Châtillon-en-Diois

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The mountain vineyard extends over just 36 hectares, planted on clay-limestone hillsides at approximately 500 to 650 metres above sea level.
• The hillsides are sheltered from northerly winds by the cliffs of the Vercors, with the zone bounded to the north by the Glandasse mountain.
• The Châtillon-en-Diois vineyard lies against the Glandasse massif, which reaches 2,000 metres in altitude, and overlooks the valley of the Bez, a torrential tributary of the Drôme.
• The Châtillon-en-Diois hillside, at an average elevation of around 550 metres, benefits from an extremely favourable south-facing aspect that creates a particular mesoclimate well suited to the vine.
• The climate is temperate with very strongly attenuated Mediterranean nuances, directly linked to the altitude and the proximity of the Vercors massif.
• To the south, the geographical zone is bounded by the Claps de Luc-en-Diois, a massive limestone rockfall blocking the valley.
• At Châtillon, terres noires outcrop in the hills emerging from the terraces of the Bez, beneath Tithonian limestone cliffs. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The wine was historically known as 'Côtes du Bez', after the torrential river running through Châtillon-en-Diois, before gaining VDQS status in 1955 and then AOC recognition on 3 March 1975.
• The grape variety mix aligns this vineyard with Burgundy (Gamay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté, Chardonnay) and, more incidentally, with the northern Côtes du Rhône through Syrah; Gamay, the dominant variety, must account for at least 75% of the encépagement and is used to produce the red wines, made exclusively at Châtillon-en-Diois and Menglon.

• The white wines, made from Aligoté and Chardonnay, are described as dry and fresh, typically showing aromas of white blossom and citrus fruit.
• The red wines are very fruit-forward and can express more herbaceous notes such as garrigue, with tannic structure and minerality on the palate contributed by blending Gamay with other varieties.
• The rosé wines generally show a salmon colour, aromas of red fruits, and a very characteristic freshness on the palate.

• The mountain mesoclimate present on the hillsides encourages the expression of fruity aromas, complemented by the freshness of the rosé and white wines and the roundness of the red wines.

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

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 9 décembre 2024, JORF 11 décembre 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône