“Côtes du Rhône”, like many other controlled appellation wine, represents high stakes in the economical, social cultural and historical domains. The scenery formed by vineyards reveals these cultural values. It offers by a pleasant and appealing environment for the inhabitants and the tourists. It is also a powerful marketing tool for the winemakers.
However, vineyards are attacked (urban pressure, infrastructures, expansion of enterprise zones) and it often affects the public image of the vineyards and the production potential.
In order to protect the wine patrimony and to improve the communication between the concerned forces, it has started a study of the agronomic and landscape potentials of the vineyards. The aim is to map, for each village, the viticultural zones that should be protected in priority as they represent the highest stakes for the future of the “Côtes du Rhône” controlled appellation.
Authors: Charlotte ASSEMAT (1), Begoña RODRIGUEZ-LOVELLE (2), Laurence FABBRI (3) and Francis FABRE (1)
(1) Syndicat Général des Vignerons Réunis des Côtes du Rhône, Maison des Vins, 6 Rue des Trois Faucons, 84000 Avignon, France
(2) Service technique, Institut Rhodanien, 2260 route du Grès, 84100 Orange, France
Email: c.assemat@syndicat-cotesdurhone.com; f.fabre@syndicat-cotesdurhone.com; b.rodriguez@syndicat-cotesdurhone.com; territoiresetpaysages@voila.fr; c.assemat@syndicat-cotesdurhone.com
Keywords: landscape, agronomical potentiality, « terroir »protection, « Côtes du Rhône », sustainable development