Saint-Peray: Pierre Gaillard

The Rhône Valley is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world, with wine production dating back to Greek occupation in the 4th century BC and thriving under the Romans; it was later revived when the papacy moved to Avignon in the fourteenth century, giving Châteauneuf-du-Pape ('the Pope's new castle') its name. The Northern Rhône is home to prestigious names such as Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, and Hermitage - small-production wines of exceptional quality - where Syrah is the sole red grape and whites come from Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. The larger, warmer Southern Rhône is best known for the bold Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its rival Gigondas, alongside excellent-value names such as Vacqueyras, Rasteau, and Cairanne. Its wines are predominantly red, built chiefly on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.

A small but historic appellation at the southernmost tip of the Northern Rhône, made exclusively from Marsanne and Roussanne. Once celebrated for traditional-method sparkling wines - more renowned than Champagne in the 19th century and enjoyed by royalty across Europe - it was among the first nine AOCs established in France in 1936. Today, still white wine dominates, with sparkling accounting for only around 10% of the region's modest output. Grown on granite and limestone soils in a cool microclimate, its wines are perfumed and full-bodied, showing ripe peach, apricot, and orange blossom, with almond and beeswax notes when oak-aged - best enjoyed relatively young to preserve their freshness.