📜 Côtes du Rhône

Côtes du Rhône is a French protected designation of origin (AOC, PDO) for still, dry red, rosé and white wines from the Rhône valley. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973, and the AOC was recognised in 1937.

Red wines make up 93% of production, rosé 4% and white 3%. The specification lists the grape varieties without ranking them, among them Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette and Bourboulenc. A 2024 amendment added Carignan B, Floréal B, Rolle B and Vidoc N as secondary varieties, limited to 5% of the variety mix and 10% of blends; their names may not appear on the label.

Wines need a minimum natural alcoholic strength of 10.5% vol and a maximum total strength of 14.5% vol. Fermentable sugar may not exceed 3 g/l, or 4 g/l above 14% natural strength, and red wines may contain at most 0.4 g/l malic acid. The maximum yield is 60 hl/ha. Irrigation may be authorised, and plastic mulching is prohibited.

Grapes are harvested and wines made and developed in listed municipalities of six departments between Vienne and Avignon: Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, Loire, Rhône and Vaucluse. The same family includes the separate designations Côtes du Rhône Villages and the Crus des Côtes du Rhône.

Labels may add the larger unit ‘Vignobles de la Vallée du Rhône’, and ‘primeur’ or ‘nouveau’ wines must state the vintage.