Vineyards: these are the largest of the Northern Appellation vineyards. They cover 11 communes on the right bank of the Rhône, located in the Drôme.
Soil types: in the North, a continuation of the granite slopes of the Hermitage; in the South, glacio-fluvial alluviam with terraces bearing the rounded stones of the Rhône, or of loess.
Climate: full southern aspect and subject to the Mistral.
Background: these vineyards are not as old as those of the Hermitage, and has only recently been developed in the South and which was previously used for fruit cultivation.
Crozes-Hermitage was consecrated Local A.O.C. in 1937.
News: an experimental area was created in order to carry out tests on the behaviour of the Syrah grape variety (support of grafts, improving methods of working with the vines) in order to better optimise the wines resulting from this grape variety.
Area under cultivation*: 1497 hectares, yearly production: 67002 hl, basic yield : 45 hl/hectare.
* Source: harvest statement 2009.
Grape variety mix: Syrah for the red (possibly a maximum of 15% Marsanne or Roussanne), Marsanne et Roussanne for the whites.
Pruning: vines are pruned to two productive eyes, except for the Syrah, for which long pruning is permitted.
Wine making: for red and whites , natural alcohol content by volume 10% minimum.
