Côtes du Rhône is a regional appellation in the Rhône Valley in eastern France. It applies to red, rosé and white wines, and includes more than 170 villages. The area follows the course of the Rhône southward for 125 miles (200 km) from Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône to Avignon. A small portion of the wines in the appellation are white wines.
However, the classic Côtes du Rhône wine is a blend of Fruity, medium-weight reds made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Côtes du Rhône appellation was introduced in November 1937. Its purpose was to give a general title to good quality Rhone wines from the lesser known and less prestigious wine producing areas of the valley. Côtes du Rhône The landscape of the Côtes du Rhône.
The vermentino grape variety was widespread in Italy, Sardinia and Corsica. Today, Vermentino is grown in the regions bordering the Mediterranean, mainly in Provence (Côtes de Provence, Bellet), Corsica (Corse Calvi), Languedoc (Côtes du Roussillon, Costières de Nîmes) and the Rhône Valley (Côtes du Luberon). Because it ripens late, Vermentino requires a warm climate for its development and can only be grown in regions with good sun exposure. Conversely, cold or temperate climates do not allow it to ripen properly. Vermentino is only susceptible to powdery mildew. When vinified on its own, Vermentino produces a single-variety dry white wine that is light and full-bodied with a pale yellow color. It can also be blended with other grape varieties such as Ugni Blanc, Cinsault and Grenache, in which case its low acidity makes it light and fresh. Vermentino belongs to the grape varieties of Ajaccio, Corsica and Corbières. The aromas released by this variety are multiple. One can detect notes of fresh apple, green almond, sweet spices, hawthorn, ripe pear and fresh pineapple.
white wines from the region of Rhône méridional go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or mature and hard cheese such as recipes of country-style snow peas, barbecued mackerel papillotes or gratin of giromon with bacon.
On the nose in the region of Rhône méridional often reveals types of flavors of grapefruit, tropical or citrus and sometimes also flavors of apples, green apple or minerality. In the mouth in the region of Rhône méridional is a powerful with a nice freshness.
