Rhône Valley :

From Vienne to Avignon, the banks of the Rhône river have been home to vines and winegrowers for some 2000 years. Situated in a prime location, the Rhône Valley produces wines that represent its sense of unity, variety and renown. Winegrowers here have always been intimately in tune with the soils and climate in the Valley so that they can produce the very best wines.

In 1937, "Côtes du Rhône" wines, whose name was chosen by the winegrowers themselves, were officially recognized as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée. Of the great French AOC regions, Côtes du Rhône is one of the leaders in terms of its area of production and the volume of wine produced.

The typical characteristics of Côtes du Rhône wines are due in part to terroir and grape variety, which by no means underestimates the important role of the human touch in establishing the reputation and unique personality of the appellation

A vineyard's terroir is made up from a combination of climate, soil and grape variety. In general, the Mediterranean region's climate is characterized by seasons of rain, warm temperatures and exceptionally sunny periods. The major exception to the Mediterranean climate in the Rhône Valley is the famous Mistral wind.

The Mistral wind has a major influence on the regional climate and is actually beneficial to the vine's development. This strong, sometimes violent wind results from differences in atmospheric pressure between northern and southern France.

The Rhône River is another important element of the terroir. The Rhône has left its mark on the sedimentary basin, as it has formed hills and valleys and has created alluvial deposits which all make for a rich, diverse area that extends from Vienne to Avignon, from the Cévennes mountains to the foothills of the Alps.

Vines grow on the right bank of the river between Vienne and Valence, in the Rhône, Loire and Ardèche departments.On the left bank, vines grow from granite soils on the steep hills of Tain l'Hermitage. The area has a moderate and continental climate.

From Livron to Montélimar, vines have been replaced by other forms of vegetation but further south, after the gorge at Donzère, they are to be found once again, growing on both sides of the river. A large vineyard area along the right bank of the river in the Ardèche and Gard departments extends further south on the left bank between the Drôme and southern Vaucluse. Here, the soils are chalky with a top layer of alluvium. The Mediterranean climate provides dry and warm conditions

Grape Varieties

Regulations covering the Côtes du Rhône A.O.C. allow the use of 21 grape varieties, some as principal varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Clairette), and others as secondary varieties (Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Picpoul, etc.).

In the northern Côtes du Rhône, wines are usually produced from a single grape variety. The consistent, moderate climate enables the fruit to mature without becoming too ripe, giving the individual character that produces wines typical of the region. The climatic and geological variations of the southern Côtes du Rhône favor cultivation of a number of grape varieties (some of which have been introduced into France from other countries over the centuries). Among the principal grapes, both red and white varieties are found.

For more information check this link :

Rhone Valley Wines
http://www.nicks.com.au/wineregions/page6.html

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