Crozes Hermitage: 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.

The largest appellation in the Northern Rhône, covering eleven communes on the left bank of the river around the famous Hermitage hill in the Drôme. Predominantly red - around 90% of production - its wines are made from at least 85% Syrah, and most are pure varietal, showing rustic, concentrated character with black fruit, black pepper, spice, and earthy undergrowth notes. Its varied soils give diverse styles: robust reds from granite, more elegant expressions from limestone, alongside a little medium- to full-bodied white from Marsanne and Roussanne.