📍 Northern Rhône

The Northern Rhône is the northern part of the Rhône wine valley in France. The vineyards stretch in a narrow strip along the river between the towns of Vienne and Valence. The slopes are steep and granite, and the vines grow on terraces. The main grapes are Syrah for reds and Viognier for whites. The white Roussanne and Marsanne also occur, especially in Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Péray. The appellations are Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. The last two are made only from Viognier. A broad general name for the rest of the area is Collines Rhodaniennes. The steep slopes make work hard and leave little room for machinery, so the wines cost more. The reds are dark and spicy, with notes of black pepper and berries. The Viognier whites are aromatic, smelling of apricot and flowers. The Northern Rhône is part of the large Rhône valley, but it differs from the Southern Rhône in climate: it is cooler, and there is only one main red grape. Wines of this part age well.