Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage

Crystalline rock

The hill of Hermitage is a fragment of granite massif that the Rhône cut off from the mountains of the Ardèche.¹ On its western side the granite weathers into fragile sandy-clay soils called arènes, and that is where Syrah is mostly planted.¹ The eastern side lies on old alluvial terraces, and the white grapes, mainly Marsanne, are concentrated on the more calcareous soils.¹

Côte-Rôtie, further north on the right bank, is not granite: the Côte Blonde rests mainly on gneiss and the Côte Brune on micaschist.² The profile below is a schematic of western Hermitage.

Terraces and walls

Côte-Rôtie clings to very steep slopes above the Rhône, built into narrow terraces called chaillées and held by dry-stone walls called cheys.² Its vineyard faces southeast; Hermitage faces full south, close to the river.^2,1

Syrah with white grapes

In Côte-Rôtie, Viognier may be planted among the Syrah up to 20% of the vines, but Syrah must make up at least 80% of the blend.² Red Hermitage may include Marsanne and Roussanne up to 15% of the vines.¹ In 2009 Côte-Rôtie had about 250 hectares in production and Hermitage 137.^2,1

Timeline

1. 1936

   The Valence court first grants Hermitage an appellation of origin (June).¹

2. 1937

   The Hermitage AOC is recognised by decree of 4 March.¹

3. 1940

   The Côte-Rôtie AOC is recognised by decree of 18 October.²

Grapes

• Syrah
• Viognier

Soils

• Sand
• Granite

Sources

1. Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Hermitage » (procédure nationale d'opposition 2024). INAO, 2024. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13
2. Cahier des charges de l'appellation d'origine contrôlée « Côte-Rôtie » (procédure nationale d'opposition 2023). INAO, 2023. level 1 · checked 2026-10-13