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The Rhône Valley is in Southern France, and is relatively one of the largest wine producing regions in the world, with over 6,000 wine growing properties, and its planting of approximately 22 different grape varieties. It is commonly divided into two sub-regions: Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône.

The northern region produces red wines from the Syrah grape, which is the only red grape allowed to be grown here, and incidentally, was traced back to have originated here too (or just a few miles away). Northern Rhône red blends do exist, where Syrah is blended with small percentages of some, or all, of the three types of white grapes grown in this region: Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne.  It is a relatively small region with many steep hillsides. The climate is very dry, with its very hot summers and very cold winters.

The southern region, on the other hand, is very flat, and the climate is comprised of hot, dry summers and mild-to-cool, wet winters. Here, Grenache is the most widely-planted grape and is the predominant varietal of Southern Rhône blends; Syrah and Mourvèdre being the other two primary varietals (thus, the term "GSM"). The most famous appellation of the southern region is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the blends here can contain up to 19 different varieties of grapes (both red and white)! This style of blending has become very popular, and many countries around the world have adapted their own variations. California, in particular, has been producing their own fruit-forward versions with much success, and hence, Rhône style wines continue to evolve there.            

Rhône style wine-

If you'd like to learn a little bit more about some of the main red and white varietals,

please take a look at the below charts, courtesy of rhonerangers.org.