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.

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Tucked right up in the north of the Rhône Valley on the river’s right bank we find Condrieu, an appellation celebrated for its legendary white wines.

These are made from Viognier grapes, planted on narrow terraces, here in their spiritual homeland. The true Condrieu aficionado will know to move away from the village centre, and will explore the winding maze of hillside vineyards in search of the grapes of this famously aromatic, golden wine. The AOC area measures some 200 hectares and has become a global standard, particularly in the USA.

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Château-Grillet may well be named for the sun-baked – “grilled” – hillsides surrounding it. The same name applies to the Château itself, the hamlet in which it lies, and its vineyard. All were officially recognised on 15th May 1976 as a French National Heritage Site, singled out for their outstanding beauty and rich history.

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Sun-drenched hillsides, the heady scents of the garrigue and a bubbling river which changes its spelling at will… 

Cairanne is a delightful village set on a rocky outcrop, offering visitors an irresistible range of luscious red and white wines.
There is plenty to love about Cairanne, not least its community spirit, nurtured by generations of winemakers, its hot, dry weather and its fruity, elegant wines. It’s also the gateway to the southern Rhône, combining the typically northern Syrah grape with the much more southern Grenache and Mourvèdre.

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The lush vineyards of Beaumes de Venise could be straight from the landscapes of Tuscany.
Vines and olive groves grow side by side on land lovingly tended by the winegrowers, where sustainable agriculture is a natural extension of their deep love for this unique, fertile, precious land.
The name “de Venise” makes us think of Venice, and sounds as if it might have romantic connotations. But this area isn’t named for the beautiful Italian town; it’s a derivation of “de Venisse”, from “Comtat Venaissin” (also known as Comtat Avignonnais), which was once part of the Papal States.
Beaumes de Venise lies in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail and their jagged peaks of Jurassic limestone, a terroir made up of 3 types of soil, notably the rocky outcrop known as Le Trias, exceptional soils which produce a very specific type of wine.

Why is it that some of the finest wines in the world come from the most beautiful places? It’s certainly the case with Visan.

Take a stroll through the village in the cool of the morning and the air is perfumed with the white jasmine that climbs the sandstone walls of ancient houses. You’ll pass their carved wooden doors and glimpse verdant gardens through ornate metal gates. The only sound is the song of the cicadas.
This is one of the more sizeable Named Villages on the east bank of the Rhône, tucked up in the northern part of the southern Côtes du Rhône. Vineyards have surrounded the village for centuries, they spread across the plain below and climb up behind the village to find the best exposed sites.

Until fairly recently, this land was dedicated to their fine, vibrant reds. More recently, however, winemakers have discovered how well white varieties perform, producing succulent white wines scented with peach and apricot.
They’re making more and more rosés too.

A combination of a northerly site, vineyards at altitude and cooling winds bring the all-important freshness – to all three colours. Until you can visit, taste the beauty in the wines.

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Legend has it that whilst travelling one day, an exhausted Pope John XXII drank a glass of Valréas and it restored his health and energy. He was certainly a fan – so much so that he annexed the land to ensure he’d never run out.

Today, the vineyards of Valréas stretch out for miles in all directions around the town itself, making this the third largest Named Village on the east bank of the Rhône. This verdant oasis in the northern reaches of the Côtes du Rhône is protected all around by hills and mountains. Its northerly location makes for relatively cool conditions, and the vines are further freshened by air currents that spill down from the surrounding peaks.

It might be relatively cool here, but the summer sun burns brightly enough to ripen the Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre that make up their vibrant, energetic reds. Rosé is rare, but white wines are on the up, blending Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne with that wonderfully lush southern white, Grenache blanc. Like the reds, the whites benefit from a piercing freshness and joyful drinkability.

Drink a glass if you need a pick-me-up – some wine lovers swear by it!

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All vines love a hillside. And in Vaison-la-Romaine, they’re spoilt for choice. This newly promoted Named Village, recognised in 2016, is a succession of rolling hills in the eastern part of the Côtes du Rhône, before the terrain becomes mountainous. It gives local winemakers plenty of choices: to plant in full sun or in shadier sites, open to – or sheltered from – the north wind and cooling mountain breezes.

Vines were brought here by the Romans, and there has been a wealth of remains found in the village – hence the name ‘La Romaine’. It combines ancient, medieval and modern architecture to create one of the most charming places to visit in the Vaucluse. After visiting the ruins, take a walk over the Roman bridge and up the winding cobbled streets to take in a panorama of surrounding vineyards that tumble into the distance.

The designation takes its name from the village of Vaison- la-Romaine, but the growing area includes four other ancient settlements: Saint-Marcellin-lès-Vaison, Villedieu, Buisson and Saint-Roman-de-Malegarde. These hillside sites have been producing red wines that combine generosity and elegance for over 2,000 years.

Now it’s your turn to discover them.

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The castle of Suze-la-Rousse dominates the village below. This is no fairy-tale chateau – it’s an imposing fortified stone edifice constructed on a rocky promontory. Climb to the top of one of its turrets and you can see the green vineyards sweeping in every direction across the valley below.

In the 12th century it was owned by the Princes of Orange, but since 1978 it has been home to the internationally renowned Université du Vin, where students come from all over France to learn every aspect of wine production and business. They also get to enjoy – and contribute to – the beautiful local wines.

This Named Village of the Drôme only makes reds, using Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and often a healthy proportion of robust Carignan. The low-lying vineyards are made of ancient riverbeds and are drenched in sunlight and fanned by the mistral wind, producing concentrated, bold wines that could accompany any royal banquet. They bring to mind the castle itself; strong and sturdy, but executed with peerless craftsmanship, and an eye for detail.

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If the Rhône Valley is famous for any type of soil, it would have to be the smooth, oval river stones known as galets roulés that crop up all over the Côtes du Rhône.
Signargues is the furthest south of all the Named Villages on the west bank of the Rhône, and its vineyards are covered in them – in places you can dig for over a metre until you get to the clay and sand below. There’s no village called Signargues on the map. the name refers to the blood shed during the various invasions of history.

This area subjected to the raging gusts of the Mistral is above all the kingdom of red wines.
The Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault come together to make muscular wines of rare concentration and power, even for the Rhône. These are deeply flavoursome wines, with aromas of blackberries and dried Provençal herbs.

These galets roulés have been known for centuries to deliver wines with great density and strength, but with a savoury edge. If you’re looking for an elemental wine, look to Signargues – the blood of the stones.