The Rhône Valley splits cleanly into two halves, and knowing the difference is half the fun. The steep granite slopes of the Northern Rhône are Syrah country, producing the smoky, structured reds of Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage along with whites from Viognier and Marsanne. Down south, the valley widens and warms, and Grenache-based blends take over in places like Châteauneuf-du-Pape, often grown among those famous galets, the big round stones that radiate heat. From cult bottlings to honest everyday Côtes du Rhône, the range is enormous.