The Côtes du Rhône AC is a regional APPELLATION covering various areas throughout France’s RHÔNE region. It accounts for about 80 percent of the region’s wines, most of which come from a large area north of Avignon in the southern Rhône. Although white wines are made, about 90 percent of Côtes du Rhône wines are red and ROSÉ. The principal red grape is GRENACHE, but CARIGNAN, Counoise, MOURVÈDRE, Terret Noir, and SYRAH are also grown. The white grapes used are BOURBOULENC, CLAIRETTE, MARSANNE, Muscardine, Picardan, ROUSSANNE, and Piquepoul (or Picpoule). Though Côtes du Rhône red wines have in the past been rather heavy, the implementation of modern winemaking techniques (including CARBONIC MACERATION) has resulted in lighter, fruitier wines. The quality of these wines varies immensely. Côtes du Rhône-Villages AC is a higher-quality appellation that requires lower crop YIELDS and a higher minimum level of ALCOHOL (12¹⁄2 percent versus 11 percent for Côtes du Rhône AC wines). Sixteen villages are allowed to produce wines under this appellation: BEAUMES DE VENISE, CAIRANNE, Chusclan, LAUDUN, RASTEAU, Roaix, Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Sablet, Saint Gervais, Saint Maurice-sur-Eygues, SaintPantaléon-les-Vignes, Séguret, Valréas, Vinsobres, and Visan. These wines are generally more full-bodied (see BODY) than the regular Côtes du Rhône AC wines, and single estate wines are generally the best. If the wine is from a single village, the label may have the village name appended, as in Côtes du Rhône-Chusclan. If the wine is a blend from two or more villages, the designation Côtes du Rhône-Villages must be used.