Grape Varieties by Appellation – AOP Côtes du Rhône

Below are grape varieties that conform to AOP Côtes du Rhône classification. Varieties identified in black are red (also called “black”) grapes and those in green are white grapes. Other colors (e.g. rose and grey) are identified in the text.

The proportion by grape variety (specified below) refers to the percentage of the total area of the vineyard that must to be planted with a specific variety (referred to as encépagement). Some AOP/AOC regulations will also specify a proportion of the blend (referred to as assemblage) for a given color of wine in order to be classified as an AOP/AOC wine.

COLOR OF WINE	PRINCIPAL VARIETIES	SECONDARY VARIETIES	NOTES:
AOP « Côtes du Rhône »
Red	Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah	Accessory Varieties: Bourboulenc, Brun Argenté (locally called Camarèse or Vaccarèse), Carignan, Cinsaut, Clairette, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Marselan, Muscardin, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Noir, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Ugni Blanc, Viognier	The proportion of the combination of principal varieties must be greater than or equal to 70% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of Grenache must be greater than or equal to 30% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of Marselan cannot be greater that 10% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of the combination of the accessory varieties must be less than or equal to 10% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of the combination of the white varieties must be less than or equal to 5% of the total of all varieties. The blend must be made from a minimum of two principal grape varieties where one must be Grenache. The blend proportion of principal grape varieties must greater than or equal to 60% of the total blend.
Rosé	Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah	Accessory Varieties: Bourboulenc, Brun Argenté (locally called Camarèse or Vaccarèse), Carignan, Cinsaut, Clairette, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Marselan, Muscardin, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Noir, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Ugni Blanc, Viognier	The proportion of the combination of principal varieties must be greater than or equal to 70% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of Grenache must be greater than or equal to 30% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of Marselan cannot be greater that 10% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of the combination of the accessory varieties must be less than or equal to 10% of the total of all varieties. The proportion of the combination of the white varieties must be less than or equal to 20% of the total of all varieties. The blend must include a minimum of two principal grape varieties where one must be Grenache. The blend proportion of principal grape varieties must greater than or equal to 60% of the total blend.
White	Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier	Accessory Varieties: Piquepoul Blanc, Ugni Blanc	The proportion of the principal varieties must be greater than or equal to 80% of the total of all varieties. The blend must be composed of a majority of principal grapes varieties.

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