The vineyards of Côte Rôtie, which spread across the slopes of the right bank of the Rhône River, have long been divided into two areas based on differences in soil: Côte Brune, located upstream from the town of Ampuis, and Côte Blonde, situated downstream. However, as demand for Côte Rôtie wines surged in the late 1980s, vineyards began expanding into areas that had previously remained uncultivated.
Wines produced from a single vineyard are sometimes labeled with the name of the lieu-dit, such as La Landonne or La Garde. Since there are also vineyards named Côte-Brune and Côte-Blonde, care should be taken to avoid confusing them with the broader Côte Brune and Côte Blonde areas.
In Côte Rôtie, the co-fermentation of the white grape variety Viognier is permitted, and it is particularly common in the Côte Blonde area, which is well-suited for Viognier cultivation. South of Côte Rôtie lies the vineyard area of AOC Condrieu, renowned for its white wines made from Viognier.