The Rhône Valley is one of France’s—and the world’s—finest winemaking regions, but it is often overshadowed by Burgundy and Bordeaux . Its hot sunny days and rocky soils that retain heat at night offer an ideal climate for growing concentrated, intensely flavored grapes. In general, the northern Rhône is known for its bold Syrah based wines while the southern Rhône is better known for its Grenache based wines.
The Greeks and Romans planted grapevines on the Rhone River’s steep slopes but the modern era of winemaking in the area only dates to the 18th century. Wine barrels were marked with the initials CDR for Côte du Rhône as early as 1737 and eventually the initials came to include the plural form of Côtes du Rhône as well. Whether you are a Grenache lover or a Syrah fan, you can expect full-bodied wines with flavors of plum, black cherry, black currant, and black raspberry with hints of spice such as black pepper and anise.
In addition, you’ll find strong tannins and bold acidity. These wines are built to age for decades, but they’re also delicious when drunk young. Here are the seven best Rhône Valley red wines to buy right now.
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