Northern Rhône Valley

The vineyards of the Northern Rhône, among the oldest in France, date back to Roman times. Planted on steep, south-facing slopes, the vines are supported in a unique teepee arrangement to withstand the rugged terrain. The slopes are so extreme that pulley systems are often required to transport grapes and equipment, and some winemakers, like Gilles Barge, have even installed monorail funiculars to navigate the vineyards.

Syrah is the only red grape permitted in this region’s AOC wines and is also known as Shiraz in Australia. In Cornas, Syrah must be used exclusively, while other Northern Rhône appellations, such as Côte-Rôtie, allow blending with white grapes like Viognier, Marsanne, or Roussanne to enhance aroma and texture. Key Northern Rhône appellations include Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Cornas.