Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC
Encyclopedia
Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages is a French wine
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC) in the southern Rhône wine region
of France
. It is made up from a list of villages around the region which supposedly produces a high quality of wine. It is above the more generic Côtes-du-Rhône AOC but below appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Vacqueyras. Red, white and rosé wine are all produced within the appellation and while being below the mentioned appellations, it is the second largest appellation in the Rhône, only surpassed by AOC Côtes-du-Rhône.
, Gigondas
(now an appellation in itself), Chusclan
, Laudun and Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues
. These communes or villages were allowed to put their name on the label in exchange of submitting to a number of regulations, such as a minimum alcohol level (12.5%). In 1955 Vacqueyras was accepted in the small group and two years later, Vinsobres.
The inspiration for the appellation was found in Beaujolais, which also has a village-level of wine. Since, the appellation has expanded to almost 10,000 hectares, half of which can add the name of the village to the label. The other half can distinguish themselves from Côtes-du-Rhône by merely adding the "village".
In the red wines the Grenache grape must be present at not less than 50%, with 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. A maximum of 20% of other authorised varieties is permitted.
The rosés must contain a minimum of 50% Grenache with 20% of Syrah and/or Morvèdre and a maximum of 20% of other authorised varieties to comprise not more than 20% of white varieties. Used are Grenache, Clairette, Marsanne, Rousanne, Bouboulenc and Viognier.
The white wines are a blend of Grenache white, Clairette white, Marsanne white, Rousanne white, Bourboulenc white and Viognier. Other varieties are allowed to a maximum of 20%.
The minimum required alcoholic strength is fixed at 12% for all three colours.
Rousset-les-Vignes - The northernmost of the 16 named villages. Though wine has been made here since the 15th century it is not a very famous village. 58 ha of wine is being grown here yielding 2500 hl. The village was added to the named-villages-list in 1969 and its stoney vineyards are located at 400 m. altitude making it a rather cool village.
Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes - Just three km south of Rousset-les-Vignes, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes shares both its terroir and history - even in size they are alike, this one being 63 ha proucing 2665 hl. As a curiosity, every year a ceremony is held in the village, where the oldest and the youngest wine producer, along with the village's administration, decide when to begin harvesting.
Valréas - Another 5 km to the south we find this village. While the church historically has had an affinity for Valréas, there are few remarkable wines from here. The village covers 273 ha. and produces 11,390 hl.
Vinsobres - Asides from being one of the original "villages" Vinsobres is also rather large - 631 ha. and almost 25,000 hl. produced. The village is about 10 km. due south from Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes and is located a high altitude. This also means that it's a bit cooler than average affecting the amount of Grenache (which loves heat) in the wine negatively. 2/3 of the wine is produced by the cooperative La Vinsobraise - one of the better. The village has long dreamt of being advanced to an independent appellation, a dream that became reality in 2006.
Visan - 9 km. south-south-east of Valréas we find this village. Medium sized with 390 ha. of fat clay soil and an average production of 16,050 hl. Few Visan wines attract attention.
Saint-Maurice - The placement between the villages of Valréas and Rasteau seems to be the main reason why this village was raised to Village-status. 170 ha. of sandy, chalky soil yields 6,690 hl. of wine. Few attract attention but the emergence of Domaine Viret has caused some interest.
Rochegude - The village was allegedly established during the reign of emperor Domitian (51-96) and Jefferson is said to have presented wines from here to Washington himself! Today, the 178 ha. located at 100 m. altitude produces 6,618 hl. of wine of little repute.
Roaix - The same can be said about Roaix despite its location between Rasteau and Cairanne. The 89 ha. are stoney and red clay and yield 3,550 hl. Historically the wine fetched high prices but no one seems to have developed the historical and geographical potential.
Cairanne - This place has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. In the 15th century ca. 40 ha. of vines was planted - today the number is 765, yielding 30,600 hl. wine - some of the best in all of Côtes-du-Rhône-Village. Cairanne has long been favourite to be elevated to AOC status. For various reasons this has not yet happened. One of the reasons is the commercial and political repercussions of establishing an AOC. It is not uncommon that the final border of the appellation is somewhat smaller than the village-border, resulting in some of the low-quality areas becoming demoted, rather than promoted. Also a number of other limitations are set, such as yields, grapes etc. that are considerably more strict than as a village.
Séguret - This mountain village is located on the eastern side of the river Oèveze. It is ancient regarding wine as Pliny the Elder
mentions it in his natural history. However it is only recently that the 220 ha. of the appellation has become interesting. The terroir is interesting - chalk at altitude (near the Dentelles de Montmirail), resulting in fine wines from the independent producers.
Sablét - 180 ha. near Gigondas and Séguret, mainly sand (from which the village derives its name). The village produces ca. 7,200 hl. of which the cooperative produces det bulk.
Beaumes-de-Venise - Famous for its sweet wines, Beaumes-de-Venise is quickly moving production to red wine. It's the latest addition to the named villages, which it became in 1979. Located near both Gigondas and Vacqueyras it shows promise for the production of high quality red wine. However, promise has not been fulfilled yet. Here too the local cooperative is dominant.
Saint-Gervais - Covers 103 ha. and became a named village in 1974. Placed to the west of the Rhône-river to the department Gard, the climate is cooled slightly. However the river-facing vineyards are exposed to both heat and extreme winds. The local cooperative handles most of the 4315 hl. the village produces. As early as 1789 the marquis de Guasc made his own wine in the region, a role model for independent producers.
Chusclan - Wine in Chusclan has been produced by both roman legionnaires and benedectine monks
and it was served at royal tables. With this kind of history, one would expect a high level of quality from the 150 ha. However little is to be found.
Laudun - Like Chusclan, Laudun has history on its side, being centered around ancient vineyards, established around 300-200 BC, and in 1375 wines from here were sent to the pope in Avignon. Later, in 1561, the wine was exported to Rome and when Louis XIII visited he tasted the white wine of Laudun. While it was the white wine that was famous it's hardly produced at all today. Covering 350 ha. the wines are delightful if lagging behind their historical pedigree.
The rules for the proportion of main, supplementary and accessory grape varieties are the following:
In difference to Côtes du Rhône without the "Village" designation, the variety Marselan
may not be used, the proportion of accessory grapes is restricted to 20% rather than 30%, and Blanc and Rose varieties are not allowed at all into the red wines.
French wine
French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France has the world's second-largest total vineyard area, behind Spain, and is in the position of being the world's largest wine producer...
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) in the southern Rhône wine region
Rhône (wine region)
The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée designations...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is made up from a list of villages around the region which supposedly produces a high quality of wine. It is above the more generic Côtes-du-Rhône AOC but below appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Vacqueyras. Red, white and rosé wine are all produced within the appellation and while being below the mentioned appellations, it is the second largest appellation in the Rhône, only surpassed by AOC Côtes-du-Rhône.
History
Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages was established as AOC in 1966-1967 though drafts originated from as early as 1953. Five communes stood out, CairanneCairanne
Cairanne is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France whose inhabitants were locally nicknamed leis afrontaires de Cairana, the cheeky ones from Cairanne....
, Gigondas
Gigondas
Gigondas is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.-Geography:Gigondas lies in between Vacqueyras and Sablet at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains.-Wine:...
(now an appellation in itself), Chusclan
Chusclan
Chusclan is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-External links:*...
, Laudun and Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues
Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues
Saint-Maurice-sur-Eygues is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
. These communes or villages were allowed to put their name on the label in exchange of submitting to a number of regulations, such as a minimum alcohol level (12.5%). In 1955 Vacqueyras was accepted in the small group and two years later, Vinsobres.
The inspiration for the appellation was found in Beaujolais, which also has a village-level of wine. Since, the appellation has expanded to almost 10,000 hectares, half of which can add the name of the village to the label. The other half can distinguish themselves from Côtes-du-Rhône by merely adding the "village".
Villages
Côtes du Rhône Villages
With a total of approximately 2,211 hectares under cultivation for Côtes du Rhône Villages, the average yield is approximately 38 hectolitres per hectare. Producers are required to adhere to stricter wine growing and wine making rules than those prescribed for Côtes du Rhône.In the red wines the Grenache grape must be present at not less than 50%, with 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre. A maximum of 20% of other authorised varieties is permitted.
The rosés must contain a minimum of 50% Grenache with 20% of Syrah and/or Morvèdre and a maximum of 20% of other authorised varieties to comprise not more than 20% of white varieties. Used are Grenache, Clairette, Marsanne, Rousanne, Bouboulenc and Viognier.
The white wines are a blend of Grenache white, Clairette white, Marsanne white, Rousanne white, Bourboulenc white and Viognier. Other varieties are allowed to a maximum of 20%.
The minimum required alcoholic strength is fixed at 12% for all three colours.
Côtes du Rhône Villages + village names
Under stricter requirements than for the Côtes du Rhône Villages, nineteen of the communes of the appellation are authorised to append their respective village name on the label. With around 5,500 hectares under cultivation, the average yield is approximately 37 hectolitres per hectare. The minimum required alcoholic strength is fixed at 12.5% for the reds and 12% for the whites and rosés.Rousset-les-Vignes - The northernmost of the 16 named villages. Though wine has been made here since the 15th century it is not a very famous village. 58 ha of wine is being grown here yielding 2500 hl. The village was added to the named-villages-list in 1969 and its stoney vineyards are located at 400 m. altitude making it a rather cool village.
Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes - Just three km south of Rousset-les-Vignes, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes shares both its terroir and history - even in size they are alike, this one being 63 ha proucing 2665 hl. As a curiosity, every year a ceremony is held in the village, where the oldest and the youngest wine producer, along with the village's administration, decide when to begin harvesting.
Valréas - Another 5 km to the south we find this village. While the church historically has had an affinity for Valréas, there are few remarkable wines from here. The village covers 273 ha. and produces 11,390 hl.
Vinsobres - Asides from being one of the original "villages" Vinsobres is also rather large - 631 ha. and almost 25,000 hl. produced. The village is about 10 km. due south from Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes and is located a high altitude. This also means that it's a bit cooler than average affecting the amount of Grenache (which loves heat) in the wine negatively. 2/3 of the wine is produced by the cooperative La Vinsobraise - one of the better. The village has long dreamt of being advanced to an independent appellation, a dream that became reality in 2006.
Visan - 9 km. south-south-east of Valréas we find this village. Medium sized with 390 ha. of fat clay soil and an average production of 16,050 hl. Few Visan wines attract attention.
Saint-Maurice - The placement between the villages of Valréas and Rasteau seems to be the main reason why this village was raised to Village-status. 170 ha. of sandy, chalky soil yields 6,690 hl. of wine. Few attract attention but the emergence of Domaine Viret has caused some interest.
Rochegude - The village was allegedly established during the reign of emperor Domitian (51-96) and Jefferson is said to have presented wines from here to Washington himself! Today, the 178 ha. located at 100 m. altitude produces 6,618 hl. of wine of little repute.
Roaix - The same can be said about Roaix despite its location between Rasteau and Cairanne. The 89 ha. are stoney and red clay and yield 3,550 hl. Historically the wine fetched high prices but no one seems to have developed the historical and geographical potential.
Cairanne - This place has been inhabited for more than 4000 years. In the 15th century ca. 40 ha. of vines was planted - today the number is 765, yielding 30,600 hl. wine - some of the best in all of Côtes-du-Rhône-Village. Cairanne has long been favourite to be elevated to AOC status. For various reasons this has not yet happened. One of the reasons is the commercial and political repercussions of establishing an AOC. It is not uncommon that the final border of the appellation is somewhat smaller than the village-border, resulting in some of the low-quality areas becoming demoted, rather than promoted. Also a number of other limitations are set, such as yields, grapes etc. that are considerably more strict than as a village.
Séguret - This mountain village is located on the eastern side of the river Oèveze. It is ancient regarding wine as Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
mentions it in his natural history. However it is only recently that the 220 ha. of the appellation has become interesting. The terroir is interesting - chalk at altitude (near the Dentelles de Montmirail), resulting in fine wines from the independent producers.
Sablét - 180 ha. near Gigondas and Séguret, mainly sand (from which the village derives its name). The village produces ca. 7,200 hl. of which the cooperative produces det bulk.
Beaumes-de-Venise - Famous for its sweet wines, Beaumes-de-Venise is quickly moving production to red wine. It's the latest addition to the named villages, which it became in 1979. Located near both Gigondas and Vacqueyras it shows promise for the production of high quality red wine. However, promise has not been fulfilled yet. Here too the local cooperative is dominant.
Saint-Gervais - Covers 103 ha. and became a named village in 1974. Placed to the west of the Rhône-river to the department Gard, the climate is cooled slightly. However the river-facing vineyards are exposed to both heat and extreme winds. The local cooperative handles most of the 4315 hl. the village produces. As early as 1789 the marquis de Guasc made his own wine in the region, a role model for independent producers.
Chusclan - Wine in Chusclan has been produced by both roman legionnaires and benedectine monks
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
and it was served at royal tables. With this kind of history, one would expect a high level of quality from the 150 ha. However little is to be found.
Laudun - Like Chusclan, Laudun has history on its side, being centered around ancient vineyards, established around 300-200 BC, and in 1375 wines from here were sent to the pope in Avignon. Later, in 1561, the wine was exported to Rome and when Louis XIII visited he tasted the white wine of Laudun. While it was the white wine that was famous it's hardly produced at all today. Covering 350 ha. the wines are delightful if lagging behind their historical pedigree.
Grape varieties
A large number of varieties are allowed in the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC. The allowed grape varieties, by colour of the wine, are indicated below. Main grape varieties for the respective colour are incated by "M", supplementary varieties (not designated for white wines) by "S", and accessory varieties by "(A)".| Variety | Red wines | Rosé wines | White wines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourboulenc Bourboulenc Bourboulenc is a white wine grape variety primarily grown in southern France. The variety is found in the regions Southern Rhône, Provence and Languedoc.... |
(A) | M | |
| Brun Argenté Brun Argenté Brun Argenté or Vaccarèse is a red wine grape that is grown primarily in the Rhone Valley in France. It is a permitted grape in the blend of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the name Vaccarèse is used... (locally called Camarèse or Vaccarèse) |
(A) | (A) | |
| Carignan | (A) | (A) | |
| Cinsaut Cinsaut Cinsaut or Cinsault is a red wine grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it important in Languedoc-Roussillon and the former French colonies of Algeria and Morocco... |
(A) | (A) | |
| Clairette Blanche | (A) | M | |
| Clairette Rose | (A) | ||
| Counoise Counoise Counoise is a dark-skinned wine grape grown primarily in the Rhône valley region of France. Counoise adds a peppery note and good acidity to a blended red wine, but does not have much depth of colour or tannin. There were of Counoise in France in 2000.... |
(A) | (A) | |
| Grenache Blanc Grenache Blanc Grenache blanc is a variety of white wine grape that is related to the red grape Grenache. It is mostly found in Rhône wine blends and in northeast Spain. Its wines are characterized by high alcohol and low acidity, with citrus and or herbaceous notes. Its vigor can lead to overproduction and... |
(A) | M | |
| Grenache Gris | (A) | ||
| Grenache Noir | M | M | |
| Marsanne | (A) | M | |
| Mourvèdre Mourvèdre Mourvèdre , Mataró or Monastrell is wine grape variety used to make both strong, dark red wines and rosés. It is an international variety grown in many regions around the world.... |
S | S | |
| Muscardin Muscardin Muscardin is a dark-skinned grape variety primarily found in the southern part of the Rhône region. It is primarily noted for being one of the thirteen grape varieties permitted in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation... |
(A) | (A) | |
| Piquepoul Blanc | (A) | (A) | |
| Piquepoul Noir | (A) | (A) | |
| Roussanne Roussanne Roussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC... |
(A) | M | |
| Syrah | S | S | |
| Terret Noir Terret Noir Terret Noir is a dark-skinned wine grape grown primarily in the Rhône valley region of France. It is a permitted blending grape for Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Like the related Terret Gris and Terret Blanc, the vine tends to bud late and grow vigorously. Terret Noir produces a light color wine that is... |
(A) | (A) | |
| Ugni Blanc | (A) | (A) | |
| Viognier Viognier Viognier is a white wine grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley.-History:The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown. Viognier is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia and then brought to Rhône by the Romans. One legend... |
(A) | M |
The rules for the proportion of main, supplementary and accessory grape varieties are the following:
- White wines: a minimum of 80% of the main grape varieties.
- Red and rosé wines:
- The main grape variety (Grenache Noir) must make up at least 50%.
- The main and supplementary grape varieties must together make up at least 80% of the blend.
- The accessory grape varieties are restricted to a maximum of 20% of the blend.
In difference to Côtes du Rhône without the "Village" designation, the variety Marselan
Marselan
Marselan is a French wine grape that is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. It was first bred in 1961 near the French town of Marseillan. The vine is grown mostly in the Languedoc region with some plantings on Northern Coast of California. The grape produces a medium body red wine....
may not be used, the proportion of accessory grapes is restricted to 20% rather than 30%, and Blanc and Rose varieties are not allowed at all into the red wines.