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The Rhône wine region is first divided into north and south. The north produces syrah based reds and its pure viognier whites. The south produces Châteauneuf-du-Pape and several other varieties.
Northern Rhône
Syrah is the only red grape variety allowed in these wines. The grape is also widely known as Shiraz, its name in Australia, which has made the variety very popular with consumers around the world. Some Syrah, however, has white mixed in. The only white grape varieties in the north are viognier, marsanne, and roussanne. Marsanne and roussanne are used for the whites in Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, and Saint Péray.
From north to south the appellations are:
- Côte-Rôtie AOC - reds with syrah and up to 20% viognier.
- Condrieu AOC - whites with only viognier.
- Château-Grillet AOC - whites with only viognier.
- Saint-Joseph AOC - reds with syrah and up to 10% marsanne and roussanne, whites with only marsanne and roussanne.
- Crozes-Hermitage AOC - reds with syrah and up to 15% marsanne and roussanne, whites with only marsanne and roussanne.
- Hermitage AOC - reds with syrah and up to 15% marsanne and roussanne, whites with only marsanne and roussanne.
- Cornas AOC - reds with only syrah.
- Saint-Péray AOC - sparkling and still whites with only marsanne and roussanne.
Southern Rhône
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC has 13 legal varieties, and the surrounding areas, Coteaux du Tricastin AOC, Côtes du Ventoux AOC, Côtes du Vivarais AOC, Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC and Vacqueyras AOC can have more. Gigondas AOC is predominantly made from Grenache Noir and is more restricted in the other grapes it can use. Fortified wines (vin doux naturel) are made in the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise AOC and Rasteau AOCs.
Côtes du Rhône
Côtes du Rhône AOC is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée that covers both the northern and southern sections of the valley. Typically it is only used if the wine does not qualify for an appellation that can command a higher price. Produce from vineyards surrounding certain villages may be labeled Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC.
Other appellations
Other appellations falling outside the main Rhône area in terms of wine styles but administratively within it are Clairette de Die AOC, Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC, and Côtes du Lubéron AOC. These are more similar to Provence wines. Nîmes AOC has recently been added to the Rhône department in the official sense. Its wines largely parallel the wines of Southern Rhône proper.
See also
External link
- Provence-Hideaways Southern Rhône Valley Wines
"Rhône (wine region)"