LATITUDE
LONGITUDE
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Welcome to the wonderful Rhône Valley region of France, where great wines have been made for thousands of years! Picture a beautiful stretch of land that follows the Rhône River for 240 kilometres, from Lyon all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. This special place makes a lot of wine - about 4 million hectoliters each year! Most come from the well-known Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages areas. Up north, fancy areas like Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie make just 5% of the wine, but they're really special. With 6,000 wine properties - including 1,837 family wineries and 103 co-ops - a lot is going on here!
Wine has been made here for over 2,000 years! It all started with the Greeks, who were the first to plant grape vines. Then, the Romans came along and made things even better, setting up vineyards and trade routes. Over hundreds of years, local winemakers kept learning and trying new things, creating the wonderful wines we know today.
The Rhône Valley is really two different places: the Northern Rhône from Vienne to Valence and the Southern Rhône from Montélimar to Avignon. Up north, you'll find steep granite hills - perfect for growing Syrah and Viognier grapes. Down south, it's warmer and more Mediterranean, which grapes like Grenache and Mourvèdre love.
The vineyards grow at all different heights - from 100 to 700 meters up! This means you get lots of different microclimates. The north is cooler, which helps the grapes ripen slowly and nicely. The south gets hot summers with mild winters, thanks to being closer to the Mediterranean Sea.
The soil here tells its own story. In the north, granite soil lets water drain well and gives minerals to the grapes—Syrah loves this! In the south, clay-limestone soil mixed with pebbles holds onto heat and water, which makes Grenache very happy.
It's amazing how the height and weather work together to help different grapes grow their best. In the cooler north, grapes like Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne grow really well because they like the balanced weather. Down south, Grenache thrives in the heat while still making fresh, tasty wines. Each wine shows off the special place where its grapes grew!
Vineyard Hectares
WINERIES
Join me on a journey where the landscape transforms like a storybook as we move from north to south. Each region showcases its unique wine-making traditions.
In the northern Rhône, you'll encounter stunning granite hills. Savvy wine growers have created terraced slopes on these steep inclines to maximize sunlight exposure—like a giant staircase designed for grape vines! Amidst these vineyards, you'll spot oak trees and other leafy species that flourish in the cooler, high-altitude climate.
Travelling south, the scenery changes dramatically! The southern Rhône resembles a picture-perfect summer day. The terrain flattens out, revealing expansive vineyards interspersed with aromatic herbs (known as garrigue), vibrant lavender fields, olive trees, and unique oak trees that nurture truffles. The magnificent Rhône River meanders through this landscape, carving deep valleys shaped by ancient ice ages.
A particular feature of the South is the rows of tall cypress and poplar trees planted there. These natural walls shield the grape vines from the fierce Mistral wind that often sweeps through.
The weather in the Rhône Valley frequently varies, impacting the flavour of the wine. In the northern area, summers are hot while winters are cold, which helps with grape ripening. The Mistral winds, which come from the mountains, promote and protect vineyards' health by drying out moisture that could lead to disease.
In the South, the weather is more like the Mediterranean, with winters that aren't too cold and summers that are long, hot, and dry. The Mistral wind keeps the skies clear and helps the vines grow well. There's a lot of sunshine, about 2,800 hours every year, so the grapes get very ripe and sweet.
Spring (April to June) is a nice time to visit the Rhône Valley. The vineyards are full of life with growing vines, and the weather is mild. It's a good time to visit wineries and do things outside. It's also quieter, so it's more relaxing.
If you want more excitement, visit during harvest time (September to October). You can attend harvest parties, meet local winemakers, and see how they make wine. Just remember that it might rain a little during this time.
The Rhône Valley has many different soils that give special character to the wines. The North and South have different soils, and this affects what grapes grow well and how the wines taste.
The Rhône Valley isn't just thinking about making tasty wines anymore - they're on a bigger mission! These winemakers have realized that taking care of nature is just as important as taking care of their grapes. From the moment they plant a vine to when they put the wine in bottles, everyone's working hard to be kinder to our planet. It's like they're trying to make sure that every sip of wine comes with a promise to protect the environment.
The folks at Inter Rhône, the wise elders of Rhône Valley, have come up with four big promises that all winemakers should abide by:
They've documented all this in their Environmental Landscape Charter, which is a friendly guidebook that helps everyone care for wine and nature.
Let's examine the numbers that show their performance—and trust me, they're pretty exciting!
The Institut Rhodanien is like a helpful teacher, showing everyone how to be better friends with nature. They're always there to answer questions and check if the new earth-friendly ways are working.
Now, it's not all smooth sailing. These winemakers face some tricky problems:
Being green isn't cheap - it's like buying organic food at the grocery store. But there's good news:
The future's looking bright and green:
The Rhône Valley vineyards are like two different wine worlds: the cooler North, where Syrah makes fantastic reds and some really nice whites grow, and the warmer South, where lots of different grapes grow together happily. Let's meet these grapes and see why they love it here so much!
Picture this lovely spot in southeast France, where people have been making wine for thousands of years. Whether you like your wines big and bold or light and elegant, you'll find something to love here. Let's discover what makes these wines so special!
In addition, the Rhone Valley also produces high-quality rosé wines, primarily in areas like Tavel.
What makes these wines extra special? It's like having two different wine worlds in one place! Up north, it's cooler, making wines that smell amazing and have good structure from Syrah and Viognier. Down south, where it's warmer, Grenache makes bigger, bolder wines. Plus, many wines smell like the wild herbs that grow nearby - a really nice touch that makes them unique.
Every part of the Rhône Valley has something special to show you. You can walk through the steep hills of Côte-Rôtie or explore Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Each area of the Rhône Valley has something to offer. You can either take a wine tour, talk to the winemakers, or come during harvest time when everyone's celebrating.
These wines love good food!
Do you want to experience the wine lifestyle truly? Consider staying in charming hotels, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, or even at the wineries. There's nothing quite like waking up to stunning vineyard views and being in the heart of wine production!
The history of winemaking in the Rhône Valley dates back to 600 BC when Greek travellers arrived with grapevines in hand. They surveyed the picturesque valley and concluded, "This is ideal for grape cultivation!" They were correct—by the 4th century BC, Marseille was dominated by vineyards, and these Greeks were producing exceptional wine.
The Romans soon arrived, elevating winemaking further. Around the 1st century AD, they planted vineyards extensively, particularly near Vienne and Tournon. They constructed elegant homes and specialized workshops for wine containers. Their wines gained such acclaim that they rivalled those from Italy!
However, the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century brought challenges. The wine trade diminished, leading to a quieter period until the 13th century when the papacy relocated to Avignon. The popes were avid wine enthusiasts, especially Pope John XXII, who was so fond of it that he built a summer residence in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Yet, not everyone appreciated the wines; in 1446, Dijon prohibited wines from Lyon and Vienne, claiming they didn't meet quality standards!
By the 17th century, winemakers became serious about safeguarding their reputation. In 1650, they established the first regulations, similar to formalizing a family recipe that everyone must adhere to. Then, in 1737, King Louis XV enforced a significant rule: all wine barrels had to bear the mark "C.D.R." (Côtes du Rhône).
In the late 1800s, winemakers intensified their efforts to preserve their winemaking traditions. In 1933, Baron Le Roy initiated specific rules known as AOC for Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. This was crucial, as it granted these wines official recognition as distinct and unique.
Today, the Rhône Valley is embracing an exciting blend of tradition and innovation. It values nature conservation while employing modern techniques, honoring its ancestors' winemaking practices. The region boasts numerous AOCs, each crafting its own distinctive wines.