The Rhone Valley, by its very nature, has always been the ideal route between the Mediterranean and northern Europe and the Atlantic.
The Ancient Greeks used the Rhone to travel into the heart of Gaul to carry out trade. Wine production continued apace with the arrival of the Romans in 125 BC.
During the first century AD, the competition between Italy and the Rhone area of Gaul became fierce. It is around this time that the Gallo-Roman villa of Molard, at Donzère, was built, along with many of the region's amphora workshops.
These amphorae were used to transport wines and fish sauces. A number of archaeological discoveries, together with a long-standing tradition of historical research, enable us to say with some confidence that the Côtes du Rhône wines have a longer history than many other French wine-growing areas. The Romans built the city of Vienne and then planted the Vienne vineyards, which soon developed a considerable renown. The Romans had to undertake huge double-digging projects to plant the vines before building the walls to protect the terraces. The very rugged slopes of the right bank appealed to the Romans - Côte Rôtie in Saint Joseph - who then went on to annex the left bank - Hermitage. They transformed the region into one of the most beautiful in Narbonnese Gaul. From the first century onwards, the area was at the forefront of commercial wine production, thanks to the Romans.
In the 14th century, the Avignon Popes were supplied by the local wine producers. John XXII, the second of the seven Popes to be based in Avignon, had a castle built at Châteauneuf du Pape. His successor, Benedict XII, began the construction of the Papal Palace.
The 17th and 18th centuries saw rapid progress in Rhone Valley wine production.
In the 17th century, "Côte du Rhône" was the name of an administrative district in the Vicariate of Uzès (Gard), where the wines were particularly renowned. Regulations were introduced in 1650 to guarantee their origin and their quality.
By an Edict of the King in 1737, all the casks that were to be used for carriage and sale had to be branded with the letters "C.D.R.". It was only in the middle of the 19th century that Côte du Rhône became Côtes du Rhône, by including the vineyards on the left bank of the Rhone. This notability, which had been steadily accrued over the centuries, was given official recognition by the High Courts of Tournon and Uzès in 1936.
Then came the ultimate recognition, thanks to the endeavours of Baron Le Roy - a man with courage and vision - with the creation in 1937 of an AOC - Appellation d’Origine Controlée - Côtes du Rhône.
An A.O.C. classification is the acknowledgement both of a contemporary reality and a tradition that is comprised of a number of key elements: one or more varieties of vine, a clearly defined territory and superb expertise in wine production.
The rules that guarantee the quality of AOC products are laid down by a national body, the I.N.A.O., which also regularly verifies that these products meet criteria based on: yields, territorial extension, grape varieties, cultivation methods and harvesting techniques.
To be granted an AOC, a wine must also undergo analyses and, of course, tasting, to ensure its quality and that it maintains local characteristics.
Local Geography Richness and diversity of the land It is the various climates, soils and grape varieties that make Côtes du Rhône wines so characteristic, but more than geographical unity, perhaps, it is the desire and labour of the winegrowers that have given the wines their real personality, and enabled the attribution of an AOC.
The climate is Mediterranean, its most striking feature being the mistral, the strong wind born of the difference in atmospheric pressure between the north and the south and that is so beneficial to the vines. The region's climate is characterised by its seasonality, with heavy rains, high temperatures and exceptional amounts of sunshine.
The soil is the result of the combination of the vegetation and the climate over thousands of years. The Rhone has left a powerful mark on the whole of the sedimentary basin, carving out the relief and bringing alluvia that have created, from Vienne down to Avignon and the Cévennes, against the foothills of the Alps, a rich variety of soils.
The grape varieties come originally from three different vine-growing regions. The Cinsault, Clairette and Bourboulenc are varieties that were first developed in the Mediterranean regions of France. The Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre came from provinces in Spain, brought in by travellers around two centuries
ago. The Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier are thought likely to have come from wild vines that grow in the forests of Dauphiné.
From Vienne to Valence, the vineyards cover the right bank of the river through the départements of Rhône, Loire and Ardèche. On the left bank, they spread out over the steep slopes around Tain-l'Hermitage. This whole area is characterised by its granite soil and its moderate continental climate. From Livron to Montélimar, the vines give way to other crops.
South of the Donzère Defile, the vineyards are back in force on both banks of the river, south of Montélimar. The major stretches of vines on the right bank in the départements of Ardèche and Gard are joined by similar areas on the left bank, between lower Drôme and southern Vaucluse. The soil here is limestone covered in alluvia.
Red Grenache blackgrape variety Main features : an extremely vigorous and productive variety, but prone to rain damage (during flowering). Although there are variations depending on the area, flowering usually takes place between June 5th to 15th, and the grapes ripen between September 15th and October 10th. Grenache is wind resistant and extremely resistant to drought. Most red wines of southern Côtes du Rhône are Grenache based, as are some fruity rosé wines.
œnological potential : high alcohol potential, low acidity, mellowness, round, fruity with spicy aromas.
Use : Gigondas (main grape varieties, 50% minimum), Côtes du Rhône (40% minimum). Côtes du Rhône Villages (a maximum of 65% of regional grape varieties until December 31st 2004, and a minimum of 50% from 2005). Syrah grape variety Main features : a variety of great character with abundant vegetation. Although there are variations depending on the area and the year, flowering usually takes place between June 5th and 15th, and the grapes ripen between September 15th and October 10th (8 days before Grenache black in the South). This variety prefers a mild and consistent climate. Syrah is the only red variety used in the northern Côtes du Rhône Crus and, owing to its aromatic richness and deep colour, it is now increasingly used in southern Côtes du Rhône.
œnological potential : vivid in colour, resistant to oxidation, tannic and aromatic (raspberry, blackcurrant, violet, peppers).
Use : Cornas (100%), Côte-Rôtie (80% minimum), Crozes-Hermitage (85% minimum), Hermitage (85% minimum), Saint-Joseph (90%), Gigondas (15% minimum of grape varieties blended or not with Mourvèdre), Côtes du Rhône (main grape variety), Côtes du Rhône Villages (a minimum of 20% of regional grape varieties blended with Cinsault and Mourvèdre). Mourvèdre grape variety
Main features : of average productivity, this variety flowers between June 5 and June 15 and the grapes ripen from the beginning of October. Southern regions are preferable as it requires considerable warmth and light, particularly at the end of its ripening period.
Although sensitive to wind, it requires small but regular amounts of water.
œnological potential : Its tannins are ideal for red wines and the intensity and quality of its aromas increase with age. This variety has antioxidant properties, which have resulted in it being used to prolong the freshness and enrich the aroma of some rosés.
The Rhone Valley, by its very nature, has always been the ideal route between the Mediterranean and northern Europe and the Atlantic.
The Romans built the city of Vienne and then planted the Vienne vineyards, which soon developed a considerable renown. The Romans had to undertake huge double-digging projects to plant the vines before building the walls to protect the terraces. The very rugged slopes of the right bank appealed to the Romans - Côte Rôtie in Saint Joseph - who then went on to annex the left bank - Hermitage. They transformed the region into one of the most beautiful in Narbonnese Gaul. From the first century onwards, the area was at the forefront of commercial wine production, thanks to the Romans.
It was only in the middle of the 19th century that Côte du Rhône became Côtes du Rhône, by including the vineyards on the left bank of the Rhone. This notability, which had been steadily accrued over the centuries, was given official recognition by the High Courts of Tournon and Uzès in 1936.
It is the various climates, soils and grape varieties that make Côtes du Rhône wines so characteristic, but more than geographical unity, perhaps, it is the desire and labour of the winegrowers that have given the wines their real personality, and enabled the attribution of an AOC.
Clairette and Bourboulenc are varieties that were first developed in the Mediterranean regions of France. The Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre came from provinces in Spain, brought in by travellers around two centuries 
Main features : an extremely vigorous and productive variety, but prone to rain damage (during flowering). Although there are variations depending on the area, flowering usually takes place between June 5th to 15th, and the grapes ripen between September 15th and October 10th. Grenache is wind resistant and extremely resistant to drought. Most red wines of southern Côtes du Rhône are Grenache based, as are some fruity rosé wines.
Main features : a variety of great character with abundant vegetation. Although there are variations depending on the area and the year, flowering usually takes place between June 5th and 15th, and the grapes ripen between September 15th and October 10th (8 days before Grenache black in the South). This variety prefers a mild and consistent climate. Syrah is the only red variety used in the northern Côtes du Rhône Crus and, owing to its aromatic richness and deep colour, it is now increasingly used in southern Côtes du Rhône. 
grape variety 