Piolenc.

Piolenc sits among vineyards and olive groves in the Vaucluse, within the Côtes du Rhône Villages wine area that spreads north from Orange. Many of the surrounding estates carry the Côtes du Rhône Villages designation, growing grenache, syrah and mourvèdre on the gravelly plain above the river. Stone farmhouses and plane-tree-lined streets give the village centre a quiet, working feel, and a local market sells olive oil, cheese and seasonal produce from nearby farms. Vineyards turn from green to gold through the autumn harvest in September, when the cooperatives and family-run domaines fill with new wine. Cellars across the village open for tastings year-round, their rhythm set by the vines and the growing season. Mistral winds sweep down the Rhône valley at times, shaping both the local climate and the character of the wine.