What is the Rhone Valley famous for?

Southern France’s Rhône Valley is known the world over for its production of high-quality red, white, and rosé wines. Established during the last Ice Age, the unique landscape that makes up the highly regarded region was formed when the Rhône Glacier carved its way south through France to create the Rhône River.

How many grapes are permitted in southern Rhone?

The southern Rhône’s most famous red wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a blend containing up to 19 varieties of wine grapes (ten red and nine white) as permitted by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC rules.

What percentage of Rhone wines are red?

In the Southern Rhone, things get more complicated as more than 15 red wine grapes are permitted for the red wine. However, the most popular red wine grape in the Southern Rhone is Grenache. In fact, 79% of all wines produced in the Rhone Valley are red. 15% are rose’ and the remaining 6% are white wines.

What does Rhone wine taste like?

What does a Rhône wine taste like? Northern Rhône reds made with Syrah are big, bold, spicy wines with a firm tannic structure in their youth. Depending on the appellation, the wines can be rustic, even meaty, or supremely elegant, often with floral overtones. The best of these wines have very long aging potential.

What are the best Rhone wines?

The 9 Best Rhone Valley Wines

• Domaine Ruffinatto. Menerbes, AOC Luberon.
• Domaine de la Mordorée. AOC village of Tavel.
• Domaine Mourchon. Village of Seguret.
• Domaine Richaud. AOC Cairanne.
• Domaine le Sang de Cailloux. AOC Vacqueyras, outside of Sarrians.
• Domaine Coteaux des Travers. AOC Rasteau.

Is Rhone wine red?

Rhône-style red blends are wines that are made in the style of the wines of France’s Southern Rhône Valley. These red wines are typically made using Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault, although other secondary grape varieties may be used, too.

Does Cotes du Rhone age well?

More than just value, Cotes du Rhone wines are, for the most part, meant to be enjoyed on release. The majority of Cotes du Rhone wine does not require aging, even if a few wines do improve with time in the cellar. Frankly, they are delicious on release, which is a big part of their allure.

Is Cotes du Rhone?

Côtes du Rhône is a region wide appellation within the Rhône Valley in eastern France. It applies to red, rosé and white wines, and includes more than 170 villages. The zone follows the course of the Rhône river southwards for 125 miles (200km) from Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône to Avignon.

How much wine does the Rhone region produce?

The entire Rhône region produces around 4 million hl of wine each year, of which over half is classified under the Côte du Rhône and Côte du Rhône-Villages appellations. The prestigious Northern Rhône appellations account for less than 5% of the total Rhône wine production.

What kind of grapes are used in the Rhone valley?

In the Northern Rhone, Syrah is the only red wine grape allowed. In the Southern Rhone, things get more complicated as more than 15 red wine grapes are permitted for the red wine. However, the most popular red wine grape in the Southern Rhone is Grenache. In fact, 79% of all wines produced in the Rhone Valley are red.

Where is the Rhone valley located in France?

The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) designations.

Which is cooler northern Rhone or southern Rhone?

Northern Rhône is therefore cooler than southern Rhône, which means that the mix of planted grape varieties and wine styles are slightly different. Syrah is the only red grape variety permitted in red AOC wines from this sub-region.