Rhone

This appellation in the northern section of the Rhône is classified as a cru site. It is located in the southern part of the section on the right bank of the Rhône river. The name is Celtic in origin, and means “burned earth“. This describes the terraced sloping sites. Granite and limestone combine with a warm, dry climate to provide the wine with great class. The vineyard area totals more than 100 hectares, and the vineyards are located exclusively in the commune of Cornas in the département Ardèche, north of the city of Valence. The red wine has a very long history. Charlemagne (1638-1715) was a great fan of this wine. It was already popular at the French royal court in the 10th century, and in the 19th century its excellent reputation was comparable to that of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The red wine is made purely from Syrah, and has a long maturation potential. Well-known producers include Thierry Allemand, Auguste Clape, Jean-Luc Colombo, Courbis, Delas, Eric et Joel Durand, Dumien-Serrette, Jaboulet-Aîné, Marcel Juge, Jean Lionnet, Tardieu–Laurent, Noël Verset and Alan Voge.