montelimar, in which almost no vines are grown.
This division is reflected not only in geography and preferred grape varieties, but also in the quality and quantity of wines produced. The smaller, more quality-driven northern section focuses almost entirely on Syrah for red wines and Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for whites, while the larger and more prolific south employs a much longer list of varieties. The most notable of these are the red varieties Grenache and Mourvedre, which are combined with Syrah to produce the 'GSM' blend so characteristic of the southern Rhone. Where the granite-blessed slopes of the north are paired with a continental climate, the rocky, sandy soils of the flatter south enjoy the warmer winters of a Mediterranean climate.
Prestige is also a key differentiator between the northern and southern areas of the Rhone. The north boasts old and highly respected names such as Hermitage and Cote Rotie and produces only 5% of the valley's total wine production. The south produces the remaining 95% under less prestigious, less specific names. The south is not entirely without prestige, however, as it is here that the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation is located.
One important, unifying constant between the two areas is the general AOC Cotes Du Rhone appellation, which can be claimed by red, rose and white wines from all over the valley. These wines are still subject to the rules and regulations of appellation law, but do not match up to the quality required from more location-specific appellations such as Saint-Joseph or Gigondas.
The appellation AOC Cotes du Rhone Villages is restricted to wines produced in specific villages whose terroir produces wine of a slightly higher quality. Coincidentally these villages are clustered in the southern section of the Rhone valley, around the town of Orange. An elected sub-set of about 20 of these (this figure changes every few years) are permitted to add their village name to the title AOC Cotes du Rhone Villages, giving some interesting, long-winded names such as AOC Cotes du Rhone Villages Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues.
One small but important area not covered by the obvious north/south divide is the Die district to the east of the Rhone. Located 30 miles (50km) east of Valence and Montelimar, the ancient town of Die sits at the foot of the French Alps, and produces sparkling wines under the appellations Clairette de Die and Cremant de Die, as well as some still white wines under the Coteaux de Die appellation.
Die is not alone in the Rhone as the source of an idiosyncratic white wine - Condrieu wines from the north are rich, mostly dry white wines with honeyed, floral aromas, and the sweet white wines of Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise complete the Rhone's wide repertoire of wine styles.
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