Côtes du Rhône Villages — Named Communes

The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC was established by decree on 2 November 1966 and supplemented on 25 August 1967, building on discussions that began as early as 1953. Five communes initially stood out: Cairanne, Gigondas, Chusclan, Laudun, and Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues. The framework drew inspiration from Beaujolais, which similarly allowed individual villages to append their names to a regional designation. Both Cairanne and Gigondas have since been promoted to independent Cru status, as has Laudun, which received its Cru recognition on 11 September 2024. The enclave villages of Valréas and Visan carry particular historical weight: Pope John XXII purchased Valréas in 1317 for 16,000 livres, and subsequent popes added Visan, Grillon, and Richerenches over the following decades, creating the Enclave des Papes. The area remained papal territory until 1791, when the Revolutionary National Assembly returned it to France.

• AOC established by decrees of November 1966 and August 1967, with planning origins from 1953
• Original five communes included Cairanne and Gigondas, both since promoted to full Cru status
• Laudun, a named village since 1967, became the 18th Cru of the Côtes du Rhône in September 2024
• Valréas purchased by Pope John XXII in 1317; the papal enclave remained under Church authority until 1791

The named communes span the four southern Rhône departments of Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, and Vaucluse, covering a broad range of elevations and soil types. Séguret's vineyards extend from a main clay-limestone terrace at around 140 to 150 metres up into the chalky foot slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail at 250 to 350 metres, with the variety of terrains producing a corresponding range of wine styles. Sablet, its name derived from the Provençal word for sand, sits on predominantly sandy soils at the foot of the Dentelles, producing the largest volume of white wine among all named villages. Plan de Dieu occupies a vast flat alluvial terrace at around 110 metres near Orange, its soils a deep bed of red clay and rounded limestone pebbles formed during the Riss Glacial Stage. In the north, Valréas and Visan sit within the Enclave des Papes, a Vaucluse exclave surrounded by the Drôme department. Throughout all communes, the Mediterranean climate is moderated by the Mistral wind, which reduces disease pressure and preserves freshness during the growing season.

• Séguret vineyards range from 140m on clay-limestone terraces to 350m on Dentelles de Montmirail slopes
• Sablet's sandy soils produce fragrant, silky reds and the highest white wine volume of any named village
• Plan de Dieu's deep red clay and rounded pebble terrace yields barely one bottle of wine per vine
• Valréas and Visan sit within the Enclave des Papes, a Vaucluse exclave fully surrounded by the Drôme department

Grenache noir is the mandatory foundation of all red wines across the named communes. Together with Syrah and Mourvèdre, these three varieties must collectively represent at least 66% of any red blend, anchoring the wines in Southern Rhône tradition. Syrah adds colour stability, dark fruit, and herbal lift; Mourvèdre contributes tannin structure and earthy depth. Secondary varieties including Carignan and Cinsault may be used in supporting roles. Séguret produces red, white, and rosé wines across its varied terroirs, with reds showing depth and minerality, while whites are made mainly from Roussanne and Marsanne. Sablet is the leading named village for white wine production. Plan de Dieu produces red wines only from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, with concentrated aromas of red berries, spice, and garrigue. Roaix, located between the crus of Rasteau and Cairanne, produces predominantly structured reds capable of ageing up to ten years. White wines across the appellation are typically based on Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Viognier.

• Grenache noir is mandatory in all reds; Grenache plus Syrah plus Mourvèdre must total at least 66% of any red blend
• Séguret produces all three colours with reds making up around 90% of output
• Sablet is the largest white wine producer among all named villages, its sandy soils yielding fresh, aromatic styles
• Plan de Dieu is a red-wine-only appellation producing dense, full-bodied wines from its deep pebbly clay terroir

Domaine de Mourchon, established in 1998 by the McKinlay family on a hillside site between Séguret and Mont Ventoux at around 350 metres elevation, has established a consistent reputation for terroir-driven Séguret reds and whites. The estate operates 35 hectares under organic and biodynamic certification. Séguret was formally awarded its named village status in 1967, and a winemakers' confrérie has existed in the village since 1685, revived in 1985 as the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Gouste-Séguret. In Sablet, the cooperative handles the majority of production from its 347 hectares, while the village's historical link to viticulture is underlined by the fact that it was a Sabletain, François Leydier, who invented the grafting machine instrumental in recovering French vineyards after phylloxera struck in 1867. Plan de Dieu counts approximately 65 winegrowers across its 1,170 planted hectares, with producers offering a remarkable consistency of style given the homogeneity of the plateau's terroir. Valréas and Visan, within the papal enclave, benefit from a long winemaking tradition tied directly to the arrival of the Avignon popes in the 14th century.

• Domaine de Mourchon in Séguret operates 35 ha at around 350m elevation with organic and biodynamic certification
• Séguret's winemakers' confrérie was first established in 1685, revived in 1985 under its current name
• Sablet's François Leydier invented the grafting machine after phylloxera devastated French vineyards in 1867
• Plan de Dieu's approximately 65 producers share a homogenous plateau terroir yielding around one bottle per vine

The Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC encompasses 95 communes across four southern Rhône departments. Within that broader appellation, 22 named communes meet stricter standards that allow them to append their village name to the label. These named communes must achieve a minimum of 12.5% alcohol for reds and 12% for whites and rosés, compared to 11% for standard Côtes du Rhône. The base yield for named communes is set at 41 hl/ha, below the 44 hl/ha permitted for generic Côtes du Rhône Villages. Red wines must include Grenache noir as a mandatory component, with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre collectively making up at least 66% of the blend. The appellation operates within a clear three-tier quality hierarchy: the regional Côtes du Rhône AOC at the base, Côtes du Rhône Villages with and without named commune in the middle, and the fully independent Crus at the apex. Communes that demonstrate sustained quality can apply to be elevated to Cru status, as Cairanne was in 2015 and Laudun in 2024.

• 22 named communes currently qualify to append their village name to Côtes du Rhône Villages labels
• Minimum 12.5% alcohol for reds and 12% for whites and rosés at named commune level, versus 11% for base Côtes du Rhône
• Base yield for named communes is 41 hl/ha; Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre must total at least 66% of red blends
• Named communes can be promoted to independent Cru status, as demonstrated by Cairanne in 2015 and Laudun in 2024

Séguret, listed among the most beautiful villages in France and perched against the Dentelles de Montmirail, offers tasting visits at the Domaine de Mourchon and through the village's active winemakers' confrérie. Domaine de Mourchon runs guided tours in English and French from Easter to the end of September. Sablet sits next to the cru of Gigondas, making it straightforward to combine both appellations in a single day's tasting itinerary. Plan de Dieu hosts a walking event each year on the last Sunday of April, the Balade de Plan de Dieu, in which visitors walk a nine-kilometre route through the vineyards stopping at participating cellars. The papal enclave villages of Valréas, Visan, Richerenches, and Grillon retain rich medieval architecture alongside their wine production, with Valréas also home to a museum of the cardboard industry, historically the town's other major trade. The Château de Suze-la-Rousse, within the boundaries of the Suze-la-Rousse named commune, houses the University of Wine, a campus of the University Institute of Valence offering courses in oenology, marketing, and wine management.

• Séguret is listed among the most beautiful villages in France and sits at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail
• Domaine de Mourchon offers guided English and French tastings from Easter to end of September
• Plan de Dieu's annual Balade de Plan de Dieu (last Sunday of April) leads visitors on a 9km vineyard walk with cellar stops
• Château de Suze-la-Rousse houses the University of Wine, unique in Europe for its oenology and wine management programmes