South Rhône Wine Region Guide

The Rhône Valley is a hub for wine culture, where you can find some of France's most approachable wines. The south Rhône wine appellation is a part of it, which boasts ancient wine-making traditions that are still in use today. South Rhône is a warm and rich area of south-east France, where the wines are more alcoholic than in other parts of the country. It is popular with its aromatic red wines.

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Where is South Rhône wine region?

The South Rhône wine region is located in the southern part of France. It follows the north-south direction of the Rhône river for almost 240 km from Lyon to the Rhone delta, near the Mediterranean seashore.

The Southern Rhône is a much wider area than the Northern Rhône, this is the reason most of the wines (close to 95%) in the Rhône come from its southern part. In addition, the North Rhône concentrates on one or two grape varieties, while most wines from the south part are blends of many grapes.

History of South Rhône wine region

The Rhône Valley forms a hallway between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. This appellation has a long tradition of winemaking and has been producing wines for more than 2000 years.

In the first century, the northern part of the Rhône Valley started wine growing, and soon this area became a competitive wine producer challenging other French wine regions.

Some archaeological finds (such as old ceramic vessels at Saint-Laurent des Arbres) and historical research confirm that the Rhône vineyards are some of the oldest in France.

The Romans were the first who brought vines to the Rhône and planted vineyards all over the region. However, after the collapse of the Roman empire, the development of the wine-producing industry slowed down. Fortunately, parts near the Mediterranean ports and the northern Rhone continued the wine production.

Terroir of South Rhône wine region

Most of the area in South Rhône has been formed by erosion, giving this place distinctive peaks and slopes. Over the years, the river has deposited alluvium and rocks in the southern part of the appellation.

The region has a turbulent geological past, which has left it with a diversity of landscapes. At its start between the Massif Central and the Alps, the Rhône Valley is narrow. The landscape is mostly shaped with slopes, plains, and hills, all framed by the rough mountains. However, terroir is still different depending on if you are in the southern and northern parts of the appellation.

The Northern part of the Rhône Valley is located to the North of Valence. The climate there is temperate with a continental character. The vineyards are mostly planted on hillsides in granitic and schistose soils. The main grape grown here is Syrah.

The southern part of the Rhône near Montélimar has a Mediterranean climate. The soil is a mixture of clay-limestone, molasse, terraces with rounded pebbles, and sand. The main grapes of the South Rhône are Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (commonly referred to as “GSM”), which are blended with other varieties to produce distinctive wines.

Generally, the southern part is mellower and has a more Mediterranean climate. It can be divided into 3 distinct terroir types: 

• Limestone soils that give wines balance and precision and are great for white grapes.
• Sandy soils from stone-covered hillsides that are used for Grenache and Syrah grapes that produce fruity, light wines.
• Terraces of smooth, rounded stones where Grenache is blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre. 

The Most Popular Grapes from South Rhône

Every wine region has its unique terroir, climate, and characteristics. The diversity of flavourful grapes is what sets the South Rhône wine appellation apart from other regions.

Southern Rhône is a massive viticultural area, where a large diversity of grape varieties contribute to a wide portfolio of distinct styles of wines the region produces. 

In the Northern Rhône, only one red grape variety is allowed by law, which is Syrah. However, the producers can also mix this grape with other varieties up to 20%. Sometimes, they use white grapes to combine with Syrah, a famous example of wine from this mixture is Guigal La Mouline.

You may wonder why they use such a technique which contains a mixture of white grapes to Syrah. The main purpose is that this combination gives wines more complexity, aromatics, and exotic qualities.

In the Southern Rhône, we have got 13 different grape varieties that are allowed by AOC laws: Grenache, Mourvedre, Counoise, Syrah, Terret Noir, Vaccarese, Muscardin, Picardan, Cinsault, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul, and Red Grenache.

With the huge variety of grapes, the Southern part of Rhône is famous for its unique wines. Despite the diversity of grapes, wines from southern Rhone are shaped by the main elements provided by the tannin, acidity, fruit, and alcohol.

Food to Pair with South Rhône wine

Tartiflette

Tartiflette is one of the most popular dishes from the Alps. This is a mouth-watering potato dish from the mountainous region of Savoie in France. Tartiflette is made with potatoes, onions, Reblochon cheese, crème Fraiche, and smoked salt pork. 

This dish was invented in the 1980s as a new version of an old gratinated potato, cheese, and onion dish called péla. Over time, the dish caught the interest of professional cooks and food lovers not only in France, but also outside the border. Nowadays, they bake the dish in the oven until the cheese gets brown and melts down. If you have not yet tasted this amazing dish, then it is time to taste it with Rhône wine while traveling in France.

Fondue Savoyarde

Fondue Savoyarde is a famous dish from the French region of Savoie, located in the heart of the French Alps. This dish originates from Switzerland, but it became extremely popular in France. The main ingredients for Fondue Savoyarde are melted cheeses, Beaufort, Gruyére, Emmental, and Comté.

The mystery to the complete fondue is to use high-quality grated cheese for melting. For bread, the best one is artisan bread, such as sourdough. If the bread is chewier, it will hold the melted cheese better than a cheaper baguette.

Marron glacé

Marron glacé is a French sweet that is extremely popular during the festive Christmas season. It is made of dried and candied chestnuts. Because of the time-consuming process of preparing the candied chestnuts, this treat is considered an expensive one. This sweet has a soft texture and sugary flavor.

The first recipe for marron glacé developed in the 16th century, near the city of Lyon. The dessert is best when consumed on its own, ideally accompanied by a cup of warm tea or sweet Rhône wine.

The Top 3 Places to Visit in the Rhône

Lyon

Lyon is a World Heritage site and can take days to get through if you’re curious. This city has unique and ancient ruins, like a beautiful Roman theatre, that catches every tourist's eyes. Also, you can find the neo-renaissance Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, a glorious memorial that also houses a museum of sacred art.

You can visit Lyon Opera House, which is an arts hub and architectural gem noted for its combination of a modern shell and 18th-century facade. If you have the time, it is worth attending a performance from musical theater to dance.

Old Town Annecy

Annecy is a charming old Alpine town, placed on the banks of Lake Annecy with a marvelous view of snow-capped mountains. It is a one-hour drive from Geneva airport. This town holds a strategic location on routes between Italy, Switzerland, and France. 

This place is called the “Venice of the Savoie'' because of its astonishing views and location near the lake. The town is full of medieval buildings, making it a lovely place to walk around. Annecy is also a good destination for hiking from the gorges on the River Fier to the Tournette peak.

The Alps

The Alps is the French part of Europe’s most famous mountain. More than half of the Rhone-Alps region has a height of over 500 meters. The Alps territory stretches from Lake Geneva to the Cevennes and Provence. 

Rhône-Alpes has two high mountain national parks: la Vanoise and Les Ecrins. They are the main connection of mountains and plateaus located between the valleys. Also, Rhône-Alpes is the only region in France to have glaciers. Visiting the Alps is a unique journey that you will never forget in a lifetime.

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Frequently asked Questions about South Rhône wine region