The Northern Rhône is one of the most dramatic wine landscapes in France. For about 70 kilometres south of Lyon, the Rhône river cuts through a narrow granite gorge, and on the steep, terraced hillsides above it, Syrah produces some of the most profound red wines in the world.
This is not easy terrain to farm. Many of the best vineyards are so steep that mechanical harvesting is impossible — everything must be done by hand, often with workers roped to the slopes. That effort shows in the glass: Northern Rhône Syrah has a concentration, complexity, and aromatic purity that’s distinct from Syrah grown anywhere else on earth.
The flagship appellations tell the story. Côte-Rôtie (“the roasted slope”) produces perfumed, silky reds from vineyards that face the afternoon sun at extreme angles. Hermitage, on its imposing granite hill above the town of Tain-l’Hermitage, makes powerful, long-lived wines that were once considered France’s finest — and at their best, they still compete with the very top. Cornas, just to the south, delivers the darkest, most muscular expression of Northern Rhône Syrah.
White wine lovers shouldn’t overlook this area either. Condrieu produces rich, exotic Viognier — one of the world’s great white grapes — and the tiny appellation of Château-Grillet remains one of France’s most exclusive single-estate whites. Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage, the larger appellations, offer excellent quality at more accessible prices and are great starting points for understanding the Northern Rhône style.
We consider the Northern Rhône essential for any serious wine traveller. The wines are magnificent, the landscape is unforgettable, and the producers — names like Guigal, Jaboulet, Chave, and Chapoutier — are among the most respected in France.