Northern Rhône

The vineyards of the northern Rhône have probably been noticed by more tourists than any others, since so many millions of tourists are funnelled each year between northern and southern Europe down the narrow Rhône valley south of Lyons past Tain l’Hermitage. Here, high above the autoroute du soleil, terraces have been set to work as advertising hoardings for such producers as jaboulet and chapoutier. For a few seconds, the vineyards of the northern Rhône make an impression, but their produce is aimed in the main at the fine wine connoisseur rather than at the mass market. The total production of the northern Rhône is less than 5% of total Rhône valley wine, with Crozes-Hermitage alone representing well over half of all wine produced in the north.