Rhone Wine: Vineyards, Terroir, 10 Amazing Bottles (2024)

What are the odds that your next choice of red or white may be a much-loved Rhone wine? 

Quite high, actually - considering the stunning range of wines that the Valley offers!

The Rhone Valley region in France has a winemaking heritage spanning over two millennia. So widespread is the appeal of the wines that somewhere in the world, a Rhone Valley wine is savored every 13 seconds! 

Let’s discover everything about these cherished wines, the history of Rhone Valley vineyards, the wine regions, and the best Rhone wine bottles you can add to your collection. We’ll also tell you the best way to invest in these fine wines.

A Quick Look at Rhone Wines

The Rhone Valley Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AOC) is the second biggest wine region in France, next only to Bordeaux. It occupies over 71,000 hectares of sprawling vineyards on both sides of the Rhone river.

The Rhone Valley houses about 6,000 vineyards and produces roughly 400 million bottles of wine every year - including easy-drinking wines from Cotes du Rhone, and emblematic wines of appellations like Cote-Rotie, Chateauneuf du Pape, and Hermitage.

What are “Rhone-style wines”?

Irrespective of their origins, wines made using Rhone Valley grape varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, and Roussanne are called “Rhone wines”. Interestingly, US winemakers who use Rhone varieties call themselves the Rhone Rangers. 

Also, unlike most wine labels that reflect the grape variety, Rhone Valley wines are named after the region.

Now let’s dive into the history of Rhone Valley. 

The History Of Rhone Valley’s Rich Wine Culture

The first vine cultivation in the Rhone region began around the sixth century BC. About 200 years later, Greek colonists grew grapes in the city of Marseille. By the first century AD, some of the world’s oldest vineyards came into existence in the Northern Rhone valley.    

While navigating along the Rhone river, the Romans founded the town of Vienne. It soon became a famous wine trade center - today’s Northern Rhone appellation of Cote-Rotie. 

The Rhone wine industry declined after the fall of the Roman empire. It was revived in the Middle Ages under the influence of the Catholic Church. During this time, wine production grew exponentially, and AOCs such as the Cotes du Rhone appellation developed as leading wine centers. 

Fun Fact: The shift of the Catholic papacy from Rome to Avignon in 1309 earned the neighboring appellation the name Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which literally means ‘The Pope’s New Crib.’

The Great French Wine Blight of the 1860s led to a production crisis and eventual disrepute of Rhone Valley wines. However, a group of dedicated Rhone wine producers in the 1960s helped restore their former glory.

Next, let’s discover the major wine regions of Rhone Valley.

Rhone Valley Wine Regions: North Vs. South 

The vineyards of Rhone Valley have diverse terroir, and grow around 27 grape varietals.    

The Rhone Valley wine region is predominantly a red grape varietal region (similarly to the Paso Robles appellation in the US) which produces 94% red wines and only 6% whites. 

1. Northern Rhone Region

The Northern Rhone region makes up only about 10% of the total Rhone Valley wine-growing area. 

Its hilly terroir has a continental climate. The vineyard lands are set on sloped terraces to arrest erosion and provide maximum sunlight to the vines. The higher terrain also protects them from cold Mistral winds.

The stony soil, composed of granite, shingle, and clay, supports just a few grape varieties. According to the AOC regulation, only one red grape varietal, Syrah, is allowed to grow in the Northern Rhone wine region. grape varieties 

Blending Syrah with up to 20% white grape varieties is allowed to enhance flavor (especially in Cote Rotie). The well-known white grapes of the North are Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier.

2. Southern Rhone Region

The Southern Rhone wine region dwarfs the northern part in the size of production (95% of the region’s wines) and vineyard acreage. It enjoys a Mediterranean climate and is home to more grape varieties than the North. However, the flat terrain makes the region vulnerable to the cold Mistral wind. 

13 grape varieties are allowed in the Southern Rhone region. The wine region also permits the blending of red and white grape varieties.

The most famous grape variety here is Grenache. Other red varieties include:

• Syrah
• Mourvedre
• Cinsault 
• Carignan
• Vaccarese
• Terret Noir

Southern Rhone also grows white varietals like:

• Grenache Blanc
• Bourboulenc
• Roussanne
• Clairette

Southern Rhone is home to famous appellations like Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cote du Rhone, and Tavel AOCs.

Now, how are the wines of the North and South Rhone Valley different?

Difference between North and South Rhone Wines

Here are the similarities and differences between wines from the North and South Rhone Valley:

• Blending styles and flavors: The wines of both regions have distinct blending styles and flavors. While the North Rhone Valley is known for the vinification of single varietals, the South primarily produces blends (e.g. Cotes du Rhone wine).
• Grape harvesting: The grapes of the hilly Northern Rhone are mostly hand-harvested while those of the South are usually harvested with machinery. 
• Aging potential: A Northern Rhone wine takes time to age and you’ll be able to enjoy it best after cellaring for 10 years or more. Some Southern Rhone wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape age well, but most others are best served young.
• Price: Southern Rhone Valley offers more budget-friendly wines than the North. Only 5% of all Rhone wines are produced in the North, making these Northern wines more exclusive and sought-after.

If you’re keen to explore French wine country, hop onto any of the Rhone wine tours starting from Lyon!

Let’s now explore the appellations in detail.

Classification of Rhone Valley Appellations (AOCs)    

Today, there are eight appellations in the Northern Rhone Valley and 23 in the Southern Rhone region.    

The major appellations of the Northern Rhône Valley are:

• Cote Rotie: Cote Rotie (meaning ‘baked slope’) is known for its deep red wines composed of Syrah and Viognier grape varieties. 
• Crozes-Hermitage: It produces Syrah red wine and white wines from Roussanne and Marsanne. 
• Condrieu and Château-Grillet: These appellations are known for their exceptional Viognier whites. 
• Hermitage: Like Saint Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage, this Rhone AOC produces red wine from the Syrah grape variety and white wine blends from Marsanne and Roussanne. 
• Saint-Péray: This Northern Rhone Appellation d'Origine Controlee (AOC) produces white wine blends using Marsanne and Roussanne grape varieties. 
• Saint-Joseph: It produces red wine from the Syrah grape varietal and white wines from Marsanne and Roussanne.

The most prominent appellation in the Southern Rhone Valley is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This Rhone AOC produces blended wines using:

• Syrah
• Grenache
• Cinsault
• Carignan
• Mourvèdre
• Roussanne

The region’s largest appellations are Cotes du Rhone and Cote du Rhone Villages ( Rhone Crus): This region offers a range of red and rosé wine blends of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre. The white wines are made from:

• Grenache blanc 
• Marsanne
• Roussanne 
• Bourboulenc
• Viognier 

The other popular appellations of the south are:

• Vacqueyras
• Rasteau
• Gigondas
• Lirac 
• Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 
• Ventoux
• Luberon in Provence 
• Tavel

Now, let’s explore some of the best bottles of Rhone wine you can buy this year.

Best Rhone Wines to Buy in 2024

Here’s a list of some of our favorite Rhone wines:

1. Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage 'Cuvee Cathelin', 2009 

This red blend is a dark burgundy wine with an intense nose of roasted meats, black currants, and smoke. It scored a perfect 100 in Robert Parker’s ratings and has spicy and fruity tasting notes.

Price of Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage 'Cuvee Cathelin', 2009: $11,866

2. Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve, 1971

This flavorful red wine has rich tasting notes of dark fruit, strawberry, and cherry with solid aromas of earth, and smoke. 

Price of Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve, 1971: $5,214

3. Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie Cote Brune, 1978

This Rhone style wine has earthy aromas coupled with mineral notes. It has rich flavors of roasted meats, berries, and red fruit, indicative of a good Cote Rotie wine.

Price of Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie Cote Brune, 1978: $1,662

4. Marcel Juge Cornas, 1987 

This is a high-priced Rhone blend from Cornas with an intense bouquet of earthy and mineral aromas. The tasting notes are fresh with strawberry, dark fruit, and jammy flavors.

Price of Marcel Juge Cornas, 1987: $1,450

5. Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Inspiration, 2010 

This great wine has dark forest fruit aromas. The rich palate has flavors of black fruit, dark chocolate, and pepper. It also has well-rounded sweetness, tannins, and balanced acidity. 

Price of Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Inspiration, 2010: $1,144

6. Chimere Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2012 

This 2012 Rhone red Chateauneuf du Pape has an intense nose of cassis, licorice, and tropical flowers. It is a full-bodied wine with tasting notes of red fruit, strawberries, and herbs.

Price of Chimere Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2012: $1,096

7. Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Blanc, 2001 

This Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone blend is a great wine and has Pinot-Noir-like qualities with a cherry, peat moss, and kirsch flavor profile. The Meditteranean climate of Southern Rhone is a huge influence on this wine.

Price of Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Blanc, 2001: $965

8. Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee da Capo, 2003 

This Grenache blend has notes of white pepper, pine, and garrigue. This red Rhone style wine is an excellent complement to sashimi, chicken, and Asian cuisine.

Price of Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee da Capo, 2003: $712

Now, let’s discover the investment potential of the fine wines of the Rhone region.

If you're in the UK you can get a case of fine Rhone wine at VinoSelect.

Should You Invest in Rhone Wines? 

Some of the most coveted wines of the Rhone Valley can be cellared for over two decades. Premium red blends of the Northern Rhone region, like Hermitage and Côte Rôtie wines, develop greater depth of flavor with cellaring. Southern Rhone wine blends can be either served young or after aging for a few years, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes du Rhone wines. 

Among the Rhone Valley producers, Jean Louis Chave, Château Rayas, Henri Bonneau, and Clos des Papes make highly desirable investment-grade wines.

Many Rhone wines have shown substantial appreciation in value over the years. Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Blonde 2018 appreciated almost 79% from $109 to $195 between 2020 and 2021. Guigal’s Cote Rotie La Turque 2008 went up by 26% to $275 between May 2020 and January 2021.

Here are a few exciting auction results for Rhone wines:

• At a 2016 Spectrum Wine Auction, a 3-bottle case of the 2009 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Cuvée Cathelin sold for $9,075.
• A magnum bottle of the 2010 Chimère, Châteauneuf du Pape, sold for $1,470 at a 2017 Christie’s auction.
• At a 2018 Spectrum Wine Auction, a bottle of the 2001 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Le Secret De Sabon sold for $462.

So, how do you go about buying these premium wines or selling them to earn a profit? 

Vinovest can help you.

Buy Rhone Wines and Other Collectible Bottles Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a wine investment company that helps you buy, store, and sell high-end wines that often outperform the market. 

How Does It Work?

1. Sign up on the Vinovest website. 
2. Answer a questionnaire to help understand your investing style.
3. Add a minimum amount of $1,000 to your account.
4. Based on your answers, Vinovest’s algorithm will determine the best investment wines for your portfolio. Now you are ready to start your wine investment journey!

Why should you use Vinovest?

Benefits

There are several advantages for wine lovers as well as wine investors:

1. Easy Buying and Selling Using AI-driven Technology

Vinovest’s Artificial Intelligence-driven platform makes it super convenient to buy fine Rhone-style and other wines from anywhere in the world. 

2. Best Prices

You’ll find all your favorite wines at very reasonable rates. Vinovest buys authentic wines from trusted winemakers, wine exchanges, and wine merchants, eliminating retail mark-up.

3. Curated Portfolio by an Expert Wine Advisory Team

Even if you aren’t a wine specialist,Vinovest’s expert team of sommeliers will assist you with building a high-performance wine portfolio.    

4. Authenticity and Provenance 

Any wine you purchase through Vinovest is authentic. Vinovest ensures this by tracing the provenance of your purchase before you place an order.

5. Optimal Storage

Vinovest stores your wines in bonded warehouses near some of the best wine-growing regions in the world. So, you get access to a wine cellar without the logistical trouble of maintaining it yourself.

6. Comprehensive Insurance and Security

Vinovest offers you a full insurance policy at market value. All of its storage facilities are equipped with round-the-clock security cameras and power backups. 

7. Easy Delivery

No matter where you are, Vinovest will ensure timely delivery of your Cotes du Rhone wines or Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon to your doorstep or to that of your buyer’s. 

8. Deep network

With Vinovest, you get access to upcoming vineyard visits, private wine company sales, and limited vintage releases. Additionally, you also get opportunities to participate in exclusive wine tasting events of famous winemakers.

Add a Bottle of Rhone Wine to Your Collection Today!

Rhone wines enjoy a coveted spot among premium vintage collectibles. 

If a long-aging, magnificent wine of Rhone Valley interests you, do not hesitate to add a bottle or two to your collection. 

Start your exciting wine investment journey by signing up on Vinovest today!