Regions

Southern Rhône (Grenache-dominant blends)

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The southern Rhône Valley, where Grenache dominates and the Mistral blows, makes mainly red blends alongside rosé, white and Vin Doux Naturel wines.

The southern vineyards of the Rhône Valley lie between Montélimar and Avignon, and the southern Rhône produces over 95% of the region's wine output. The climate is Mediterranean under the influence of the Mistral, a cold, dry northerly wind; at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the dry climate, reinforced by the Mistral, limits fungal disease. Crus such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Tavel, Rasteau and Cairanne sit alongside the Côtes du Rhône appellation, which stretches from Vienne to Avignon across 172 communes and around 30,000 hectares.

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History and Heritage

The Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard developed from the 14th century, when the Holy See settled in Avignon, and in particular under Pope John XXII (1316 to 1334), who had the château built as a secondary residence. Around 1870, Joseph Ducos studied the grape varieties in depth, and the list authorised by the appellation's first decree derives from his work. In 1923 the growers created, with Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié, the first syndicate to defend the appellation; a judgment of the Avignon tribunal on 28 June 1929 gave them protective rules covering the delimited area, authorised varieties and minimum alcohol, and the appellation's first recognition decree followed on 15 May 1936. INAO presents this as the first example of a discipline later adopted by other French regions.

Baron Le Roy was a co-founder of INAO and went on to preside over the Institute from 1947 to 1967.
Côtes du Rhône quality regulations date from 1650; a royal decree of 1737 required barrels for sale or transport to be branded with the letters C.D.R, and AOC status followed in 1937.
In 1927, at Baron Le Roy's suggestion, Tavel union president Aimé Roudil led 40 Tavel producers in petitioning the Gard authorities to define the production area officially.

Key Facts

Châteauneuf-du-Pape was one of France's first six AOCs, created by the decree of 15 May 1936 alongside Arbois, Cassis, Cognac, Monbazillac and Tavel.
In 2010 the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard covered about 3,200 hectares farmed by 320 holdings, with average production of about 100,000 hectolitres, 95% of it red.
The 2011 Châteauneuf-du-Pape specification lists 18 grape varieties with Grenache noir dominant, sets the yield at 35 hectolitres per hectare and requires a minimum natural alcohol of 12.5%.
Gigondas became an AOC by decree of 6 January 1971; the 2022 modification of its rules requires at least 50% Grenache noir in a grower's red and rosé plantings, and at least 15% Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah combined.
Tavel was recognised in 1936, making it the first rosé wine recognised in France; 781 hectares were in production in 2025.
Rasteau was first recognised for its Vin Doux Naturel in 1944, and dry red wines were added to the appellation in 2010.
Cairanne officially became a Cru of Côtes du Rhône on 29 June 2016, and Laudun was recognised as a standalone Cru in 2024.

Geography and Climate

Cairanne is the gateway to the southern vineyards of the Rhône Valley, which lie between Montélimar and Avignon. The southern landscape is one of garrigue scrubland, lavender fields, truffle oak, olive groves and pine, with vast flat plains protected from strong Mistral winds by hedgerows of cypress and poplar; the main southern soil types are clay, rocky, limestone and sandy soils. At Châteauneuf-du-Pape, rainfall is less than 650 millimetres a year and sunshine about 2,800 hours; the soils of rolled pebbles (galets roulés) release at night the heat stored by day, favouring full ripeness, while the dry climate, reinforced by the Mistral, limits fungal disease. Across the river, Tavel lies on the right bank of the Rhône 15 kilometres northwest of Avignon, with an average of 2,700 hours of sunshine a year.

The Gigondas vineyard starts on the plateau at 100 metres and climbs to steep slopes of up to 430 metres on the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which reach 630 metres at the Rocher du Turc; the neighbouring Crêtes de Saint-Amand rise to 730 metres.
Vinsobres grows its vines in terraces at 200 to 450 metres; summers are hot and dry, with the local Mistral and Pontias winds bringing cooler air at night.
Many Rasteau parcels are covered in rounded cobbles carried down from the Alps by the Ouvèze, which store heat by day and release it to the vines at night.

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Key Grapes and Wine Styles

Grenache noir leads the southern Rhône: Inter Rhône calls it the king of the southern Rhône Valley varieties, and it is the most planted grape of the Rhône Valley, with 34,831 hectares across the Rhône Valley vineyards in 2024, ahead of 23,481 hectares of Syrah. Grenache noir produces very fruity, round wines with weight, volume and a high alcohol potential, and the variety is sensitive to coulure. Decanter's 2019 travel guide says Grenache's heady nature needs Syrah and Mourvèdre for colour, body and staying power. Mourvèdre makes a powerful, ample, tannic wine and is the fourth most planted variety in the Rhône Valley, behind Grenache noir, Syrah and Carignan. At Châteauneuf-du-Pape, white wines are made principally from Grenache blanc, Clairette and Roussanne. Jancis Robinson notes that the Grenache and Cinsault of the southern Rhône, with their relatively thin skins and open, fruity flavour, are particularly suitable for rosé.

Côtes du Rhône red and rosé wines must blend at least two of the main varieties Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, with accessory varieties allowed up to 40% of the blend; Grenache must always be included except in the northern part of the vineyards.
Since 2024, four varieties of interest for adaptation (VIFA), Rolle (Vermentino), Carignan blanc and the disease-resistant hybrids Vidoc and Floréal, may make up to 10% of Côtes du Rhône blends.
In Vinsobres, Grenache accounts for 70% of all vine plantings in the commune and Syrah for a little less than 20%.

Notable Producers

Jancis Robinson singles out Beaucastel, Domaine de la Janasse, Domaine du Pegaü, Rayas, Vieux Télégraphe and Clos des Papes among Châteauneuf-du-Pape's many producers. Rayas also makes a second label, Pignan, and the Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette. In Gigondas, Jancis Robinson lists Domaine la Bouïssière, Château de St-Cosme, Les Pallières and Domaine Les Goubert as reliable names; she calls Château d'Aquéria one of the best-known Tavel estates and names Domaine de la Mordorée among the best producers in Lirac. The Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel built the La Vieille Ferme brand on the Ventoux appellation, and co-operative wineries are extremely important in the southern Rhône.

Pope Innocent VI served the wines of the Prieuré de Montézargues at the papal court in the mid-14th century, and the priory's wine estate still lies at the heart of the Tavel AOC area.
In Lirac, Count Henri de Régis de Gatimel inherited Château de Ségriès in 1904 and replanted its vineyard in 1925; the estate still produces Lirac wine.
Cairanne set up its own cooperative cellar in 1929, the same year the Syndicat Général des Vignerons des Côtes du Rhône was founded.

Wine Laws and Classification

Classification ladder

Geographic tiers

Côtes du Rhône Hierarchy

Rhône Valley Full article 4 tiers, lowest to highest

4 Crus

The appellations known as the Crus des Côtes du Rhône lie in both the southern and northern parts of the zone; Laudun became a standalone cru in 2024.

The appellations known as the Crus des Côtes du Rhône lie in both the southern and northern parts of the zone; Laudun became a standalone cru in 2024.

From Côtes du Rhône AOC, read from two or more sentences
3 Villages with a geographical name

Within that appellation, 21 villages have reached a standard of quality that allows them to add their name to the label.

Within that appellation, 21 villages have reached a standard of quality that allows them to add their name to the label.

From Côtes du Rhône AOC
2 Côtes du Rhône Villages

Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC (established 1966 to 1967) covers 95 communes in four southern departments and imposes stricter yield limits and higher minimum alcohol requirements.

Examples Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC

Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC (established 1966 to 1967) covers 95 communes in four southern departments and imposes stricter yield limits and higher minimum alcohol requirements.

From Côtes du Rhône AOC
1 Côtes du Rhône AOC

Côtes du Rhône AOC covers 172 communes, and its rules require Grenache Noir to make up at least 30% of an estate's red and rosé plantings south of the Montélimar parallel, with Syrah and Mourvèdre combined at a minimum of 20%.

Côtes du Rhône AOC covers 172 communes, and its rules require Grenache Noir to make up at least 30% of an estate's red and rosé plantings south of the Montélimar parallel, with Syrah and Mourvèdre combined at a minimum of 20%.

From Côtes du Rhône AOC, read from two or more sentences

Côtes du Rhône became an AOC in 1937, and INAO's national committee later approved delimitations in February 1994, September 1996 and November 2014
Laudun became a standalone cru in 2024.

Tiers, criteria and figures come only from Côtes du Rhône AOC own text. Tap a rung for its criteria and the sentence behind it.

The Rhône appellations are grouped into the Côtes du Rhône area, 21 Côtes du Rhône Villages bearing a geographical name, 18 Côtes du Rhône Crus and 2 Vins Doux Naturels. The crus covered here gained AOC recognition in these years: Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Tavel in 1936, Lirac in 1947, Gigondas in 1971, Vacqueyras in 1990, Beaumes de Venise in 2005, Vinsobres in 2006, Rasteau in 2010, Cairanne in 2016 and Laudun in 2024. At Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the yield is set at 35 hectolitres per hectare and the minimum natural alcohol at 12.5%, and red wines undergo no enrichment; local practice includes the ban on flooding the vines (submersion) and compulsory hand harvesting and sorting of the crop.

Gigondas rules, as modified in 2022: at least 50% Grenache noir and at least 15% Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah combined in a grower's red and rosé plantings, and at least 70% Clairette for whites; the first white Gigondas vintage was 2023.
Cairanne rules, as set out in 2018: red plantings need at least 50% Grenache noir and at least 20% Mourvèdre and Syrah combined, and the red blend itself at least 40% of the principal variety.
Rasteau rules, as set out in 2010: a grower's plantings for the dry wines need at least 50% Grenache noir and at least 20% Mourvèdre and Syrah combined, and the dry wines a minimum natural alcohol of 12.5%.

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Visiting the Region

Châteauneuf-du-Pape and villages such as Gigondas, Rasteau, Cairanne, Séguret and Sablet lie at the heart of the Côtes du Rhône, in a rhombus-shaped area with Orange, Avignon, Carpentras and Vaison-la-Romaine at its corners. The harvest runs through September into October, and in 2019 local tourist offices held details of 12 suggested wine routes. Local specialities include black olive tapenade, fougasse, goat's cheeses, almond-rich nougat and black winter truffles.

Vacqueyras wines have been the official wines of the Avignon Festival since 1998.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape growers celebrate Saint Marc, protector of the vine and wine, each year with a festival and wine competition, and Cairanne holds its Fête du Vin on the fourth Sunday of July.
The Dentelles de Montmirail form a natural amphitheatre around Gigondas, where a medieval château and hospices have been restored and many artists find inspiration and exhibit their work.

Sources and last verified

Primary sources (INAO and Inter Rhône): https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/chateauneuf-du-pape-rouge-8937, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-chateauneuf-du-pape, https://www.vins-rhone.com/sites/vignoble/files/documentation/2025-04/INTER-RHONE-CHIFFRES-CLES-2025-EN-BAT.pdf, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/rhone-valley-vineyards/appellations/aoc-cotes-du-rhone, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/territory-and-terroir, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/var/inao_site/storage/repository/editeur/files/pdf/CDC-AOP/AOC%20Ch%C3%A2teaneuf-du-Pape_20111116.pdf, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/gigondas-rouge-20971, https://extranet.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/PNO2022AOPGigondas.pdf, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/tavel-18167, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/en/expo-90ans/9-six-premieres-aoc, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/cairanne-rouge-14867, https://extranet.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/PNOCDCAOCCairanne.pdf, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/produit/rasteau-rouge-sec-17650, https://extranet.inao.gouv.fr/fichier/PNOCDCRasteau.pdf, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-gigondas, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-tavel, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-cairanne, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-rasteau, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-laudun, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-vacqueyras, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-lirac, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-vinsobres, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/cotes-du-rhone-cru-aoc-beaumes-de-venise, https://www.inao.gouv.fr/en/expo-90ans/14-delimitation-chateauneuf-du-pape-1936, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/grenache-noir-grape-variety, https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/mourvedre-grape-variety. Secondary sources: https://www.decanter.com/wine/wine-regions/western-europe/france/rhone/southern-rhone/, https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/france/the-decanter-travel-guide-to-southern-rhone-246156/, https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/wine-regions/france/southern-rhone. Last verified 2026-10-05

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Flavor Profile

With age, Gigondas red evolves towards wild nuances of forest floor and truffle. Alcohol of 14-15% is by no means uncommon for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and no chaptalisation is allowed this far south.

Food Pairings

Roasted leg of lamb with herbes de Provence, where the wine's garrigue notes mirror the herbal crust and its ripe fruit complements the richness of the meatCassoulet or slow-braised duck confit, where silky Grenache tannins and generous fruit stand up to the savory fat without overwhelming the dishDaube de boeuf, the Provençal red wine beef stew with olives and orange peel, a classic regional pairing that echoes the wine's dried fruit and earthy depthGrilled wild boar or venison with a black olive tapenade, where moderate tannins and white pepper notes complement lean game without overpowering itTavel rosé with ratatouille or bouillabaisse, where the wine's body, structured acidity, and depth make it versatile with complex, herb-driven dishesAged Provençal chèvre or Comté with dried figs and walnuts, echoing the wine's garrigue and dried fruit notes in a classic regional combination

How to Say It

Grenachegreh-NAHSH

Châteauneuf-du-Papeshah-toh-NUHF doo PAHP

Gigondaszhee-gohn-DAHS

Taveltah-VEL

Côtes du Rhônekoht doo ROHN

Mourvèdremoor-VEH-druh

galets roulésgah-LAY roo-LAY

Vacqueyrasvah-kay-RAHS

Exam Study NotesWSET / CMS

Châteauneuf-du-Pape (AOC decree of 15 May 1936): 5 Vaucluse communes; the 2011 specification permits 18 varieties with Grenache noir dominant, sets a 35 hl/ha yield and 12.5% minimum natural alcohol, and bars enrichment of red wines.
Gigondas (AOC 1971): grower plantings of at least 50% Grenache noir and at least 15% Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah combined; white Gigondas from the 2023 vintage, at least 70% Clairette.
Tavel (AOC 1936) is a rosé appellation and the first rosé wine recognised in France; Grenache noir is its base, with Cinsault, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Mourvèdre, Picpoul and Syrah also allowed.
Rasteau: Vin Doux Naturel recognised in 1944, dry reds added in 2010. Cairanne: Cru of Côtes du Rhône on 29 June 2016. Laudun: standalone Cru in 2024.
Côtes du Rhône (AOC 1937): around 30,000 ha across 172 communes; red and rosé blends need at least two of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, with accessory varieties up to 40%.

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