After flowing from the Alps, the Rhone River
takes a dramatic turn southward toward the Mediterranean. It is at this
point, near Lyon, that the fog, cold and gray weather of the north give
way to the sun, fragrances of the warm countryside and abundant
vineyards of the south. This symbolic path from North to South flows
through a narrow valley between the Alps and Massif Central that also
happens to harbor the TGV rails and main highway, taking travelers
southward to much needed sunlight and vacations. Though there are some
continental influences in the northern vineyards, for the most part the
Rhone Valley is flooded with Mediterranean sun and swept clean by the
Mistral winds, producing excellent wines for all connoisseurs to enjoy.
