Rare Old Wine Map of Cote du Rhone Region by Hetreau, 1954: Lyon, Avignon, Rhône River, Vineyards, Chateaux

Les Vignobles De France -- Vins de Cote du Rhone, created by the esteemed French artist Remy Hetreau in 1954, is a captivating exploration of one of France's most renowned wine regions. Hetreau, celebrated for his etchings, engravings, and illustrative works, brings his unique artistic flair to this map, transforming it into a visual feast. The map was commissioned by the Comité National de Propagande en Faveur du Vin, a government agency dedicated to promoting the French wine industry, reflecting the mid-20th century efforts to boost both wine culture and tourism in France.

The map's design is a harmonious blend of cartographic precision and artistic elegance. It features clusters of grapes, with red grapes representing red wines and yellow grapes for white wines, interwoven with lush vine leaves and tendrils. The map is framed by a compass rose, a sailing vessel, and a chateau, adding to its pictorial charm. These elements not only enhance the map's aesthetic appeal but also symbolize the rich heritage and tradition of winemaking in the Cote du Rhone region.

Hetreau's map meticulously highlights the major wine-producing areas of the Cote du Rhone, such as Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The map is adorned with illustrations of wine barrels, bottles, and glasses, evoking the sensory pleasures of wine tasting. The inclusion of historic buildings, such as chateaux and towers, along with the depiction of vineyard landscapes, offers a glimpse into the region's architectural and natural beauty. This map is not just a geographical representation but a celebration of the region's vinicultural legacy.

The map also serves as a guide to the prominent cities and towns in the Cote du Rhone region, including Lyon, Valence, Montélimar, and Avignon. Each settlement is carefully marked, providing a sense of the region's layout and its rich tapestry of human habitation. The Rhône River, a vital lifeline for the region, is prominently featured, underscoring its significance in the development of the local wine industry. The detailed regional demarcations further enhance the map's utility for both wine enthusiasts and historians.

Historically, this map holds significant value as it encapsulates the French government's mid-20th century initiative to promote its wine industry through visual and thematic representation. It reflects a period when France was keen to assert its cultural and economic prowess in the global wine market. Remy Hetreau's artistic mastery and the map's intricate details make it a treasured piece for collectors and connoisseurs alike, offering a window into the rich history and tradition of the Cote du Rhone wine region.

Cities and towns on this map

• Lyon
• Valence
• Montélimar
• Orange
• Avignon
• Vienne
• Tournon
• Viviers
• Pont St. Esprit
• Uzès
• Nîmes
• Arles
• Tarascon
• Beaucaire
• Bagnols-sur-Cèze
• Carpentras
• Cavaillon
• Apt
• Nyons
• Privas
• Aubenas
• St. Péray
• Cornas
• St. Joseph
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Hermitage
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Compass rose
• Grapes on the vine (red and yellow clusters)
• Sailing vessel
• Chateau
• Wine barrels
• Traditional attire (woman in traditional dress)
• Vine leaves and tendrils
• Coat of arms
• Wine bottles and glasses
• River (likely the Rhône River)
• Vineyard landscapes
• Historic buildings (chateaux and towers)
• Decorative borders
• Wine regions labeled (e.g., Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
• Artistic representations of wine production
• Map title scroll
• Promotional text by Comité National de Propagande en Faveur du Vin
• Illustrations of wine-related activities
• Detailed regional demarcations

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: Les Vignobles De France -- Vins de Cote du Rhone (The Vineyards of France -- Wines of the Cote du Rhone Region -- Chateauneuf de Pape)
• Creation date: 1954
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Remy Hetreau
• Context about the mapmaker: Remy Hetreau was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, and designer known for his etchings and engravings. He illustrated numerous books and created designs for Haviland Limoges china. He also painted murals and designed international exhibitions of French technology.
• Commissioning body: Comité National de Propagande en Faveur du Vin, a government agency that promoted the French wine industry.
• Series information: This map is part of a series of 11 maps titled "Les Vignobles de France." Other maps in the series include Région Est, Région Normandie, Champagne, Roussillon, Val de Loire, Alsace, Bourgogne, Côte de Provence, and one of the French colony Algeria [Algérie].
• Themes and topics shown on the map:
• Wine regions: The map highlights the major wine-producing regions of the Cote du Rhone.
• Wine types: Red wines are indicated with red grapes, and white wines with yellow grapes.
• Tourism and promotion: The map serves both as a promotional tool for French wines and as a tourism advertisement.
• Design and style:
• Pictorial elements: The map includes a compass rose, clusters of grapes, a sailing vessel, and a chateau.
• Artistic elements: The map is richly illustrated, incorporating elements like vines, wine barrels, and a woman in traditional attire.
• Historical significance: This map is significant for its role in promoting French wine culture and tourism in the mid-20th century. It reflects the efforts of the French government to boost the wine industry through visual and thematic representation.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

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My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.