Côtes du Rhône AOC

Côtes du Rhône AOC
Wine region
TypeAppellation d'origine contrôlée
Year establishedEst. 1937. Used since 1650
CountryFrance
Part ofRhône wine
Climate regionNorth: continental moderate South: chiefly mediterranean
Soil conditionsNorth: granite, argili-calcairous South: chiefly sandstone, limestone, alluvia, loess, quartzite shingle
Total area83,800 ha (approx.)
Grapes producedRed varieties (in descending order): Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Picpoul White varieties: Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Viognier, Picpoul blanc
Wine produced(in descending order) named crus, Côtes du Rhône Villages (named), Côtes du Rhône Villages, Côtes du Rhône

Côtes du Rhône (French: [kot dy ʁon]) is a wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) for the Rhône wine region of France, which may be used throughout the region, also in those areas which are covered by other AOCs. In a limited part of the region, the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages AOC may be used, in some cases together with the name of the commune.

Côtes du Rhône are the basic AOC wines of the Rhône region, and exist as red, white and rosé wines, generally dominated by Grenache for reds and rosés, or Grenache blanc for whites.