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Rhône Valley wine region
Photo: Elliot Gouy on Unsplash
Spicy reds in the north, blends in the south.
The benchmark for many wine styles, organized by appellation (AOC).
Notable producers in Rhône Valley
- E. Guigal
- M. Chapoutier
- Jean-Louis Chave
- Château de Beaucastel
- Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Official appellations
| Appellation | Status | Style | Grapes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1936) One of France's first AOCs, named after the popes' summer castle. Thirteen grape varieties are allowed; Grenache leads, often on large round galet stones. | AOC | Red | Garnacha / Grenache, Syrah / Shiraz, Mourvèdre |
Rhône Valley wines to try
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Syrah / Shiraz, Garnacha / Grenache, Mourvèdre
Generous and peppery: dark berries, spice and soft tannins.
Food: Sausages, cassoulet, pizza
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
Rhône Valley · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Mourvèdre, Garnacha / Grenache, Syrah / Shiraz
Deep and savoury: black fruit, garrigue herbs, leather and spice.
Food: Game, slow-cooked lamb
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
Rhône Valley · Hermitage · Syrah / Shiraz
Powerful Syrah: blackberry, black olive, smoke and pepper.
Food: Venison, beef stew
Delas Frères Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Grenache Blanc, Viognier
Fresh southern Rhône white with peach and white flowers.
Food: Chicken, salads
Jean-Luc Jamet Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Viognier, Roussanne
Northern Rhône grower white: apricot, flowers and texture.
Food: Pork, fish
Château de Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Marsanne, Viognier, Bourboulenc, Clairette
Rich Rhône white: stone fruit, honeysuckle and almond.
Food: Roast chicken, bouillabaisse
Delas Frères Condrieu La Galopine
Rhône Valley · Condrieu · Viognier
Perfumed Condrieu: apricot, violet and a rich, smooth finish.
Food: Asian dishes, lobster
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc
Rhône Valley · Hermitage · Marsanne, Roussanne
Legendary Hermitage white: rich, honeyed, nutty and age-worthy.
Food: Lobster, truffle
Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie
Rhône Valley · Côte-Rôtie · Syrah
Benchmark grower Côte-Rôtie: olive, violet and smoked meat.
Food: Lamb, game
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Turque
Rhône Valley · Côte-Rôtie · Syrah, Viognier
One of Guigal's 'La La' single vineyards: opulent and spicy.
Food: Venison, beef
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
Rhône Valley · Côte-Rôtie · Syrah, Viognier
Perfumed, silky 'La La' from the Côte Blonde.
Food: Lamb, duck
E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne
Rhône Valley · Côte-Rôtie · Syrah
Pure Syrah 'La La': dark, dense and structured.
Food: Game, beef
L. Fayolle Crozes-Hermitage Sens
Rhône Valley · Crozes-Hermitage · Syrah
Fresh, peppery Crozes Syrah.
Food: Grilled meats, sausages
Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins
Rhône Valley · Crozes-Hermitage · Syrah
Rich Crozes with blackberry, pepper and spice.
Food: Lamb, beef
Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhône Valley · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Ripe, spicy Châteauneuf with garrigue notes.
Food: Lamb, game
Delas Frères Châteauneuf-du-Pape Haute Pierre
Rhône Valley · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Grenache, Syrah
Generous Châteauneuf: kirsch, spice and herbs.
Food: Beef stew, lamb
Château de Beaucastel Hommage à Jacques Perrin
Rhône Valley · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah
Beaucastel's Mourvèdre-rich prestige cuvée, made only in great years.
Food: Game, truffle
Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas
Rhône Valley · Gigondas · Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Traditional, sturdy Gigondas.
Food: Lamb, stews
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas
Rhône Valley · Gigondas · Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Spicy, mineral Gigondas from limestone.
Food: Game, beef
Domaine de la Charbonnière Vacqueyras
Rhône Valley · Vacqueyras · Grenache, Syrah
Dark-fruited, peppery Vacqueyras.
Food: Lamb, sausages
Xavier Vignon Côtes-du-Rhône
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Grenache, Syrah
Juicy, spicy Côtes-du-Rhône.
Food: Pizza, burgers
Château de Beaucastel Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge
Rhône Valley · Côtes du Rhône · Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah
'Baby Beaucastel': ripe, spicy and savoury.
Food: Lamb, stews
Château Mourgues du Grès Les Galets Rouges
Rhône Valley · Costières de Nîmes · Syrah, Grenache
Fresh, fruity Costières red.
Food: Grilled meats, pizza
Domaine Coursodon Grenade Syrah
Rhône Valley · Vin de France · Syrah
Young, juicy Syrah from a Saint-Joseph grower.
Food: Charcuterie, burgers
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
Rhône Valley · Muscat de Beaumes de Venise · Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Fortified Muscat: orange blossom, apricot and honey.
Food: Fruit desserts
Château d'Aqueria Tavel
Rhône Valley · Tavel · Garnacha / Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette
Deep, structured rosé with redcurrant, strawberry and spice; a rosé for the table.
Food: Bouillabaisse, grilled lamb, paella
More wine regions in France
See Rhône Valley on the wine map
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