Rhône Wine Region Map

Rhône Wine Region Map

The Rhône Valley is home to some of the best Southern French viticulture, dominating red wine production. It is a very diverse region, stretching over 200Km from Vienne (30Km south of Lyon) in the North to Avignon in the South. The region is very distinctively split into the Northern Rhône, which is much greener due to higher rainfall. The surrounding landscape is full of oak trees and fruit farms compared with the Southern Rhône, which becomes drier the further south you travel, approaching Provence, where herb shrubs, particularly lavender and olive trees, are interspersed with the vines. The main grape variety in the Northern Rhône is Syrah, which is cultivated on high terraced granite cliffs, optimizing sun exposure. Some fabulously ethereal reds are produced in the northern appellations of Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage. An increasing number of interesting whites from Marsanne, Roussane, and Viognier are also produced. Chateauneuf du Pape is clearly the king of the Southern Rhône not only in size (producing more than the whole of the Northern Rhône) but in importance. Majestic, rich red wines are born from the low bush vines, which receive maximum heat from the pebbled soils and express a noticeable complexity from the surrounding herbs in addition to the already complex blend of 14 permitted grape varieties. Some blends include all 14, although the predominant varieties are Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. The Rhône makes for a fascinating vacation destination with numerous historic cities nearby; Lyon, Vienne, and Avignon, as well as gorgeous medieval villages (Menerbes, Gordes, Rousillon), scattered throughout the stunning countryside. For more information on a luxurious trip through The Rhône, please see our Rhône Wine Tours.