COTES-DU-RHONE

The Côtes du Rhône AOC covers 40,000 hectares, 171 communes and 6 departments. This huge area produces a vast diversity of wines. It is one of the oldest winegrowing regions in the world. The Romans began planting vines here, around the town of Vienne, in 125 BCE. As the region's wines enjoyed increasing success followed, much later, by a boom in exports, the vineyards expanded to the size now seen today.