It is a strip of land which extends over 80 km in the north of the Rhône valley, between Vienne (Isère) and Valence (Drôme): the northern Côtes-du-Rhône. They stretch over five departments (Loire, Ardèche, Isère, Drôme and Rhône) and between them concentrate eight of the most prestigious appellations including the famous Côte-rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph and Hermitage.
Wines that have made the northern Rhône valley world famous, where 813 producers share nearly 4,300 ha of vines. Here, each grape is harvested, more than elsewhere, with the sweat of the brow and with a breathtaking view of the Rhône river.
A river inseparable from the vines
“It is a landscape that is dizzying with slopes that can reach 60% and omnipresent terrace cultivation. There are two strong markers: the vineyards on the hillsides and the Rhône. This territory cannot be understood and experienced without the river,” says Florian Solbes, project manager, head of the Unesco project.
In order to bring together all the stakeholders concerned and ensure the inclusion of the cultural, river and wine landscape of the northern Rhône valley on the UNESCO World Heritage list, a collective was created: the Rhône des Côtes. “We are at the beginning. We must make the project known and mobilize as many people as possible,” insists Florian Solbes.
He knows the Rhône candidacy is solid, despite the ever stricter requirements of UNESCO, particularly on the environmental aspect of viticulture: “The Rhône has been a major axis of communication since Antiquity. » It is also the historic cradle of Syrah, one of the most widespread grape varieties in the world.
The file will be officially submitted next year. The process is expected to take at least ten years. Before the hills of the Rhône, the Champagne vineyards, the climats of Burgundy or the great terroirs of the Médoc have in the past obtained UNESCO registration.