21 Stories of the Côtes du Rhône Villages

Côtes-du-Rhône Villages is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in the southern Rhône wine region of France. where red, white and rosé wines are produced.

Only 21 select areas in the south of the Côtes du Rhône region claim the ‘Village’ title. Strict regulations mean only ripe, low-yielding vines are used bringing more complexity and the heartiest flavour-packed wines making them perfect for aging. In the southern part of the Rhône Valley, the vines grow on terraces, on the river’s alluvial plains and on slopes leading up to the region’s iconic hilltop villages. A separate category was introduced within the Côtes du Rhône appellation in 1967 to showcase the quality and outstanding character of these wines and to give them more prominence. 21 of these villages are permitted to specify the name of the village where the wine was produced – Côtes du Rhône Villages with geographical name, or Côtes du Rhône Villages Communaux.