Thanks to the famous appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the rich spicy red wines of the Southern Rhône Valley are world-renowned.
South of Valence, the Rhone Valley begins to open which leads to larger flat wine areas. The best vineyards lie on gravel soils, which release the heat during the night so the grapes can have an optimal ripening process.
The region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm dry summers. Besides the risk of drought, the vines suffer from the powerful mistral. The vintners have to protect the plant with windbreak.
Appellations in Southern Rhône
The generic appellation AOC Côtes du Rhône consists of half of the total local wine production. It is more known for its full-bodied fruity reds than its good rosé and white wines. AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages and AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne produce excellent structured red wines with red fruits and spicy flavors.
Southern Rhône Valley gathers seven crus:
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the historic appellation, the first French wine area that earned its AOC status. The cru is totally covered of flat pebbles soils. The dominant variety is Grenache and is used to make a few varietal wines. Some other production brings foward the typical salty and meaty notes of Mourvèdre. However, Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are known to be blend wines consisting of a high number of grape varieties. The best examples are full-bodied, with rich complex aromas of red fruits and spices. The appellation allows the use of 13 varieties but overall the wines are made of 75% of Grenache.
- AOC Tavel and AOC Lirac are two southern appellations, well known for their full-bodied succulent rosé wines that blended Grenache and Cinsaut.
- AOC Gigondas, AOC Vacqueyras, AOC Beaumes and AOC Vinsobres all produce rich spicy reds similar to Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Beaumes-de-Venise and Rasteau have their own distinct appellations for their production of natural sweet wines.
A few appellations lie on the border of the region where the cooler climate gives lighter wines. AOC Costières de Nîmes in the south-west is known for its good full-bodied red wines from Mourvèdre and Syrah.
Grape vatieties in Southern Rhône
Grenache is the most important red variety. It withstands the drought and the strong winds and needs heat to ripen plainly. The best wines concentrate red fruits and spicy aromas. During the warmest years, the vintages have flavors of stewed fruit and jam.
Syrah and Mourvèdre are often blended with Grenache. Syrah grows on the colder sites and strengthens the color and tannins. Mourvèdre is on the warmest vineyards where it can have higher concentration of pigment and tannins. The riped grape confers to the wine its peculiar meaty flavor and salty notes.
Cinsaut used in blend wines gives fruity notes. It is often blended with Grenache to produce refreshing fruity rosé.
The white varieties in Southern Rhône Valley are Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc.
Best producers in Southern Rhône
Domaine Raspail-Ay, Château de Beaucastel, Château Rayas, Clos des Papes, Domaine Bosquet des Papes, Domaine de la Janasse, Château d'Aquéria, Domaine de la Réméjeanne, Domaine Marcel Richaud and Ogier are some of the most important wine estates in the Southern Rhône Valley.
