Rhône Valley
Syrah leads in the north; Grenache often plays a major role farther south.
Terroirs, appellations and label clues
Northern Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph and Cornas explore Syrah; Condrieu introduces Viognier. Southern Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône introduce blends. Grape rules vary by appellation and colour.
To get started
Compare northern Syrah with a southern blend where Grenache plays a larger role to follow the change in style.
Key grapes
Syrah / Shiraz — Dark fruit, pepper and generous expression. Look for pepper and dark fruit, then compare a cooler expression with a riper one: climate and ripeness change the balance.
Grenache — Red fruit and roundness in many blends. Compare a varietal Grenache with a blend: its generous fruit can be balanced by more structured grapes.
Viognier — An expressive, often floral and full white, emblematic of Condrieu. Taste with creamy poultry and focus on texture as well as aroma.
Mourvèdre — A warm-climate grape bringing structure and dark fruit to blends. Compare a young blend and a more mature bottle with a slow-cooked dish.
Roussanne — A Rhône white grape also known as Bergeron in Savoie. Compare Chignin-Bergeron with a Rhône white of known blend: note texture, acidity and oak.
Compare regions
Compare regions in the same country too: the same grape can produce different wines as climate, site and producer choices change.
Style descriptions are guides, not rules: vintage, vineyard, blending and maturation change the result.
