Cotes du Vivarais is an appellation for the red, white and rose wines from an area covering the south of the Ardeche departement (a French local government area), and the north of the Gard departement. The appellation was created in 1999, an upgrade from the former Vin de Pays status.
Cotes du Vivarais wines come from specific vineyards on the west bank of the Rhone, in an area opposite the Coteaux du Tricastin appellation in the northern half of the southern section of the Rhone. These are mainly light red wines and deeply colored roses. Both red and rose wines are made from Grenache and Syrah grapes. A small amount of white wine is made from Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Marsanne grapes under the appellation, generally in the classic southern Rhone style – fresh and floral, with a certain weight and intensity brought about by the warmth and high sunlight levels of the region.
The terroir here is founded on the hot, dry summer common to most Mediterranean climates, and the low-fertility rocky soils that drain so freely and force vines to dig strong, deep root systems in search of water and nutriments.
The appellation's best wine-producing sites, however, are slightly higher up, and enjoy the cooler mesoclimates caused by the local (hilly) topography. The backbone of limestone which forms the Plateau de Gras provides a home to many high-quality vineyards, producing fresher, more aromatic styles of wine made possible by extended hang time and increased altitude (up to 1200ft/400m).
The red wines produced in these cooler limestone soils resemble the lightest of the reds made under the Cotes du Rhone appellation and are destined for early consumption.
