The Southern Rhone Valley makes up the second part of the Rhone Valley region and unlike the Northern Rhone Valley, which is based on wines made from Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, there is a plethora of grapes and blends dominate the landscape. The primary grape in this warmer part of the Rhone Valley region, is the Grenache Noir but with a supporting cast of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan and a cohort of others. For white wines Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc take center stage with Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier and a list of others come together to create delicious blends. Rose wines are significant in the Southern Rhone and in Tavel we find one of the most impressive Rose wines in the World. 

There are numerous Appellations of Origin in the Southern Rhone known as AOC's and a few important PGI's or larger Protected Geographical Indications of Origin. The most famous AOC or Appellation d'Origine Controlee in the Southern Rhone ,and actually the entire Rhone, is Chateauneuf du Pape, which is still responsible for both the greatest reds and white wines coming out of the Southern Rhone and arguable, at their finest, the best of the entire Rhone Valley. Chateauneuf du Pape is allowed to be made from up to 22 different grapes that include the variants of the original 13 grapes, 5 of which were white varieties. The primary grapes used for most CDP are Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault. The range of styles and flavors is broad but most end up medium bodied or fuller with notes of spice, garrigue, fairly intense red fruits, a little bit of tannin when young and gather some deeper earthy notes, leather, tobacco and smoky notes when aged. CDP whites can be outstanding as well from the top producers and is made primarily from Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc and Clairette.

Other Southern Rhone wines are similar in style and share much of the same grape varieties and winemakig regimen as CDP's. These are the Crus Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Cairanne and Lirac. Top producers in these AOC's are capable of achieving quality levels equal to many CDP's, this is especially true of Gigondas. Tavel produces fantastic dry rose wines primarily from Grenache. These rose wines are darker than those of Provence and made primarily via the saignee method. Lirac also produces excellent rose wines and very good white wines as well. 

The value wines are found in the regional Cotes du Rhone and the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC, which includes the Cotes du Rhone-named village wines as well. There are currently 23 villages within the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC that may append their names to their wines, provided they meet the slightly higher standards. Most of the regional and villages wines sell for under $20US and some can be had for under $15US. The best of these can be as good as many CDP's and many of the other Cru AOC's.

The Cotes du Vivarais, Grignan Les Adhemars, Cotes de Ventoux and Cotes de Luberon produce red wines that can offer very good value. The Luberon produces some nice white and rose wines as well.

Styles will vary considerably in the Rhone Valley and even within a particular AOC. Though the fundamental winemaking is similar across the region for entry level wines, there is a complex tier of reserve and single vineyard or custom cuvees that are produced, creating quite a complex melange of offerings. 

Reliable producers to start with are Delas, Chapoutier, Guigal, Jaboulet , Stephane Ogier, Chave, St Cosme, Domaine Cristia and Famille Perrin

For Tavel - Chateau Trinquevedel, Chateau d'Aqueria, Domaine Lafond and La Mordoree.

For CDP in particular - Domaine Cristia, Perrin, Guigal, Clos d'Oratoire, Clos St aint Michel, Clos des Brusquieres, and Domaine de la Solitude are a good start. There are dozens of excellent producers.