{Sponsored by Côtes du Rhône}

You have probably heard of wines from Côtes du Rhône, and if you haven’t it’s about time you did! Côtes du Rhône makes some incredible wines – as they’ve been making wine for centuries – so I’d say they know a thing or two.

To understand the region, it’s important to know that Côtes du Rhône follows a quality pyramid which breaks down into four levels. 

Before we hop into the quality pyramid – let’s cover off on some of the top things you should also know 

• Côtes du Rhône is a wine appellation located in southeastern France 
• Côtes du Rhône is situated in a prime wine growing region, with exceptionally diverse terroir and is heavily influenced by the Rhône River 
• Côtes du Rhône wines range in value and approachability – allowing there to be something for everyone to enjoy 
• They’re extremely food friendly and are often fruit forward 
• Côtes du Rhône wines can come from anywhere in the Rhône Valley, but most wines from this AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) come from the area between Montélimar and Avignon in the Southern Rhône.
• 23 grape varieties are authorized for use, with Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre comprising the majority of the final blend for red wine.

Côtes du Rhône Wine Quality Levels 

Let’s cover the four levels of the quality pyramid for Cotes du Rhone below. No matter where the wine sits on the quality pyramid, all levels of Côtes du Rhône wines are delicious and serve a purpose for different occasions and food pairings.

Côtes du Rhône AOC 

These wines are the everyday wines of Côtes du Rhône. They are often fresh, easy to drink and not meant for aging. They are typically blends of several different approved grapes but are often dominated by Grenache. Côtes du Rhône AOC produces almost 50% of the region’s wine. These wines don’t take themselves too seriously and are meant to be fun – perfect for casual friend gatherings. 

Côtes du Rhône Villages 

Wines in this section are a bit more complex, terroir driven and have possibilities for aging, in fact they actually have lower yields and are legally required to age the wines longer. However, wines in the general Côtes du Rhône Villages section are not allowed to list a specific geographical name like the next villages category below. The Grenache grape is required to make up at least 50% of red blends and then either Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault or Carignan for the rest. 

Côtes du Rhône (Named) Villages AOC 

There are 22 named Côtes du Rhône villages that are allowed to appear on a label. Be on the lookout for these when shopping for Côtes du Rhône wines in your local wine shop. These are said to be the most premium wines of the appellation. 

• Visan
• Puyméras
• Séguret
• Saint-Gervais
• Suze-la-Rousse
• Sainte-Cécile
• Valréas
• Vinsobres
• Roaix
• Sablet
• Sinargues
• Rochegude
• Chusclan
• Rousset-les-Vignes
• St-Pantaléon-les-Vignes
• St-Maurice-sur-Eygues
• Gadagne
• Laudun
• Massif d’Uchaux
• Plan de Dieu
• Vaison la Romaine
• Saint Andéol

The Crus

There are 17 named crus in Côtes du Rhône. These Crus are at the top of the quality pyramid and are often sought after by serious wine collectors. 

I hope the next time you’re at your local wine shop you feel confident in exploring the wines of Côtes du Rhône. There’s so much to explore and so many occasions these beautiful wines can fill. It’s my dream someday to visit Rhône and explore and sip the wines right where they came from! Drop any of your favorite villages or producers in the comment section below. 

Cheers,

Raquel