More than two thousand years ago there were already vineyards on the banks of the Rhone. The Vallée du Rhône (Rhône valley) was about two hundred kilometers long and located between the towns of Avignon and Vienne. In 1937 this area got the joint name of AOC Côtes du Rhône. The Rhone Valley was formerly known for its production of relatively cheap mass wines. Meanwhile various winemakers brought quality to a higher level of ambition and we can now speak more and more about quality wines with an independent appellation, especially in the southern part of the Rhone Valley.

Three wine zones
Wine of the Rhône Valley consists of three zones: northern, southern, and others. Only in the northern and southern part of the Rhône the AOC status was granted (CDR). Other wine regions produce excellent quality wines but are not really significant.

Appellations of the Rhône Valley
1. Côtes du Rhône; base appellations for the entire Rhône since 1937. It is one of the largest source region of the world. These wines are identified by their rapid drinkability and fairly high content of alcohol.
 2. Côtes du Rhône-Villages, a number of municipalities in the south, may add the term ‘villages’ on their label. Again some of these municipalities may also indicate their village.

Northern Rhône Valley
The wine regions in the north are among the oldest in France. The vines are planted on the steep slopes of the left bank of the Rhône river. Working on these type of wine areas with sometimes huge steep slopes is very labor intensive. So the selling price of these wines is relatively expensive. Tributary to the Drôme river you’ll find the wine area ‘Clairette de Die’. Here a sparkling wine is produced from the grape Clairette. The soil consists mainly of granite. The main grape and only authorised for red wine is the Syrah (Shiraz). For the white wine the most important grapes are the Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

Local Appellations
• Côte Rôtie, sometimes you’ll see the vineyards are on slopes of 60 degrees. There are bodied red wines, are high in tannin and quality and are long to keep. The smell is 'animate'. Funny distinction is the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune what has to do with the color of the soil. Brune soil contains much iron and the wines have a little more time to mature. The Blonde soil contains more calcium. That gives the wines more elegance and a sophisticated flavor.
• Condrieu and Chateau Grillet, producing only white wines made from the Viognier grape. The Condrieu is drinkable after two 2 years, the taste is dry, low acidity, spicy and quite a long finish. Château Grillet is a rare white wine, has its own AOC, can be kept a longtime and lies almost in the Condrieu area.
• Saint Joseph, consists of 26 local vineyards, the best known and most important is the village Mauve. Here you’ll find both red and white wines. The white ones are made of the Marsanne grape and has a soft, fresh and dry taste.
• Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage; the vineyards of Hermitage are at almost 300m height and have an excellent reputation: high quality and long storage (10 years). This also applies to white wines made from the Marsanne and the Rousanne grape and have a dry taste. The Syrah (Shiraz) ensures full-bodied red wines. The wines from Crozes-Hermitage have a slightly lower quality (less full and less powerful) but still very drinkable. Maturation takes five years.
• Cornas; the vineyards are located near the village Cornas. The Syrah (Shiraz) is only allowed to plant. They are smooth and easy to drink wines and have to age for 10 years. The French classify this wine as the game wine pre-eminently.
• Saint-Péray; here you’ll find only white wines and a sparkling version (traditional method), made from the Marsanne and Roussanne grape. The white wine offers a dry, spicy flavor. The sparkling wine is round and fruity.

Clairette de Die
The Clairette de Die wine region is located between the northern and southern Rhone region around the village of Die. The specialty of the area is the sparkling wine Clairette de Die. Clairette is the grape but the wine is made primarily from the Muscat à petit grains (Muscat grape). Clairette de Die is a light and very fruity sparkling wine. There is also a Crémant de Die made according to the traditional method. But also the wines with a label indicating "Tradition" are highly recommended. It is a sparkling wine with a soft taste.

Southern Rhône Valley
The best vineyards of the southern Rhône begin south of the city Montelimar. Unlike the northern area you'll find rolling hills to the south. The soil also has other components than the north such as clay, sand and sandstone. The vineyards contain boulders known for their heat storage during daytime and return it again during the night. This has a positive effect on the maturation process and the sugar of the grapes. There are a lot of blue and white grapes. The main blue grape is the Grenache. Furthermore the grapes Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèrdre and Syrah (Shiraz) also. For white wines the Marsanne and the Rousanne grape are used. The Vins Doux Naturel is made from Muscat à petits grains (Muscat grape). The wines of the southern Rhône Valley are accessible and affordable. There are also some top quality wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Local Appellations
• Lirac, is known for its delicious dry, spicy (pepper) and powerful rosé made from the blue grape the Grenache.
• Tavel, here the rosé is only made of the blue grape the Grenache. The rosé is also powerful and spicy roses and crowned for being the best rosés in France. The taste is full of soft red fruit with a hint of pepper. The scent is reminiscent of strawberries and raspberries.
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape, both red and white wines are made here. There are many differences in quality of potable quick and easy to excellent and long deterioration.
• Gigondas and Vacqueyras. Located at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the vineyards of Gigondas are protected from the strong Mistral winds. Gigondas gives full wines just like the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Again the grape Grenache dominates. Although the wines of Gigondas are similar to those of Vacqueyras, the Gigondas have a better image. They are strong and spicy red wines.
• Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Rasteau, both wines are specialties of the southern Rhône: sweet and fortified (at least 15% alcohol). The so-called Vin Doux Naturel.

The Baumes de Venise is a white Vin Doux Naturel and is made from the Muscat à petits grains (Muscat grape). It is a golden, richly fragrant, fruity, sweet wine. Delicious as an aperitif or with dessert. The Rasteau has a red and white Vin Doux Naturel from the Grenache grape. For the labels 'Rancio’ you are dealing with a fortified wine that has undergone a long barrel aging. The taste is less fresh and gives an oxidised flavor. In the Rasteau the red skins of the Grenache grape yeast with the wine. The result is a rich, sweet wine and when you cool it a bit it add something extra to the taste.

Other Rhône valley wine region
The wines from this area are not called Côtes du Rhône (Villages), but are united under the name ‘La Nouvelle Ecole’. Tthe wines are less well known so therefore the selling price is also considerably lower. The following AOC vineyards are distinguished:
1.Coteaux du Tricastin, located directly beneath Montelimar. They produce mostly red wine.
2.Côtes du Vivarais, located in the rugged area of the Ardèche, mostly red wines.
3.Côtes du Ventoux, named after the majestic mountain Mont Ventoux. The large temperature difference between day and night gives the wine more acidity and aromas. Mainly red wine production.
4.Côtes du Lubéron, are very affordable and accessible red wines.
5.Costières de Nîmes, officially this area belongs to the Languedoc-Roussillon, but the wines have mainly Rhône character.
6.Coteaux the Pierrevert, and also this area is not officially the Rhône but belongs to Provence. These wines are mainly Rhône Character

Wine / food combination Rhône Valley
• Dry white wines go well with poultry, cold meats in jelly fish with a spicy sauce and various cheeses.
• Rosé is a good companion of fish, meat pies, chicken and goat cheese.
• Soft, fresh red wines go well with veal, pork, pastas and white cheeses such as brie and camembert.
• Solid red wines go well with grilled red meat, paté, spicy dishes and cheeses.
• You can drink the dessert wines with cake, ice cream, fruit bavarian cream but it is also excellent as an aperitif drink.