Côte-Rôtie: Pierre Gaillard

The Rhône Valley is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world, with wine production dating back to Greek occupation in the 4th century BC and thriving under the Romans; it was later revived when the papacy moved to Avignon in the fourteenth century, giving Châteauneuf-du-Pape ('the Pope's new castle') its name. The Northern Rhône is home to prestigious names such as Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage - small-production wines of exceptional quality - where Syrah is the sole red grape and whites come from Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The larger, warmer Southern Rhône is best known for the bold Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its rival Gigondas, alongside excellent-value names such as Vacqueyras, Rasteau, and Cairanne. Its wines are predominantly red, built chiefly on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.

One of the most prestigious appellations of the Northern Rhône, set on steep, terraced slopes on the right bank of the river just south of Vienne, at the northernmost point of the Rhône's red-wine country. Officially recognised in 1940 and covering around 224 hectares, its name - meaning 'the roasted slope' - reflects the exceptional south-facing sun exposure that ripens its grapes. The wines are red, made principally from Syrah, and are unusual in permitting up to 20% of the white grape Viognier to be co-fermented in the blend, lending aromatic lift and silky texture. The result is a wine of remarkable elegance and complexity, showing raspberry, violet, olive, black pepper, and smoky, floral notes.