Côte-Rôtie AOC
| Wine region | |
| Official name | Côte-Rôtie |
|---|---|
| Type | Appellation d'origine contrôlée |
| Year established | 1940 |
| Country | France |
| Part of | Northern Rhone |
| Other regions in Northern Rhone | Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph |
| Climate region | continental climate |
| Size of planted vineyards | 224 hectares (550 acres). |
| Grapes produced | Syrah, Viognier |
Côte-Rôtie (French pronunciation: [kot ʁoti]) is a French wine Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) in the northern Rhône wine region of France. The vineyards are located just south of Vienne in the communes of Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, Ampuis, and Tupin-et-Semons. The vineyards are unique because of the steep slopes facing the river and their stone walls. Côte-Rôtie can be rendered in English as "the roasted slope" and refers to the long hours of sunlight that these steep slopes receive.
The wines are red, made with Syrah grapes and up to 20% Viognier, a white grape used for its aroma. According to appellation rules, Syrah and Viognier (if used) must be fermented at the same time, a process known as cofermentation. Because of this combination, Côte-Rôtie wine typically exhibits an almost paradoxical pairing of meat aromas (including bacon) and floral aromas.