Our climate is changing. That is not up to debate. Wineries from around the world have been looking into ways to make their vineyards more resilient to these changes. One of those regions is the AOC Côtes du Rhône within the Rhône Valley in France. I received three wines from the region, along with information about how the Côtes du Rhône is making the area resilient.
This information was provided to me so that we can understand what the region is doing to make their vines and wineries more resilient. At the bottom of the article are my wine tasting notes for two of the wines.
Climate Resilience Information from the AOC Côtes du Rhône
The Rhône Valley is the second most important wine area in France in terms of volume of AOC wines. Thanks to its strong commitment to sustainability, it plays a key role in promoting environmentally responsible practices in French viticulture. Today, 19% of the vineyards are certified organic, while 31% hold the HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certification or are in the process of conversion. Like everywhere else in the world, climate change is affecting wine producers. For example, over the past 28 years, harvest dates have shifted 15 days earlier than average in the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations. Fortunately, producers can rely on many adaptation strategies and tools to mitigate these changes, with strong support from the region.
One of the key assets for adaptation is the diversity of grape varieties. With 37 cultivars permitted, winemakers have the advantage of choosing those best suited to current conditions. Grenache is the most widely planted variety, central to red wines and also important for white blends in its Grenache Blanc form, thanks to its ability to thrive in hot and dry climates. Viticulturists are also rediscovering grapes with deep regional roots that had been less widely used. Among reds, Counoise, Carignan, Cinsault, and Vaccarèse are regaining attention, while late-ripening whites such as Bourboulenc and Clairette are increasingly valued. In addition, producers are now allowed to explore new grapes resilient to drought and fungal diseases, known as VIFA (Varieties of Interest for Adaptation), such as Floréal and Vidoc. The possibility of blending multiple grapes also gives winemakers flexibility in achieving balance.
The region’s varied terroir is another important advantage. Differences in altitude, exposure, and soil type provide natural tools for climate adaptation. For example, temperature decreases by 0.65°C per 100 meters of elevation, so even modest altitude can be beneficial. Clay-rich soils, common in the Rhône, not only retain water but also slow grape ripening — a major asset in today’s climate.
Water management is equally critical. Training systems such as bush vines, widely used in the Rhône, along with careful rootstock selection, regenerative soil practices, and planting densities adapted to current conditions, all help vines withstand drought.
As mentioned earlier, sustainable vineyard practices are increasingly being adopted, as shown by the growing share of organic and HVE-certified vineyards. Growers aim to boost biodiversity by reducing chemical inputs, while agroforestry is being encouraged not only to regulate climate but also to enrich ecosystems.
Producers are also addressing their carbon footprint. Many are adopting lightweight bottles, alternative packaging, waste management plans, and renewable energy solutions such as solar panels. Staff training is also crucial to ensure teams work together towards a common goal.
The Côtes du Rhône is engaged in ongoing research, working closely with institutions like INRAE to apply scientific knowledge and develop new climate adaptation strategies. It is clear that the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations are equipped with a wide range of tools and approaches to build a sustainable, climate-resilient future for generations to come.
Two Wines Tasted
Along with this information, I was also provided with three bottles of wine to taste and review for you. I tasted two of the wines to start. Hopefully this gives you a taste of how climate change is affecting the Côtes du Rhône and what to expect from these wines. I will taste the third wine separately. Stay tuned.
Gabriel Meffre “Saint Mapalis” Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023 (BC $21.99)
A blend of Carignan, Grenache Noir, and Syrah. Winemaking notes, “Manual harvest and sorting of the grapes. Destemming and vatting during 3 weeks. Punching-down during the first 8 days and pumping over once a day for 3 weeks. The wine is then racked off and undergoes malolactic fermentation. It is matured in vats for approx. 6 months prior to bottling.”
Appearance: A deep, clear garnet colour.
Nose: Medium intensity aromas of ripe, black, juicy berries, black plums, and touches of cinnamon, oak, and black pepper. This wine has lighter aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, with medium body and a silky, soft, smooth mouthfeel. Ripe, juicy black berries and black fruits, along with raspberries, black cherries, plums and hints of oak and nutmeg spice. Lower acidity and soft tannins. No change to the flavours or body after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with juicy berry flavours, plus some pepperiness, oak and sweet spices. The tannins firm up a bit on the finish. No change to the finish after decanting.
An elegant wine with soft, smooth mouthfeel and enjoyable dark fruit and berry flavours. No need to decant as it just lightens the aromas.
Rating: 
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Gabriel Meffre Saint Mapalis Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023 shows a deep, clear garnet colour along with medium intensity aromas of ripe, juicy black berries, black plums, and touches of cinnamon, oak, and black pepper, becoming a little lighter with air. Dry, medium bodied, it shows a silky, smooth mouthfeel with ripe black fruits, raspberries, black cherries, plums, and hints of oak and nutmeg, supported by lower acidity and soft tannins. The medium-plus finish delivers juicy berry flavours with pepperiness, oak, and sweet spices, as the tannins gently firm up at the end.
Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Villages 2022 (BC $23.98)
A blend of Grenache Noir and Syrah.
Appearance: A deep, clear garnet colour as well.
Nose: Lighter aromas of berries and sweet spices. Medium intensity aromas after decanting, opens up more berries, plus cherries and a touch of oak.
Palate: Dryish, with medium body and a smooth, soft, light mouthfeel. Light tannins and medium acidity. Light intensity flavours of floral, red fruits, berries, plums and some candied fruits on the palate. Add a touch of sweet spices after decanting and bump the tannins up to medium intensity.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with light, drying tannins and flavours of red and black fruits, and a touch of pepperiness. Add some cherries and sweet spices to the finish after decanting.
A wine that opens up nicely with decanting.
Rating: with decanting. Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Villages 2022 has a deep, clear garnet colour with lighter berry and sweet spice aromas that open up to more berries, cherries, and a touch of oak with air. Dryish and medium bodied, it offers a smooth, light mouthfeel with gentle tannins, medium acidity, and flavours of red fruits, berries, plums, and subtle candied notes, gaining a hint of sweet spice as it breathes. The medium-plus finish shows lightly drying tannins with red and black fruits, a touch of pepperiness, and added cherry and sweet spice nuances after decanting.
I note that both wines are lighter bodied with soft tannins and light acidity, which could be results of a warmer growing season caused by climate change.
Both wines use a synthetic corks to close the bottles, but I have found from opening many bottles with this type of cork, that the cork is very hard to remove and generally a piece of the cork tears off. I use a rabbit-style wine bottle opener. On the side of the corks for these two wines, it has the words “eco friendly”. I need to do more research on these corks for a future article.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
The Gabriel Meffre “Saint Mapalis” Plan de Dieu Côtes du Rhône Villages 2023 is available at Everything Wine stores and the Louis Bernard Côtes du Rhône Villages 2022 is currently only showing availability the the Everything Wine store in Victoria.
