Côte du Rhône is a wine-growing region in France with the most diverse
wines. The region produces white, red and rosé wines dominated by
Grenache blanc and Grenache. It has great weather and wine-making
conditions for vineyards and production of fine wine. You may find some
wines sleek, modern while others polished and plush. As with any AOC,
strict regulations govern the production of Cotes du Rhône French wines.
Main classification
Côtes Rhône-Villages -the collection
is a southern appellation with a minimum alcohol requirement of 12 %.
The wine label applies to a few villages. The collection of wine can be
sweet or spicy. Other characteristics include richly concentrated but
balanced and an attractive taste with a long finish. Some have a creamy
and velvety taste with elegance and style.
Côtes du Rhône- these wines are from both South and Northern Rhone. This classification can
cover the region as a whole to identify the source of wine. This wine is not subjected to stringent requirements compared to other
classifications. The wines do not fall into any specific content or
geographical descriptions. You will find the variety of wine to vary
from smoky, sweet, herbal, fruity and spicy among other tastes.
Cotes
du Rhône Villages (village name)- these wines display the name of the
village with the label Cotes du Rhône. The classification is defined by
precise geographic limits. Those permitted to put their name on the wine
follow suitable viticulture practices. The wines are well-balanced,
delicate and delicious with good intensity.
Crus- the esteemed
wines are the Crus from the Northern and Southern regions. The wines are
recognized for their village names and are of the highest quality. They
include famous wines such as Hermitage, Châteuneuf-du-Pape and
Côte-Rôtie.
Côte du Rhône Wine Shopping Tips
The variety of
French wine suits a wide range of foods at great prices. Therefore, you
can enjoy your favorite bottle without food or with food such as meat,
salmon, ham, cheese and soups among other food and wine pairings. Wine
enthusiast can find great wines at bargain prices if they searched
harder.
a) Look for 2nd labels and value regions
You may
find these wines at a good bargain. The wines have higher grape-growing
traits making them good quality. In addition, wines from quality
refineries can be sold under a different label. Produces buy grapes from
growers in Côte du Rhône and bottle the French wine using their own
labels.
b) Experiment
Wines from Côte du Rhône come in
varieties and you can choose favorite. This can be achieved by
experimenting with different wines until you find the one you like with
or without food. Some stores may also stock the vintage collection at
different prices.