Côtes de Ventoux is an AOC area on the slopes of Mont Ventoux in Vaucluse in central Provence. Light wines, mainly red, are made there. The poor limestone soil of Côtes du Ventoux gives a fruity red wine, easy to drink.
Côtes du Forez is an area where light red and rosé wines are produced on the Auvergne-Lyonnais borders from Gamay grapes. The wines are designed for early drinking and most are made by the co-operative, Vignerons Foreziens.
The Côtes du Frontonnais is an area in Languedoc, north of Toulouse, known particularly for red wine, but also making white and rosé. The red wine is made using a local red grape variety called Negrette. Negrette must constitute 50-70% of the appellation's red wine blends.
Coteaux du Giennois is the name of an area in Orléanais formerly known as Côtes du Gien. Coteaux du Giennois produces light red wines from the Gamay and, sometimes, Pinot Noir grapes and crisp, pale white wines made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc. AOC status was awarded in 1998. Pips from grapes dating back to the 11th century have been found in the area and the numerous abbeys have contributed historically to the quality and expansion of the viniculture. The Coteaux du Giennois extends over 14 communes. The vineyard covers 150 hectares of flint and limestone soils from which dry white wines from Sauvignon grapes and red and rosé wines from a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir are produced. The white and rosé wines are drunk young while the light, fruity reds with little tannin are good with poultry and red meats.
Côtes du Jura is an appellation area producing red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, vin jaunes and vins de paille. Côtes du Jura is the second most important appellation of Jura after Arbois and includes 12 different communes. Wines can be red, white or dark pink, still or sparkling. Ch. d'Arlay is one of the appellations most notable producers. An increasing proportion of varietal wines. Red and rosé wines can be produced from Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot noir grapes, and white wines from Chardonnay and Savagnin.
Côtes du Luberon is an appellation area in Vaucluse in central Provence covering 3500 hectares, where red, white and rosé wines are produced. It is between Cavaillon and Apt, with 36 districts sharing the vineyards. About 70% of the wine produced in Côtes du Luberon is red, 15% to 20% rosé or white in any given year. "The reds are well-balanced and flexible, the rosés fresh and nervous, while the whites are fresh and well-rounded." It is generally better to drink the Côtes du Luberon wines when they are young. It is not clear whether Côtes du Luberon come under Provence or Rhône in terms of its region but, since it is on the north bank of the River Durance, it should more properly be placed in Rhône.
After leaving Geneva to enter France, the Rhône runs practically due south from Lyon to the Bouches-du-Rhône on the coast. It runs through Isère, Drôme, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Bouches-du-Rhône. Côtes-du-Rhône is the region between Vienne, just south of Lyon, and Avignon. It produces AOC red, white and rosé wines but mainly red. Red and rosé wines may be made with Grenache Noir, which predominates, Syrah, Cinsaut, Carignan, Counoise and Mourvèdre grapes, producing pleasant, mainly lightish, spicy, red wines. White wines are made from Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier and Bourboulenc grapes.
Côtes-du-Rhône Village is an area of 3200 hectares producing red, white and rosé wines made by 16 designated communes around the Rhône. They may add their individual names to the label. These include Beaumes-de-Venise, Cairanne, Rasteau, Roaix, Sablet, Sèguret, Vacquéras, Valréas and Visan from Vaucluse; Chusclan, Laudun and Saint Gervais from Gard; Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes and Vinsobres from Drôme.
