Côtes du Rhône-Villages refers to a wine appellation in the Rhône Valley of southeastern France. It represents a higher quality tier within the larger and general Côtes du Rhône AOC. Wines labeled as Côtes du Rhône-Villages are produced with stricter production methods and are typically considered better in quality than basic Côtes du Rhône.
The "Villages" category includes selected sites from over 95 communes, spanning much of the length of the Rhône Valley, whereas a few selected communes are allowed to append their village name to it, such as Côtes du Rhône-Villages Sablet or Côtes du Rhône-Villages Valréas. There are currently 21 villages that have the right to label their wines with their particular village's name.
Côtes du Rhône-Villages wines are primarily produced from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes, with the blend typically dominated by Grenache. These wines are noted for their spicy, full-bodied, and robust characteristics and are reputed to offer good value for their quality.
They can be both red and white, with the significant majority being red. Red wines are often rich and fruity, with notes of blackberries, cherries, and plums, as well as spicy flavors of pepper and herbs. Whites are less common but can have floral, citrusy flavors.
These wines are very versatile when it comes to food pairing, going well with a range of dishes from grilled meats to roasted vegetables and even spicy foods.
