Côtes du Rhône Villages

A clear step up from basic Côtes du Rhône in terms of both quality and price, the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation covers an area of 5,700ha entirely within the Southern Rhône. About 15% of the size of its generic counterpart, it offers mostly excellent, very good value wines from all three hues that are more serious, concentrated and interesting. 

Red wines dominate, made up of a minimum 50% Grenache, at least 20% Syrah and Mourvèdre, and no more than 20% from 10 other named varieties. Out of 95 communes that are eligible to use the Villages name, the best 18 of them have the right to append their village name as long as the wine is exclusively from that commune. The classification is quite fluid though, with Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and more recently Beaumes de Venise and Vinsobres being upgraded to AOC status, and other villages like Massif d’Uchaux and Plan de Dieu being added.

Best drunk from 2 to 10 years of age, the best wines probably come from Cairanne, Rasteau, Sablet and Séguret but all are well worth a look. The whites are rapidly improving and are delicious in their first 3 years. Rosé wines are made from the same cépage as the reds and are usually very good.

Recommended Producers: Chapoton, Domaine Cros de la Mûre, La Soumade