About the Region

The Rhône wine region is in Southern France.  Even though Boutinot’s head-office is in Manchester (UK) and our French office is in Macon, Burgundy,  it is the Rhône Valley that we call home, so much so that it’s the one area that has a range of wines that are actually labeled as Boutinot – see Domaine Boutinot.

The Rhône is divided into two sub-regions, North and South and it’s the Southern Rhône that is both the volume provider and also home to one of the world’s most renowned wines - Chateauneuf–du-Pape. Wines from the Northern Rhône are driven by one red grape – Syrah (also known as Shiraz in the New World) which accounts for approx 5% of all Rhône wines. The southern Rhône has a more Mediterranean climate, warmer and less rain than that of the North. The most important grape for the South is Grenache however there are another 14 grapes permitted to be used, of which Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault are the most widely grown.

Whilst the Rhône is known mostly for being a red wine region, nearly 90% of production is red, there is an increasing amount of white (main grape being Grenache Blanc) and rosé now being produced.

The most widely available wines are Cotes du Rhône, Cotes du Rhône Villages, Chateauneuf-du-Pape however it’s some of the villages that are creating the most excitement and buzz, including Gigondas, Cairanne, Seguret and Rasteau.

And then for some real gems, Costieres de Nimes is the place to look – one of first wine producing regions of France, vineyards were planted here by the Romans, and the most southerly area of the Rhône valley having previously, until 2004, been classified as part of the Languedoc, the value and quality here is amazing!