Côtes du Rhône

The Côtes du Rhône appellation is the most expansive out of all the regions in the Rhône Valley in France. This appellation is used for red, white, and rosé wines. This is also probably one of the most important regions in all of the Rhône, because for many wine lovers it is their first foray into this region. Most of the appellation is in the south, and the wines tend to be dominated by Grenache, as well as Grenache Blanc. They are some of the best values in the entire Rhône region, because most are made by the great wineries of the entire region. They can be soft, fruit-forward, and easy drinking, but they can also be powerful and earth-driven, with characteristics of the top appellations in the area – probably because much of the wine comes from AOCs such as Gigondas, Lirac, Vacqueyras, and Chateauneuf-du Pape. There are also wines labeled Cotes du Rhône Villages, which come from specific villages with distinct attributes which have earned them their own appellation.