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The Cotes du Rhone in Provence is home to some of the most dependable wines -- at prices that are equally appealing.

The reason for the affordability is a combination of the abundance of wine produced and the concentration on making fine wines rather than marketing them.

Mother nature also lends a hand in the beautiful Rhone Valley which is the sunniest region of all of the France.with climate that remains the most constant.

Of the twenty three grape varieties grown in the Cotes du Rhone region, Syrah and Grenache are the most commonly used for reds with Mourvedre, Cinsault or Carignan added.

The reds, in fact, are the area's most popular (over 75% of Cotes du Rhone wines are red) which are generally full-bodied with an alcoholic content higher than most French wines.

Their versatility is attested by their appearance at anything from main meals to cheese courses to dessert (also see: For the Holidays: What Wine with Turkey?)

A view of Tain l'Hermitage along the Cotes du Rhone wine road.

While the reds are the star of the region, Cotes du Rhone whites are produced from Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairet and Bourboulenc grapes -- with flavors that range from dry citrus to mellow and robust. The herbs that grow abundantly in the area give the wines hints of lavender, juniper, bay laurel, fennel, rosemary, sage and thyme.

More information about Cotes du Rhone wine & wineries around the Web:

Cotes du Rhône - The Terroir-France site comes through with its reliable coverage of the wine, geography, history, information & pictures on wine making in the area, foods that match the wines, a map, with related links to reviews and shopping.

Rhone Wines - ProvenceBeyond - Here you'll find a listing of Cotes du Rhone wineries, information on the village with winery listings in the Orange, Gard - Avignon Northwest, and Camargue areas. They also have a nicely detailed Cote du Rhone Wine Map. Visiting the section on villages provides some good information on the region including pictures. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape page is well worth a visit, along with more on regional history and hiking info..

Provence - Les Cotes Du Rhone - The wines of Provence has information on grape and wine festivals, chateaux, and where to find the properties and co-operative wineries (caves coopératives) AOC "Côtes du Rhône" with links when they are available....

Cotes du Rhone - A treasure trove of inexpensive excellence - The premise of this site is that wine and jammin' music make a good pair. The wine reviews are first rate and the focus on great wines at great prices will sound like music to your ears...