Ventoux, large and growing appellation on the south-eastern fringes of the southern rhône between grignan-les-adhémar and the luberon. The nearly 6,000 ha/15,000 acre appellation takes its name from Mont Ventoux, the 2,000-m/6,500-ft high peak which dominates the region. The communes entitled to the appellation are on the western and southern flanks of this land mass, which has a significant cooling effect on the southern Rhône’s generally mediterranean climate. Historically this has been an area for producing table grapes (along with other tree fruits such as cherries) but vines thrive up to 450 m elevation, and Syrah can be much more successful here than in hotter, lower vineyards to the south.
