AOC/AOP Regulations
Département
- Ardèche, Drôme, Gard, Vaucluse, Rhône, Loire
Styles and Encépagement
- Blanc:
- Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Viognier
- Accessory Varieties: Max 20% combined Piquepoul Blanc and Ugni Blanc
- Rouge:
- Principal Variety: Min. 30% Grenache, except for vineyards north of Montélimar
- Complementary Varieties: Min. 20% combined Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 70% combined principle and complementary varieties)
- Accessory Varieties: Brun Argenté (Vaccarèse/Camarèse), Carignan, Cinsault, Clairette Rosé, Counoise, Muscardin, Piquepoul Noir, Terret Noir; max. 10% Marselan; max. 5% combined white varieties (Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, and Viognier)
- Rosé: As for Rouge wines, with the addition of up to 20% combined white varieties
- Primeur/Noveau Rosé/Rouge
- Producers farming less than 1.5 hectares are not required to include the min. 15% Syrah and Mourvèdre in their wines
- The min. 15% Syrah and Mourvèdre applies after harvest 2019
Assemblage
- Rosé/Rouge: Grenache must account for the majority of the blend, and at least one complementary variety must be present. Vineyards north of Montélimar are excused from these requirements.
- Blanc: Principal varieties must account for the majority of the blend.
Minimum Potential Alcohol
- 11%
Minimum Must Weight
- Syrah: 180 g/l (171 g/l for vineyards north of Montélimar)
- Other Red Grapes: 189 g/l
- White Grapes: 178 g/l (161 g/l for vineyards north of Montélimar)
Maximum Residual Sugar
- Nouveau/Primeur: 2 g/l
- Blanc/Rosé/Rouge: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)
Minimum Planting Density
- max. 2.5 square meters per vine
Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)
- 51 hl/ha
AOC Established
- 1937 (last updated 2015)
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