The North is comparatively lush. The vineyards cover the steep slopes of the walls of the valley and in fact nearly every vineyard is in view of the Rhône. The Syrah grape is legally the only red grape grown and three of the greatest  wines of the world originate in this region: Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu.  The wines of the northern Rhône originate primarily on the western slopes of the valley, except for Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage which grow on the eastern side of the River. The vineyards are planted in soils largely made up of granite. The vineyards in the North are small as they are in the famous wine regions of Burgundy and Beaujolais and the production is often as small and precious as in these more famous northerly neighbours. The South is drier, hotter and more windswept.  The terrain is more gently sloping and flat and the vineyards fan many miles east and west of the river valley.  The soil is gravel and clay and in many areas is so arid that the fruit of the vine is sugar-laden, yielding very high alcohol content.  The air of the South is fragrant with the aromas of lavender and other Provençal herbs, aromas that many say are found in the wines of this region.  Compared to the North, the annual wine production in the South can be 25 times that of its northern neighbour, even though legally-permitted yields per hectare are among the lowest of all the wine regions of France. The wines of the South are generally more approachable than the wines of the North, most being ready to consume when bottled, while the wines of the North often require several years before they can be enjoyed.  At the same time, many of the wines of the South will age well and some of the finest can be stored for 15 to 20 years. The wines of the South differ in another way from those of the North — they are typically blends of several varietals.  Grenache Noir is the major grape in the South.  It is characteristically light, fruity, low in acid  and high in alcohol.  It is blended for body, structure and tannin with Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre.  The result is wines that are easily enjoyed and appeal to all tastes.  The red wines of the north are exclusively made with the Syrah grape.