AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages
Generosity and character!
In the southern part of the Rhône Valley, the vines grow on terraces, on the river’s alluvial plains and on slopes leading up to the region’s iconic hilltop villages.
Vines have been grown here since Roman times, and now no fewer than 95 villages make up the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation area. From Drôme Provençale to the banks of the Durance in the east, from the Ardèche to the Pont du Gard in the west, these villages are well worth a visit – you may even find your own hidden gems. There is an enormous range of Côtes du Rhône Villages wines; the style depends on the nature of the soil. But one thing is for sure, you’ll need more than a day to explore.
Informations
Climate: Mediterranean influenced by Mistral wind
Soils: Sandy / Limestone / Clay / Rocky
Website appellation: https://www.cotesdurhone.com/
Key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 8 721 HA
Total production in 2023: 293 983 HL
Average annual yeld: 34 HL/HA
Export: 33%
Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.: 1967
Communes: produced in 95 communes
Grape varieties
Main grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Clairette,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache noir,
- Marsanne,
- Mourvèdre,
- Roussanne,
- Syrah,
- Viognier
Secondary grape varieties
- Bourboulenc,
- Brun argenté (locally known as Camarèse orVaccarèse),
- Carignan,
- Cinsault,
- Clairette,
- Clairette rose,
- Counoise,
- Grenache blanc,
- Grenache gris,
- Marsanne,
- Muscardin,
- Piquepoul blanc,
- Piquepoul noir,
- Roussanne,
- Terret noir,
- Ugni blanc,
- Viognier
Variétés d'Intérêt à Fin d'Adaptation
- Carignan blanc,
- Floréal,
- Rolle (or Vermentino),
- Vidoc
To know
History
The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC was established by decree on November 2, 1966, supplemented by a further decree on August 25, 1967.
The AOC area encompasses 95 villages across the 4 southern Rhône départements of Ardèche, Drôme, Gard and Vaucluse. 22 of these villages have reached a standard of quality authorising them to add their village name to the labels of their Côtes du Rhône Villages wines. These are:
In the Drôme: Nyons, Rochegude, Roussetles-Vignes, Saint-Maurice, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes and Suze-la-Rousse.
In Vaucluse: Gadagne, Massif d’Uchaux, Plan de Dieu, Puyméras, Roaix, Sablet, Sainte-Cécile, Séguret, Vaison-la-Romaine, Valréas and Visan.
In the Gard: Chusclan, Laudun, Saint-Gervais and Signargues.
In Ardèche: Saint Andéol.
These are known as Côtes du Rhône Villages with geographical name.
Climate
The climate is the same as in the Côtes du Rhône AOC: Mediterranean, influenced by the Mistral wind. Rainfall is low, and snow is rare.
Soils
The soils here are the same as in the Côtes du Rhône AOC, although the criteria are more stringently applied given the stricter production regulations in this appellation.
Generally speaking, stony chalky clay soils produce dense, generous well-coloured wines with good body and powerful aromas. The drier stony soils give appealing, elegant, fruit-driven wines.
Geography
The appellation’s 95 communes lie in the 4 southern Rhône départements of Ardèche, Drôme, Gard and Vaucluse.
Varieties and flavours
Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation allows the use of 20 different grape varieties. Grenache noir is king for the red wines: it is a mandatory component of the blend. Along with Syrah and Mourvèdre, these three main varieties must represent at least 66% of the final blend. These fine, generous and elegant wines can be paired with a wide diversity of flavourful dishes: game, Provençal stews, stuffed vegetables, gourmet salads, roast pork or veal, navarin of lamb, hard/ semi-hard cheeses…
The whites show floral aromas and are delicious served with shellfish, hot or cold, creamy chicken dishes, rabbit gibelotte in white wine, and a range of cheeses, from blue-veined to fresh goat’s cheese.
The fruity rosés partner well with crudités, mixed salads, chicken fillet, charcuterie, grilled meat and many types of world cuisine.
Associated appellations
Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC
Discover the other Côtes du Rhône Villages with geographical names