Superficie en production* : 111 ha, production annuelle : 3 586 hl, rendement moyen : 32 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022. L'appellation côtes-du-rhône comporte 171 communes sur six départements ( Rhône, Loire, Ardèche, Drôme, Vaucluse et Gard), d'une superficie d'environ 44000hectares. Suppression des zones boisées dans la délimitation afin de préserver le paysage, l’environnement, favoriser les équilibres naturels et la biodiversité. Low rainfall and plentiful sun have made the region of Lirac a prime vineyard area for two thousand years. This is where the term “Cotes du Rhone’ was first marked on barrels for export – a guarantee of authenticity still used today.

Superficie en production* : 887 ha, production annuelle : 26 323hl, rendement moyen : 30 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022. grenache noir N, syrah N, mourvèdre N, grenache blanc B, clairette B, marsanne B, roussanne B, bourboulenc B et viognier B The soils are varied with the most famous being the large, rolled river stone or “Galets’ left behind millennium ago by the ancient glaciers.

Superficie en production* : 1 191 ha, production annuelle moyenne : 36 286 hl, rendement moyen : 30 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022. Superficie en production* : 1 352 ha, production annuelle : 50 896 hl, rendement moyen : 38 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022. The great majority of these are cultivated on the eastern side of the Rhône between the river bank near the town of Orange, and the Vaucluse-Luberon chain of mountains. The wines here are anchored by Grenache noir but typically include other grapes such as Syrah and Mourvedre. The reds range in color from deep crimson and ruby to almost purple and are generally full-bodied with rich but smooth tannins, though Lirac and others from the right bank tend to be somewhat lighter. They all go very well with game and other rich meat dishes.

The Rhône Valley was created during the last ice age as the Rhône Glacier carved its way south through what is now France. Today, the Rhône River begins in the Alps and meanders for 505 miles to the Mediterranean Sea. Northern Rhône Valley. source Only white and sparkling wines from Marsanne and Roussanne in this AOC! The vineyards lie on extremely steep slopes on either side of a deep valley, creating a slightly warmer microclimate, giving us zesty sparklers made in the traditional Champenoise method. The still whites are equally refreshing – terrific before a meal. Crozes-Hermitage Alexis Lichine, Encyclopédie des vins et alcools de tous les pays, éd. Robert Laffont-Bouquins, Paris, 1984. Superficie en production* : 3 132 ha, production annuelle moyenne : 90 570 hl, rendement moyen : 28.7 hl/ha. * Source : Syndicat Châteauneuf du Pape. The main and supplementary grape varieties must together make up at least 70% of the blend, and the accessory grape varieties are therefore restricted to a maximum of 30%.Actualité : une longue tradition d’art de vivre et de culture se perpétue aujourd’hui puisque Vacqueyras, depuis 1998, est le Cru officiel du prestigieux Festival d’Avignon. The whites must contain a minimum blend of 80% Clairette, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Viognier. Ugni blanc and Picpoul blanc may be used as secondary varieties. The AOC terroir lies between the Miocene sedimen- tary basin of Valréas and that of the Aygues river, the Mediterranean mountain stream that has carried along detrital material torn from the Alpine slopes for millions of years. Tous les tonneaux de vin destinés pour la vente et transport du cru tant de Roquemaure que des lieux et paroisses voisines et contiguës: Tavel, Lirac, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Saint-Geniès-de-Comolas, Orsan, Chusclan, Codolet et autres qui sont de qualités supérieures seront marqués sur l'un des fonds, étant pleins et non autrement, d'une marque de feu qui contiendra les trois lettres C D R signifiant Côte du Rhône avec le millésime de l'année [4 ].» Year of Production: In general, the year-to-year climate of the region remains fairly constant although there may be rare occasions of spring frost which may damage the buds, thus reducing the overall yield. Drought may also affect the quantity of production. Sunlight levels are usually the average to be expected. The year of production on a label is therefore not necessarily a sign of any particular quality due to exceptionally favourable wine growing weather; it is more indicative of how the wine can be expected to have matured over a number of years.

This is the largest AOC and accounts for two thirds of Rhone production. Full bodied reds dominate, but the luscious whites and thirst quenching roses are well worth seeking out. These 17 distinctive crus of the Rhône Valley – 8 in the north and 9 in the south – truly express their individual “terroir” and are responsible for about 20% of the Rhône wine production. Another region famous for its sweet ‘Vin Doux’ Rasteau has been producing its famous Grenache-based fortified wine for hundreds of years. Lirac Climat : typiquement méditerranéen, pluviosité réduite, ensoleillement moyen 2700 heures en moyenne par an, vent dominant, le mistral.The Roman legions knew about the great wines from this area! With its hot climate, abundant sunshine and the Dentelle Mountains to protect vineyards from the Mistral, the predominately red wines from Gigondas are full, earthy and aromatic. Vacqueyras Climat : typiquement méditerranéen, pluviométrie réduite, ensoleillement moyen 2700 heures en moyenne par an, vent dominant, le mistral. Superficie en production* : 159 ha, production annuelle : 5 040 hl, rendement moyen : 32 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022.

The Northern Rhône is a mere 40 miles long and is responsible for a tiny 4-5% of all the wines from the region. The climate is ‘Continental’–hot summers, cold winters and precipitation throughout the year. All reds grown south of Montélimar must contain a minimum of 40% Grenache, and may contain up to 5% white grapes. A red from anywhere in the appellation must contain a minimum of 15% Syrah and/or Mourvedre. Côtes du Rhône méridional from Montélimar to Avignon in the southern latitudes, produced by 123 communes.Sols : constitués d’arènes granitiques recouvertes de micaschistes et de gneiss, mais aussi de plages de cailloux ronds alluvionnaires (diversité qui explique la présence de lieux-dits dans l’Appellation : Bessards, Greffieux, Méal, Rocoule, Beaumes etc…). Superficie en production* : 333 ha, production annuelle : 12 326 hl, rendement moyen : 37 hl/ha. * Source : Inter Rhône 2022. Lirac, Roquemaure, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres et Saint-Géniès-de-Comolas sur la rive droite du Rhône. Sols : marnes caillouteuses en coteaux ; marnes sableuses en coteaux ; alluvions quaternaires caillouteux en terrasse.