Drôme Provençale: Lavender, Olive Groves and Vineyards

Drôme Provençale, located just south of Montélimar, is the point at which the north of the Rhône Valley meets the south. 

It lies on the left bank of the Rhône, where its relatively cool terroir marks the northern limit for growing Grenache, by nature a southern variety. 

It is, however, ideal for Syrah and Viognier, the northern Rhône Valley’s top two grape varieties – so Grignan-les-Adhémar AOC wines combine the elegance and freshness of a northern Côtes du Rhône Cru with the smooth richness of ripe fruit from the southern Rhône Valley appellations.

Valréas, Richerenches, Visan and Grillon are four Vaucluse villages, separated from the Vaucluse proper and enclosed within the Drôme department –  an administrative anomaly dating back to the Avignon popes. 

In the 13th century, the papacy left Rome, the Holy See moved to Avignon and the popes began to acquire land in and around Avignon, both to expand their territories and to generate income. 

Legend has it that Pope John XXII miraculously recovered from a serious illness after drinking wine from Valréas, and was so impressed by its curative properties that he bought the town. 

Richerenches, Visan and Grillon followed soon after, and today, this historic papal enclave is still famous for its vines, boasting two famous Côtes du Rhône Villages AOCs. Richerenches is also the European capital of black truffles, considered a rare and exquisite delicacy.

Nyons and Vinsobres lie in the Baronnies Provençales Natural Regional Park, and share a rich history of olive groves and vineyards.

Nyons has been a top spot for the Tanche olive cultivar for 2,000 years or more, and in 1994 was awarded AOC status both for its black table olives and its olive oil. Then 2020 saw the creation of the Côtes du Rhône Villages Nyons appellation, in recognition of the work and commitment of the area’s winegrowers since 1925 and in celebration of its elegant, generous wines.

The olive groves of Vinsobres, meanwhile, were destroyed by the great frost of 1956, leading growers to pivot from cultivating olives to cultivating vines, which are less fragile. As a result of the  growers' hard and steadfast work, their wineswere granted first the title of Côtes du Rhône Villages Vinsobres, then, in 2006, achieved the coveted status of Côtes du Rhône Cru. The terroir is one of the highest in the Côtes du Rhône, and produces, fresh, spicy wines.