With fields bathed in lavender, poppies, sunflowers and vineyards, it’s impossible to not fall under the spell of the Rhône Valley. Stretching from Lyon all the way to the Mediterranean, this former Roman province allures visitors with its well-preserved ruins, as well as its deep, spicy reds and round, luscious whites. In the Northern Rhône, the Syrah grape takes the spotlight, while Grenache plays the lead in all of the Southern Rhône blends—including its most famous cru of Châteauneuf du Pape, first established by the Avignon papacy in the 14th century. The combination of the tenacious Mistral with the region’s stony soils and intense sunshine lends plenty of aromatic complexity and sun-kissed flavors to the finished wines. Whether terraced on steep hillsides or planted on gentle rolling hills, the Rhône’s vineyards are as legendary as its ancient history.