The Rhône is one of the classic French wine regions. It starts in central France, just south of Lyon, stretching almost to the Mediterranean Sea.

The wine world makes a distinction between the Northern Rhône, which runs from the town of Vienne to just south of Valence and claims Syrah as its chief red grape, and the Southern Rhône, south of Valence to just south of Avignon. There, grapes like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise are made into red blends, while Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier and Clairette are popular choices for white blends.