Côtes du Rhône Jeremy

Côtes du Rhône Jeremy Flint explores the beauty of the Côtes du Rhône on a road trip through the Rhône Valley following the wine route along through enchanting villages, glorious countryside and the steepest vineyards in France… A road trip along the Rhône River is a great way to discover this lesser-known region of France, bound by picturesque villages, sweeping roads and spectacular scenery, where vineyards cling to the hillsides and delicious wines and warm hospitality await. I decided to drive along the idyllic Côtes du Rhône to get a flavour of its wine route and remarkable beauty which follows the course of the Rhône River 125 miles southwards along three regions including the Rhône, the Drome and Ardèche in the southeast of France. Starting just south of Lyon I drove its length from Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône almost to the Mediterranean Sea as far as Avignon. The Rhône is one of the classic French wine regions and has been a hub of wine culture since ancient times. It is amongst the oldest vineyard regions on the planet, where Greeks, Romans and Medieval Popes fell under the spell of the native-grape rocky-soil flavours. Today it is just as popular, with more than 5,000 producers and over 100 villages making wines over a whopping 86,000 acres, making it the second-largest wine region in France. The Côtes du Rhône is a region wide appellation, the official title given to wines made on the hillsides and communes along the Rhône River. Here, the winemakers of the Côtes du Rhône experiment with blends and Tain L'Hermitage vineyard techniques nurturing the ancient grape varieties into quality wines. Dedicated artisans and producers offer an exceptional range of red wines (and some whites) that are easy to drink. The classic Côtes du Rhône wine is a delicious fruity middleweight red blend based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes. Tournon and Tain L’Hermitage This superb region provides some of the best vineyards, wine routes and magnificent landscapes in France. In the northern Côtes du Rhône, explore the captivating medieval towns of Tournon and Tain L’Hermitage for a great introduction to the region. Situated either side of the Rhône they form the gateway to the Route des Vins driving route where you can navigate through the heart of the hillside vineyards, going from cellar 36 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 37