For the great appellations of the north, it is best to keep in mind two dominating factors: Syrah, which is the only red grape permitted, and steep, because the vines are planted on dramatic terraced hillsides that rise from the narrow valley floor. One does not see these dazzling carved mountainsides in the southern Rhône. The dominant grape variety in the southern reds is the Grenache, which is usually blended with other varieties, and the terrain is comparatively flat.
