Département in south-east France with the capital Valence in the Rhône region (politically Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), named after the tributary of the Rhône of the same name. It lies in the middle of the departments of Vaucluse (south), Alpes de Haute-Provence (south-east), Hautes-Alpes (east), Isère (north) and Ardèche (west).
The vineyards cover around 20,000 hectares of vines on granite, limestone and alluvial soils, as well as some clay and sandy soils. A temperate, continental climate prevails, which is characterised by Mediterranean influences towards the south. The summers are usually warm and dry, the winters cool to cold. The Mistral contributes to the air circulation.
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