Côtes du Rhône:
Wine of Honour 2022

In 2022, to tease public’s senses of taste with specific French products, French GourMay Food and Wine Festival will highlight Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages wines. Heritage, terroir, location, expertise and quality are what define the Côtes du Rhône wines. Thanks to 6,500 winemakers and merchants, making wines that the world loves, you can enjoy Côtes du Rhône wines anytime and anywhere – they are cool enough to party, smart enough to impress.

Terroir

The Rhône Valley has a pretty turbulent geological past – as riverscapes often do – creating steep slopes, rolling hillsides and a huge variety of different soil types. All this has an impact on the way Côtes du Rhône vines grow and ripen, and ultimately on the wine. Meanwhile, 2,000+ years of experience has honed the way they make their wines. Add lots of sunshine and the various weather phenomena we see across this vast appellation and you have an enormous range of different terroirs, all of which produce distinctively different, but deliciously laid-back, reds, whites and rosés.

Heritage and History

When it comes to making wine, Côtes du Rhône wine producers know what they are doing. They have been doing it for over 2,000 years - quite enough time to get to know their region and figure out what works best.

The local dimension:
Avignon, capital of Côtes du Rhône

Given its location and its role on shaping the history of the vineyards, Avignon is very much the capital of Côtes du Rhône. Its history goes hand in hand with the story of the appellations, like a symbiotic relationship where each strengthens the other’s reputation. Avignon is what Côtes du Rhône is all about: a warm welcome, history, culture, good food, good wine – something for everyone.

Skill and Expertise

The Rhône Valley’s geography and climate would be nothing without the creativity, craftsmanship and sheer hard work of their winegrowers and winemakers. One of their specialities in Côtes du Rhône is blending, and they have quite a selection of varietals to work with, giving them endless possibilities in terms of flavour and aroma. The appellation grows 23 varietals in total, the best-known being Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, some native to the Rhône Valley.

Committed to Quality

The Côtes du Rhône appellation was awarded AOC status – a classification denoting quality and authenticity – in 1937, just two years after the AOC system was set up. The sheer speed with which accreditation was granted shows how good the wines are! The Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation, one step up from the regional appellation, appeared in 1967. Then comes Côtes du Rhône Villages with a specific geographic name. With 22 in total, these vineyards can stamp the name of their town directly on the label. The Côtes du Rhône vineyards are in constant pursuit of excellence. 

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