📍 Southern Rhône
A broad Mediterranean zone that includes Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The Southern Rhône is a broad wine zone in south-eastern France, in the valley of the Rhône river. The climate is Mediterranean: hot summers, mild winters, and the strong mistral wind often blowing. It is the southern part of the Rhône Valley, south of the Northern Rhône.
Many grapes are grown here, but the main ones are Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The region's famous wine is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Near it are Tavel, where rosé is made, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Ventoux, Luberon and Rasteau. There is also the sweet wine Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. Simple wine is sold as Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages.
In Châteauneuf-du-Pape the ground is strewn with round pale stones: they warm by day and give off heat at night, helping grapes ripen. Southern Rhône wines are most often blends, mixes of several grapes.
It is a historic area, and its division into names grew gradually around well-known villages. For travellers there are many routes with tastings.
How it connects to Wine
📍 Southern Rhône ← grows in ← 🍇 Mourvèdre → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📍 Rhône Valley
- Appellations
- France: 📜 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 📜 Côtes du Rhône Villages, 📜 Luberon, 📜 Rasteau, 📜 Tavel, 📜 Ventoux, 📜 Gigondas, 📜 Vacqueyras, 📜 Coteaux des Baronnies, 📜 Côtes du Vivarais
- Wines made here
- 🍷 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise
- Grapes
- 🍇 Grenache, 🍇 Cinsaut, 🍇 Grenache Blanc, 🍇 Bourboulenc, 🍇 Terret Noir, 🍇 Counoise, 🍇 Picardan, 🍇 Syrah, 🍇 Mourvèdre
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Southern Rhône?
In south-eastern France, in the southern part of the Rhône valley.
What is the best-known wine of the Southern Rhône?
Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Which grapes are main in the Southern Rhône?
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, usually in blends.
What to read next
- 📜 Rasteau — A southern Rhône village making Grenache reds and fortified sweet wines.
- 🍇 Syrah — A red grape from the Rhône Valley; in Australia it is called Shiraz.
- 📜 Ventoux — An appellation at the foot of Mont Ventoux with fresh red and rosé wines.
- 📜 Luberon — An appellation on the slopes of the Luberon mountains, with fresh rosés, whites and reds.
- 📜 Tavel — The only Rhône appellation that makes only rosé wines.