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.
In the north of Côtes du Rhône are found Côte Rôtie with Condrieu, Château Grillet, Hermitage and Crozes Hermitage. In the south are Gigondas, Châteauneuf du Pape and Côtes du Ventoux.
