Wines of France

After flowing from the Alps, the Rhone River takes a dramatic turn southward toward the Mediterranean. It is at this point, near Lyon, that the fog, cold and gray weather of the north give way to the sun, fragrances of the warm countryside and abundant vineyards of the south. This symbolic path from North to South flows through a narrow valley between the Alps and Massif Central that also happens to harbor the TGV rails and main highway, taking travelers southward to much needed sunlight and vacations. Though there are some continental influences in the northern vineyards, for the most part the Rhone Valley is flooded with Mediterranean sun and swept clean by the Mistral winds, producing excellent wines for all connoisseurs to enjoy.

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Flowing over 250 kilometers from Arles to Lyon, the Rhone is the pathway taken by French people leaving the chilly business world to take refuge in warm vacation destinations in the South. South of Montélimar, the climate is Mediterranean, with warm, sunny days kept cloudless by the legendary Mistral winds. These also keep the vineyards clean and the grapes in good condition. As a result, the wines from the Southern Rhone are full bodied, fleshy and high in alcohol. The Northern Rhone, which extends to Côte Rôtie and Condrieu, has a more continental climate with Mediterranean influences. The winters are cold and the summers hot, giving the wines increased acidity and aging potential as well as firmer tannins. Different varieties are planted, and as a result, the wines are less approachable and more austere when young.

The Rhone Valley is rich in tourist attractions and exceptional natural beauty. Avignon and Orange, with their history, festivals or lively street life basically go without saying, but there is also the lovely fragrance of the Mont Ventoux countryside, the Tricastan brushlands and the magnificent villages of Vaison-la-Romaine and Chateauneuf du Pape to be considered. Not to mention the hidden treasures in Lubéron, the ochre earth of Roussillon and the wild, enchanting gorges of Ardèche. The Mistral winds blow strongly here, so the trees are bent in submission, and cypress groves protect delicate crops. The countryside has a warm feel that calls to mind carefree vacations and beautiful weather.

The Rhone Valley contains every type of terroir. The most well known, in Chateauneuf du Pape, consists of large smooth river rocks that collect heat from the sun during the day and radiate it at night. But the northern vineyards are located on steep terraces of shale and granite soils derived from Massif Central, and elsewhere, clay-limestone soils are prevalent. The Rhone Valley is essentially the link between three of the most important geologic elements in France: the Alps, Massif Central and the sedimentary plains. In addition, the finest river silt is deposited in the northern end of the valley and the coarsest in the south. As a result the soils are often complex, and the wines can offer completely different expressions even within the same appellation.