More than any other wine region of France, the Cotes du Rhone is the land of the long hot summer sun. This mighty river, flowing through its narrow river valley begins its long trek from the Vienne in the north to Avignon in the south. Some of the Rhones most remarkable wines are from the steeply terraced granite soil vineyards of the northern appellations, which produce deep coloured, long lived powerful reds of which the expressive Crozes Hermitage is a fine examples.

In the south, vines are planted on sloped 'beaches' of alluvial chalky soil, topped with large pebbles, which store then  radiate the benefit of the days sunny warmth. A greater mix of grape varieties are permitted here, with the Grenache predominating to give softer, earlier drinking wines, well displayed by the plummy Cotes du Rhone Ch de l'Estagnol or the fuller Gigondas with the famous Chateauneuf du Pape showing its powerful robust pedigree.