Rhône Valley Vineyards

Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC Crozes-Hermitage

An everyday luxury! The Crozes-Hermitage vineyards lie on the 45th parallel, on the left bank of the Rhône. This is the largest northern appellations extending across 11 communes in the Drôme. The prestigious wines of Crozes-Hermitage are available in red (made from Syrah) and white (made from Roussanne and Marsanne). 

Crozes-Hermitage reds are elegant, well-balanced, easy-drinking wines.

Discover the vineyards

Appellations

Informations

Climate: Semi-continental with mediterranean influences 

Soils: Sandy / Limestone / Clay / Rocky

Website appellation: https://www.crozes-hermitage-vin.fr/fr/

Key figures

Production surface area in 2023: 2 007 HA

Total production in 2023: 81 389 HL

Average annual yeld: 41 HL/HA

Export: 20%

Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.:  1937

Communes: 11 communes located in the Drôme on the left bank of the Rhône, to the north, south and east of the village of Tain-l’Hermitage.

Grape varieties

Marsanne

An emblematic grape variety for white wines from the northern Rhône Valley, where it is often blended with Roussanne, Marsanne produces powerful wines with floral and hazelnut aromas which develop particularly with ageing.

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Cépages blancs

Roussanne

A traditional grape variety from the northern crus of the Rhône Valley, where it is often associated with Marsanne, Roussanne is also grown in the southern part of the region. It produces elegant, fine, floral and complex wines.

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Cépages blancs

Syrah (minimum 85%)

Syrah is one of the most emblematic red grape varieties of the northern part of the Côtes du Rhône. Due to its rarity, it is only used to produce certain great wines. 

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Cépages rouges et rosés

To know

History

Between 1769 and 1780, the land from the Vienne vineyards on the left bank was broken up into a number of large vineyards in Gervans, Erôme and Crozes adjoining those on Hermitage Hill, along with La Chapelle and Muret, and one further vineyard on the higher slopes of Mercurol. The central and southern parts of the appellation had long been planted with orchards, while the northern areas grew wild. The Crozes-Hermitage appellation was created in 1937. At the time it was restricted to just the village of the same name, due largely to the good reputation of the vineyards in the Hermitage AOC. It was not until 1952 that the 10 surrounding communes were officially included in the appellation. When the appellation was extended, the vineyards in these areas began to expand and develop.

Climate

The Crozes-Hermitage vineyards span a wide area, and are subject to two influencing factors.
In the north, the climate is largely temperate with an almost constant wind drying the air along the Rhône corridor. In summer it brings cool temperatures, while in winter it can be bitingly cold. When blowing from the south, it can often be followed by storms.
The Mediterranean influence is also apparent in the high levels of sunshine (around 2,400 hours per year) coupled with hot, dry summers. Winters are cold, but not excessively so; a semi-continental type climate. Rainfall is moderate, with most occurring at the end of summer, called the Cevenol effect.

Soils

The vineyards are vast, incorporating a fairly wide variety of soils. The most significant area, to the south and east of Tain-l’Hermitage, is made up of thick strata of rounded pebbles stemming from several different ice ages, mixed with red clay forming a relatively flat landscape of plateaus and terraces (Les Chassis, Les Sept Chemins etc). To the north west, we find some fairly steep hillsides, and towards Larnage and Crozes-Hermitage, a stony terrace with loess or kaolinitic black sand. The areas to the north (Erôme, Serves and Gervans) lie on granite soils also covered with loess

Géographie

The vineyards encompass 11 communes in the Drôme on the left bank of the Rhône, to the north, south and east of the village of Tain-l’Hermitage.

Cépages et Saveurs

Reds: Syrah gives a good balance of fruit and tannins. The wines are soft and smooth, deep garnet-red in colour with scents of red berries and flowers, although some winemakers prefer a more robust, while still very charming, style.
These wines will keep for a short time, but can be enjoyed young. While young, they have good freshness, acquiring musky, spicy, leathery notes over time.
Whites are made from Marsanne and Roussanne, and display a beautiful golden colour. They are dry, yet full-bodied and balanced. They have attractive floral aromas with a hint of dried fruit.

Associated appellations

Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC

Discover the other Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC.

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AOC de la Vallée du Rhône

Inter Rhône

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