History and Tradition

The wine region of the Rhône Valley goes from Vienne to Avignon which allows a lot of possibilities of climate and soil. The first AOC (PDO) was the Côte-du-Rhône in 1937. It recognized the history, the tradition, and the know-how of the winegrowers of the region.

Why Rhône Valley?

When I started tasting wine, it was one of the regions that allowed me to discover really good wine at a great value for money (less than 10 euros). In the Rhône Valley, you can always find the right wine for your taste. In between the Septentrional and the Meridional area, there will surely be a wine that you’ll love. With 21 grape varieties in the PDOs of the Region (13 black and 8 white), you can find the designation and the winegrower that perfectly blends the varieties you like.

Who has not heard about “Chateauneuf-Du-Pape”? Who has not heard about “Condrieu”? Who has not heard about “Hermitage”? Rhône Valley reflects perfectly the French tradition with both red and white wines. For sure, the PDOs named above need a certain investment but you can always find good alternatives nearby the PDO area. Have you heard of “Lirac”? A sort of little brother of Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe. Have you heard of Vacqueyras? Really nice reds and whites.

Only Wine?

Surely not. This Region also allows for pleasant food and wine pairings. We can’t avoid talking about food. In the area, you will find the Capital of the Gastronomy, Lyon, designated as such by the food critic Curnonsky in 1935. The city has 20 Michelin starred restaurants. Great chefs like Paul Bocuse or Mathieu Vianney were or are in Lyon.

When you talk about tourism in France, you can’t overlook the Rhône Valley. As a wine destination, you can for sure find the perfect area for your holiday around Ardèche, Lubéron, or Lyon, not so far from the Mont-Blanc.