The Rhône current guides you in the'one of the oldest vineyards in France and Second wine region for France After the Bordeaux, crossed by the Rhône.
From Vienne to Valence for the northern part and from Montélimar to Avignon for the southern part, we can also note D'Other sectors a little behind the Rhône related to the region, from Vivarais to Luberon, via the Diois. In this large region, we find Wines of all types, dry white, red and rosés, natural mild and effervescent.
The region is divided into Two very distinct geographic entities, a first marked by the verticality of its hillsides exposed to the south and under continental climate and, the second, southern and establishing its grape varieties on a more arid land between lavender and olive trees.
The appellations of Rhône wines.
In the southern Rhône valley, there are seventeen: Vacqueyras, Clairette de Bellegarde, Costières de Nîmes, Gigondas, Châteauneuf du Pape, Lirac, Tavel, Grignan-les-Adhémar, Ventoux, Luberon, Côtes-du-Vivarais, Pierrevert, Duchy of Uzès, Beaumes de Venise, Vinsobres, Rasteau dry and cairanne.
Twelve in the northern Rhône valley: Coteaux-de-Die, Crémant-de-Die, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Péray, Clairette-de-Die and Châtillon en diois. Two in regional appellations from the Rhône valley: Côtes-du-Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages and two also in thethe natural mild wines of the Rhône valley: Muscat de Beaumes de Venise and Rasteau.
In the southern part, it is thegrenache which is the majority. He gives red wines full -bodied and warm to generous roundness, and it is often assembled with several other grape varieties to obtain balanced wines such as Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault or even Carignan. Regarding whites, they generally come from assembly, generous, fatty and expressive, and obtained from Grenache Blanc, La Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne or Marsanne among others.
In the northern part, Syrah is essential for the Reds. It offers wines carpenters while being fine, deep and spicy. The aromatic and well -balanced whites come mainly from Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier grape varieties.
In these two regions, we find prestigious vineyards. From Vienna and Valence, you can discover the Côte-Rôtie, which we no longer present, but also the Condrieu and its great refinement, the Château-Grillet, the Saint Joseph or the Hermitage.
From Montélimar to Avignon, discover the Châteauneuf du Pape, Costières de Nîmes, Luberon, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.
On the way to Rhône wines between Vienne and Valence.
You take advantage of a route of a hundred kilometers, with, to start Vienna, Gallo-Roman city and starting point of your journey. First step on your way, Amp, capital of the prestigious Côte-Rôtie, on the right bank of the Rhône, to discover its vineyards hanging on extremely steep slopes and which are The oldest in Gaul.
Your path then takes you to Condrieu, white wine production zone of exceptional quality, from only Viognier. Then, by heading south, in St-Michel du Rhône, you taste the AOC Château-Grillet, among The rarest in France, because there is only one area that produces it, on an area of only 3.5 hectares of a single holder and cultivating from the viognier.
By continuing your road, you arrive in Malleval with its 16th century houses, in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation, of which you will be amazed by the verticality of its vineyard. Your trip then continues by St Désirat, Tournon-sur-Rhône, Tain l'Hermitage and its famous names Hermitage and Crozes Hermitage. To finish, you take advantage of a panoramic road to get to Saint-Péray, then to Valence your terminus.
Discovering Côtes-du-Rhône.
A ride of around sixty kilometers to discover the Côtes du Rhône Villages. From Suze-la-Rousse towards Valréas, you cross Saint Pantaleon Les Vignes, appellation Côtes du Rhône Villages, Nyons and its Roman bridge then the village of Vinsobres. Then you are on the road to Cairanne, a high place of the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation.
Eighty-seven kilometers on the roads of the big names. From Rasteau, find two names of natural mild wines, Rancio Ranteau and Muscat de Beaumes de Venise And five great vintages, Gigondas, Beaumes de Venise, Château Neuf du Pape, Tavel and Lirac.
Starting from Rasteau to Séguret, your road leads you to Gigondas, AOC producing a structured red wine. Then, Beaumes de Venise receives you with its muscat and then accompanies you to Châteauneuf du Pape, for a tasting of its AOC. Finally, to pleasantly end your Wine Route, Roquemaure, Tavel then Lirac welcome you to make you discover fairly full -bodied reds.
You can also choose two other circuits in the southern part of the Rhône valley: from Apt to Cavaillon, about forty kilometers to discover the vineyards of the Luberon, as well as the Costières de Nîmes road over sixty kilometers from Saint -Gilles in Montcalm.
