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Provence and Rhone Valley Wine RegionThe Rhone Valley wine region is famous for its fiesty, vigorous reds and aromatic whites, as well as the distinguished Châteauneuf du Pape and sweet, golden Muscat.
This is only the tip of the iceberg though...and there are some lovely wines further south in Provence, too! The Rhone Valley wine region is hugely diverse, and can cater for a wide range of tastes and budgets. And there are a few lesser known, but up and coming appellations that are worth checking out.
About the Rhone Valley wine regionThe Rhône Valley wine region is in southeast France, starting around Vienne (just south of Lyon) and continuing down to (roughly) Avignon in Provence .
Within this region there are two 'districts' quite distinct from one another - North and South, with the town of Valence at its middle point. The finest (and most expensive) wines tend to come from the Northern Rhone Valley wine region - the majority are red, although a few rare white wines are produced here as well. The region has a continental climate, with steep, rocky slopes, and some of the most difficult vineyards to work with in the world. Many of them have been owned by the same family for generations. Grapes from the Northern Rhône are mainly Syrah - often known as Shiraz outside of France - for red wines; and Viognier for white (although occasionally used for reds). Well known appellations in the north include Hermitage (a rich red wine), and Côte Rôtie (full-bodied but not quite as heavy as Hermitage); and the pricey white wines: Condrieu and Château-Grillet.
The Southern Rhône is flatter, with a mediterranean climate; summers can get hot. A variety of grapes are used (usually in blends), including Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, or Carignan for Reds and Marsanne, Roussane, or Muscat for Whites. The southern Rhone makes up 90% of the total production of wine in the Rhone Valley and offers lots of diversity. The everyday, easy drinking (and often cheaper) Côtes du Rhône wines are mostly found in the southern region, as well as the famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, which are a blend (up to 13 varieties can be used - both red and white). Other wine appellations include Tavel, France's most prestigious rosé wine, often referred to as the 'wine of kings'; and Muscat, a fortified wine.
Where to Start?It depends on what you're looking for. If you know your wines, and would like to visit particular wineries or sample/buy the more prestigious labels, then the Northern Rhone Valley wine region might interest you. This can easily be done as a day trip from Lyon. Be aware that there are nuclear stations just south of Lyon - so the scenery can be a bit of a hit and miss here; this might not matter though, if the wine is what you're coming for. On the other hand, if you are simply wanting to enjoy the experience of wine tasting in France, may not have a deep knowledge of it but would like to learn, want to try many different types of wines and explore superb countryside...then the southern region is a great choice. Our personal preference is to visit the southern-most wineries of the Rhone Valley wine region, which are in the heart of Provence. There's a wonderful variety of wines to try, many costing a fraction of what you'd pay further north. And the location offers plenty of opportunities for exploring other sights in the area.
Visiting, Tasting, Buying
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 French Wine Regions  France Regional Map  Provence Travel Guide  Learn how to speak french, practice useful phrases for travelling, and understand french pronunciation. |
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