Rhône Valley Vineyards: Vines and Olive Trees

Suze-la-Rousse Castle: Museum and Wine University

If you’ve just arrived in the region, start your exploration of the local area with a visit to the Château de Suze-la-Rousse. More than just a stunning medieval fortress, it houses an engaging museum exhibition dedicated to wine and its history in the Drôme.

But that's not all! It's also home to a renowned wine school that has planted 70 grape varieties in this vineyard garden. It's a great way to learn how to identify the region's varieties!

Vines and olive trees: a long-standing coexistence

Vinsobres and the red wines of the northern Rhône

It quickly becomes apparent when strolling through Drôme Provençale: vineyards stand side by side with olive groves. Before the 1960s, olives were even one of the region’s main crops. But the frosts of 1929 and 1956 were so devastating that the olive trees gave way to vines, which are less fragile. The history of Vinsobres, a Côtes du Rhône appellation, is emblematic of this shift. So much so that the village of the same name now sits perched in the middle of an amphitheater of vineyards that produce red wines of great intensity, with a characteristic freshness.

From north to south, amid vineyards and olive groves, passionate artisans who help shape the landscape, culture, and gastronomy…and who love to share their expertise!