Côtes du Rhône Crus AOC

The lush vineyards of Beaumes de Venise could be straight from the landscapes of Tuscany. Vines and olive groves grow side by side on land lovingly tended by the winegrowers, where sustainable agriculture is a natural extension of their deep love for this unique, fertile, precious land.

Sun-drenched hillsides, the heady scents of the garrigue and a bubbling river which changes its spelling at will… Cairanne is a delightful village set on a rocky outcrop, offering visitors an irresistible range of luscious red and white wines.

Château-Grillet may well be named for the sun-baked – “grilled” – hillsides surrounding it. The same name applies to the Château itself, the hamlet in which it lies, and its vineyard. All were officially recognised on 15th May 1976 as a French National Heritage Site, singled out for their outstanding beauty and rich history.

Tucked right up in the north of the Rhône Valley on the river’s right bank we find Condrieu, an appellation celebrated for its legendary white wines. These are made from Viognier grapes, planted on narrow terraces, here in their spiritual homeland.

The Cornas vineyards grow on the right bank of the Rhône, on the eastern slopes of the Massif Central. The steep, East Southeast-facing slopes form a natural amphitheatre, protecting the vines from cold winds.

No rolling hillsides here - Côte-Rôtie wines, made from vines planted on the right bank of the Rhône, owe their character to the area’s very steep slopes, which in places reach gradients of over 60°. This very narrow vineyard is planted on terraces not more than a few dozen vines wide. 

An everyday luxury! The Crozes-Hermitage vineyards lie on the 45th parallel, on the left bank of the Rhône. This is the largest northern appellations extending across 11 communes in the Drôme. The prestigious wines of Crozes-Hermitage are available in red (made from Syrah) and white (made from Roussanne and Marsanne).

A unique, protected natural environment, where slopes are shaped by human hand to provide a welcoming home for the vines. The vines in Gigondas are nestled at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains, their deep roots nourish those of the Gigondas wines, which have so many marvels to offer grapes that make marvelous Gigondas wines.

Over the centuries, this iconic wine has built its reputation around one very special hill, and a history wrapped in myth. Originally, the hill was home to a hermitage founded in 1224 by Gaspard de Stérimberg. De Stérimberg was a knight of Blanche of Castile. When he returned battle-weary from the Albigensian crusade, he chose to withdraw from the world and live as a hermit at the top of this granite hill.

One of the most Southern crus of the Rhone Valley, and probably one of the least known, growing in tranquil solitude well away from the beaten track. Yet vines have been grown here since ancient times, and even in the Middle Ages these vineyards in the “Côte” du Rhône were renowned for the quality of their wines.

The village of Rasteau is located on the summit of a hill at an altitude of 200m, facing south and looking at the Dentelles de Montmirail. Rasteau’s vineyards are relatively sheltered from the Mistral wind, and face south. The landscape is undulating and the soils are varied, producing dry red wines with a very distinctive character. 

Exacting standards. On the right bank of the Rhône, the Saint-Joseph vineyards are situated around the 45th parallel, and are planted on steep hillside terraces which date from many centuries ago. Saint-Joseph wine was formerly known as Vin de Mauves; its current name was coined by Jesuits in the 17th century.

Still or sparkling, Saint-Péray’s distinctive white wines take you on a journey. Around 100 ha of vineyard grow on the gentle slopes leading up to Château de Crussol, a fortress built on a limestone spur, looking out over the Rhône Valley with the same watchful benevolence as the statue of the Virgin Mary. 

Prepare to be amazed! Tavel wines are available in rosé only – but what a rosé it is. Novelist Honoré de Balzac described it as one of those unusual rosés that age beautifully. Tavel wines are without equal – complex, full-bodied, dense and aromatic – a wine for foodies, for gourmets… there are no rules. 

Steep terraced vineyards, woodland plains, vast bands of garrigue scrubland - the wines of Vacqueyras are shaped by their distinctive terroirs, and are available in red, white and rosé. The soils here are very varied, giving the Vacqueyras wines a wealth of different fragrances and flavours. 

Vinsobres produces flavourful, elegant, appealing wines – the finesse of the north with the character of the south. Well worth discovering.

Cru recognized since 1936, the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation produces still white and red wines, on the left bank of the Rhône.