Crozes-Hermitage, along with the rest of northern Rhône has a
continental climate that differs from its southern neighbour, which has a more
Mediterranean climate. Winters are wet and marked by the cold
mistral winds that can last into the Spring. The appellation is fairly large by Northern Rhône standards, with its 1,238 hectares accounting for approximately half of the entire region's 2,400 hectares. The appellation's boundary begins around 10 km north of
Tain-l'Hermitage, extends around the village of
Gervans with its south- and south-western granite slopes and then spreads south around
Larnage where the land flattens and consists of more clay. Approaching Tain and the village of
Mercurol the land rises again and the appellation spreads east. In this region, the soil is mostly rocks, sand and clay. Just south of Tain
galets roulés, small surface stones also found extensively in
Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the southern Rhône, appear. The southernmost part of the appellation is flat and newly planted. ==Grapes and wine==