Rhône Valley
Continental to Mediterranean
Two contrasting halves along one river: steep, Syrah-dominant terraces in the north and sun-baked Grenache-based blends in the south.
Overview
About Rhône Valley
The Rhône region stretches roughly 200 km south from Vienne to Avignon and divides into two distinct halves. The Northern Rhône — Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage — makes Syrah reds and, at Condrieu, Viognier whites from steep, terraced slopes above the river.
The Southern Rhône is broader and warmer, and is dominated by Grenache blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre. Its best-known wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose rules allow up to thirteen grape varieties (eighteen counting colour variants); other notable names include Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the pink-wine appellation Tavel.
Where is a grape grown?
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, Vaucluse, Gard. 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 to Mediterranean
Continental in the north, with cold winters and warm summers; Mediterranean in the south, with hot, dry summers. The Mistral, a cold northerly wind, dries the vineyards and reduces disease, and is why southern vines are often trained low as free-standing bushes.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Steep granite and schist terraces above the river in the north (Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage). In the south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is known for galets roulés — large, rounded quartzite pebbles laid over clay, sand and limestone, which store daytime heat.
Side by side
North vs South
North
Northern Rhône
- Soil
- Steep granite and schist terraces
- Dominant grapes
- Syrah, with Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for whites
- Typical style
- Peppery, savoury and elegant; cooler and more focused
South
Southern Rhône
- Soil
- Rounded quartzite pebbles over clay, sand and limestone
- Dominant grapes
- Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, and up to thirteen varieties at Châteauneuf
- Typical style
- Ripe, warm and generous; red fruit and spice, with higher alcohol
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
The Rhône ranks by place: the more specific the name on the label, the higher the tier.
Crus
Named appellations such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas in the north, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras in the south.
Côtes du Rhône Villages
Wines from named villages, in the south.
Côtes du Rhône
The regional appellation, and the largest tier, mostly Grenache-based reds from the south.
Within Rhône Valley
Subregions
Northern Rhône
Steep granite terraces above the river, where Syrah makes some of France's most savoury, age-worthy reds and Viognier its most fragrant whites.
Southern Rhône
A broad, sun-baked basin where Grenache leads blends with Syrah and Mourvèdre, from Châteauneuf-du-Pape to everyday Côtes du Rhône.
What's grown here
Grapes
Grapes linked to Rhône Valley or to a place within it. Each grape's page links back here.