Côtes du Rhône Villages is an appellation that groups together the red and white wines of certain villages in the Rhône region of France. All are located in the southern half of the region, immediately east and west of the town of Orange. Wines produced under this appellation must meet higher standards than the Generic Côtes du Rhône title. They come from vineyards located in areas that have the potential to produce distinctive, good quality wines.
The Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation was introduced in 1966 and now covers 22 villages. Links to the regional pages for each of them are to the left of this text. Each of these villages can add their name to the standard AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages label on their wine. If a wine is produced from grapes grown in more than one village, the names should be omitted from the label.
Pinot Gris is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot gris was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. Pinot Gris is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot Gris wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot gris is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.
wines from the region of Coteaux du Lyonnais go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, pork or rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) such as recipes of beef goulash, wild boar bourguignon or tuna, pepper and tomato quiche.
On the nose in the region of Coteaux du Lyonnais often reveals types of flavors of red fruit, raspberry or stone and sometimes also flavors of earth, spices or red fruit. In the mouth in the region of Coteaux du Lyonnais is a powerful with a nice freshness.
