What appellation in the Rhône Valley is responsible for more than half of the entire production of the region?

The Côtes-du-Rhône AC is indeed responsible for more than half of the production in the Rhône Valley, making it a significant appellation in the region. This appellation covers a broad area and permits a wide range of grape varieties, allowing producers the flexibility to create diverse styles of wine. The scale of production here benefits from a large number of vineyards and operators, as it encompasses several sub-regions and various terroirs within the Rhône Valley.

In contrast, appellations like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Condrieu are known for their quality and distinctiveness but occupy smaller geographic areas and have stricter regulations regarding grape varieties and yields, resulting in lower overall production. Vacqueyras, while notable, also has a smaller share of the production when compared to the large volume of wines produced under the Côtes-du-Rhône AC designation. Therefore, the prominence of Côtes-du-Rhône AC in terms of production makes it a dominant force in the Rhône Valley’s wine output.