Ardèche

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The department extends from the confluence of the Rhône and the Ardèche at 40 metres above sea level up to the summit of Mont Mézenc at 1,754 metres, with the Rhône valley forming a natural eastern boundary for 140 km.
• The Coiron plateau, an extension of the eastern Velay to the south of Privas and east of Aubenas, is a basaltic plateau of approximately 25 km by 18 km, formed by stacked lava flows oriented from north-west to south-east.
• The Bas-Vivarais presents a warm, dry climate already almost Mediterranean in character, with calcareous or marly soils forming gently undulating depressions, dominated by north-easterly winds (Mistral) and southerly (vent du midi) and westerly winds that bring brief spells of rain.
• Four main soil types shape the wines: red-brown garrigue soils over marly limestone, thin slopes of marly or marly-sandstone erosion soils, sandy-clay hills over ancient Jurassic sandstone, and deep stony soils on terraces known as faïsses.
• The mountain region, at an average altitude of 1,000 metres, experiences a harsh climate with snow and violent winds known locally as "la burle" in winter, and heavy rainfall of 1,500 mm per year concentrated in September and October.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Ardèche Coteaux de l'Ardèche PGI

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 9 novembre 2020, JORF 20 novembre 2020
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Confédération des Vins IGP de France