Côtes du Vivarais

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The appellation area extends across five communes in the Gard and nine communes in the Ardèche, on either side of the Ardèche river, between the Rhône valley and the Cévennes mountains.
• The greater part of the vineyard occupies the Plateau des Gras, at an average elevation of 400 metres, resting on a substrate of very hard Cretaceous limestones of Urgonian facies, where the vine is planted only in pockets of decalcification clays.
• This karst relief is deeply incised by the Ardèche, whose gorges and caves are celebrated, and is separated from the Cévennes by a rift valley — the pre-Cévennes trough to the north and the Alès graben to the south.
• At the margins of the massif, Triassic-age materials yield more acidic soils near the Cévennes at Vinezac, while Tertiary marly and calcareous formations are found around Barjac, Lagorce, and Issirac.
• In the commune of Saint-Montan, in the Rhône valley at the foot of the Plateau des Gras, the vineyard is planted sometimes on ancient alluvial terraces of the Rhône, sometimes on calcareous scree.

• Pliny the Elder mentions in his Natural History the Vitis Helvia cultivated in Helvie and a remarkable grape variety at Alba, the carbunica, renowned throughout the Narbonnaise province.
• The appellation d'origine vin délimité de qualité supérieure 'Côtes du Vivarais' was recognised by the decree of 8 August 1962 for wines produced in the territory of 11 communes in the Ardèche and the Gard.
• The Rhodanian varieties Grenache and Syrah are by far the most widely planted; Syrah is expanding further owing to its adaptation to the cooler climatic conditions, and must account for at least 40% of the plantings destined for red wines.
• The production potential was reduced from 11,000 hectares to 4,734 hectares during the 1990s following a revision of the delimited parcel area, before the appellation d'origine contrôlée came into effect by decree on 23 September 1999.

• The red wines display a deep purple colour with vegetal, fruity, and peppery aromas contributed by the syrah variety, and a balance on the palate that lends itself to early drinking.
• The rosé wines, fresh and light, are fruity and showcase a blend in which grenache plays the leading role.
• The dry white wines, relatively little known, have a very pale yellow appearance with green highlights, and develop aromas of white flowers and flint, with a palate balance built on a touch of freshness.

• Ripeness that is delayed towards the west relative to that observed at the same latitude in the Rhône valley vineyards gives the wines distinctive characteristics, combining vivacity, suppleness, structure, and robust tannins.

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 22 septembre 2011, JORF 24 septembre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône