Prestige in the north, value in the south: that’s the quick version of the Rhône story. Southern village appellations produce a dizzying stylistic range of delicious wines, while the prices for northern “trophy” bottles can be dizzyingly high. If you like smoky, leathery, earthy, macho red wines, however, the wines of the northern Rhône are well worth it. Prestigious northern Rhône appellations include Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and St.-Joseph. In the southern Rhône, look to the village appellations of Côtes du Rhône, Gigondas, Rasteau, and Vacqueyras.