Winery list for Rhone Valley
The southern Rhône sub-region has a more Mediterranean climate with milder winters and hot summers. The differing terroirs, together with the rugged landscape which partly protects the valleys from the Mistral, produce microclimates which give rise to a wide diversity of wines. A feature of the cultivation of the region is the use of large pebbles around the bases of the vines to absorb the heat of the sun during the day to keep the vines warm at night when, due to the cloudless skies, there is often a ignificant drop in temperature.
AOC regions include Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Coteaux du Tricastin AOC, Côtes du Ventoux AOC, Côtes du Vivarais AOC, Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC, Vacqueyras AOC, Gigondas AOC, and Côtes du Rhone AOC. Depending on the specific AOC rules, grapes blended into southern Rhône reds may include Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault.