Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC Cornas
The Cornas vineyards grow on the right bank of the Rhône, on the eastern slopes of the Massif Central. The steep, East Southeast-facing slopes form a natural amphitheatre, protecting the vines from cold winds.
Syrah is the appellation’s only authorised grape variety, expressing its full strength and power in this terroir.
Informations
Climat : Semi-continental and mediterranean
Sols : Granite / Clay
Site web de l'appellation : https://www.aoc-cornas.fr/
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 150 HA
Total production in 2023: 5 086 HL
Average annual yeld: 34 HL/HA
Export: 28%
Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.: 1938
Commune: Cornas
Grape varieties
Syrah
Syrah is one of the most emblematic red grape varieties of the northern part of the Côtes du Rhône. Due to its rarity, it is only used to produce certain great wines.
To know
History
The Cornas vineyards date back to ancient times.
The terraced plantings and earliest-known “chaillées” (dry stone walls) supporting them were, in all likelihood, the work of the Romans. The first written evidence of vineyards in the area dates back to the 10th century, when the Canon of Viviers mentioned in his writings that the church in Cornas was “surrounded by vines”. Further documents dating from 1763 mention the “powerful wines” produced in the village. Cornas was awarded appellation status in 1938.
Climate
The climate is very influenced by the Mediterranean.
Soils
The terroir comprises a semicircle of hills facing south and south-east, protecting the vineyard from the Mistral wind and therefore of excessive changes in temperature. The vineyards are planted on craggy slopes cut into narrow, unstable terraces, known locally as “chaillées”. The soil is chiefly decomposed granite, giving sandy clay soils known as “gores,” between two limestone faults (Rocher de Crussol and Rocher de Rochepertuis).
In addition to these gores, the terroir features deposits of silt, except in the north where limestone soils dominate.
Geography
The appellation area lies on steep slopes facing east and south-east, at altitudes of 125 to 400 m.
It is limited to this one village on the right bank of the Rhône in the Ardèche département, 7km from Valence and 12 km from Tournon. The area is bordered by Saint-Joseph to the north and Saint-Péray to the south.
Varieties and flavours
As with all northern crus, Cornas is made from Syrah, the only grape variety authorised for this appellation. The terroir brings out its strength, and gives the wines a rich texture and dark red colour, almost black. The wines age well, their black fruit flavours maturing to a spicy, liquorice finish as the tannins mellow. Aromas of roasted cocoa evolve to include aromas of leather, musk, pepper and truffles.
Associated appellations
