COTE-ROTIE

Côte-Rôtie is the northernmost of the Rhone vineyards. In a mere 200 hectares, the appellation includes 73 localities worked by a hundred winegrowers. The cultivation of vines here dates back to Roman time, but almost died out in the 1950s due to the heavy toll taken by the war, and the difficulty of maintaining the vineyards. The region enjoyed a revival in the 1970s and is now famous for the power of its wines. The vineyards fall into two sectors, the Côte Blonde, producing elegant wines and the Côte Brune, with more dense and structured wines.