The Côtes du Rhône Hierarchy Explained

After vine disease and the infamous Phylloxera decimated production, wine from neighbouring countries with the right climate to churn out high volumes of average wine was finding its way into the bottlings in the region, ultimately harming the great reputation of the Rhône’s unique and high-quality wines. Strict laws were put in place which restricted levels of production and the use of certain grape varieties, ensuring the output was authentic and up to scratch. And the appellation system was born. It’s taken very seriously indeed – straying from these restrictions might actually see you end up in prison!

It can be confusing to the uninitiated as it tends to be based on geographical names, so there can be a lot to remember. However, this blog is here to serve you and once you get to the bottom of the page you should feel confident to know exactly what you’re buying and what to expect!

The Hierarchy Explained

There are three main tiers to consider here:

1. Côtes du Rhône
   
2. Côtes du Rhône Villages
3. The Crus

This is where to start. It’s the lowest level of the system (but by no means the least) in terms of value for money and stylistic consistency. For that reason, it’s the best place to start because you can feel confident that you’ll get an approachable, highly drinkable and fruitful wine that won’t break the bank.

This part of the Côtes du Rhône family is the major contributor, with more than half of the total production, and is usually sourced from the southern part of the Rhône Valley vineyards. It’s mostly reds, but you can also unearth some great whites and rosés which are very much in the same approachable mould.

The addition of the word ‘villages’ is an indicator of a jump in quality. Like Côtes du Rhône AOC, this appellation covers large parts of the Rhône as a whole, although the overall area and production is much smaller, totalling about a quarter of Côtes du Rhône AOC.

There are further restrictions for this appellation, arguably the most significant is a reduced limit on yield. Simply speaking, the fewer grapes that are left to grow, the better the quality of the wine. It shows more concentration of flavour and is much more expressive of the region, allowing it to demonstrate an even higher level of authenticity.

All of that said, these wines are still in the classic Rhône style of being soft, approachable and versatile with many foods.

There are a number of specific villages (with even more unique identity) that will carry their name on the label, which is the perfect introduction to the top level of the Rhône hierarchy – the Crus.

There are currently 17 ‘Crus’ of the Rhône, which are specific villages in the region. These are presented on the label simply by their name, which is where memory comes into play! However, here’s a full list of the Crus for you to jot down before going shopping:

• Beaumes-de-Venise
• Cairanne
• Château-Grillet
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Condrieu
• Cornas
• Côte-Rôtie
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Gigondas
• Hermitage
• Lirac
• Rasteau
• Saint-Joseph
• Saint-Péray
• Tavel
• Vacqueyras
• Vinsobres

Once again, there are even further restrictions on production here to ensure the absolute top level of quality and authenticity. These Crus have been selected as beacons of Rhône Valley wine, and they’re responsible in demonstrating just how unique and world-class wine from the Rhône is.

This is where the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC aspires to be and, in fact, can be promoted up to Cru level.

Et Voilà!

So, there you have it. As promised, you should now be furnished with all the knowledge you need to get the best out of this great region.