An area classified as a cru (top appellation) in the northern section of the Rhône on the right bank. The name means "roasted or fried slopes" and describes the hot, dry climate and the sun-drenched vineyards (similar to the Cornas appellation further south). The region is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in France. The Romans were already cultivating vines here at the turn of the century and the famous Roman poet Martial (40-102) was a wine lover. The vineyards cover around 300 hectares of vines and are divided into three sub-areas. These are Tupin et Semons in the south, the central area around Ampuis and Verenay and St-Cyr-Sur-Le-Rhône in the north.
The soil consists of gneiss or mica schist, but there are over 70 different sites with different soil types. The climate is a mixture of continental and Mediterranean influences. The local north wind called...
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