Northern Rhône
Continental
Steep granite terraces above the river, where Syrah makes some of France's most savoury, age-worthy reds and Viognier its most fragrant whites.
Overview
About Northern Rhône
The Northern Rhône is a narrow, fragmented stretch of vineyards between Vienne and Valence, clinging to steep slopes above the river. Syrah is the only red grape, and the appellations — Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage — each make it in a distinct style. Whites include Condrieu, from Viognier, and Marsanne and Roussanne wines from Hermitage and Saint-Joseph.
The terrain is so steep that many vineyards are cultivated by hand on stone-walled terraces, and the production is small, which keeps prices high for the best wines.
Hover a marker to see what's grown there, and click it to open that place. On a touch screen, tap once to preview and again to open. Bigger markers have more grapes linked to them.
France
Shaded: Rhône, Loire, Ardèche, Drôme. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental
Continental, cooler than the south, with cold winters and warm summers. The Mistral blows down the valley, and steep south-facing slopes are vital for ripening Syrah.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Granite and schist, with gneiss in Côte-Rôtie and loess, sand and limestone in places. The rocky, steep terraces drain well and store daytime heat.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Each Northern Rhône appellation is its own cru, with no official ranking between them; the wine's identity is the place.
Named appellations
Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray.
Syrah reds, Viognier and Marsanne/Roussanne whites
Grapes are fixed by appellation: red is Syrah, and each white has its own rules.
Côtes du Rhône
The regional appellation, which also covers vineyards in the north.
Within Northern Rhône
Appellations
Côte-Rôtie
The 'roasted slope': dizzyingly steep terraces of Syrah, sometimes co-fermented with a little Viognier, making perfumed, silky reds.
Hermitage
A single granite hill above Tain-l'Hermitage, home of the Rhône's most age-worthy Syrah and richly textured Marsanne.
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Northern Rhône or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.