Let’s face it, American consumers are grape-centric when it comes to buying wine. Looking for words like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay is the way many wine drinkers choose what to sip. That’s why wines clearly labeled by grape are more likely to be picked up off the shelf.

That makes things hard for a consumer to reach for wines from France’s Côtes du Rhône. Like many French wines, these are not labeled by grape variety, but by a broad regional designation. Nonetheless, the wines are surprisingly consistent in style and flavor.

How do they achieve this? The Rhône Valley grows a select mix of grapes that hail from a variety of regions. Cinsault, Clairette, and Bourboulenc are all native, while Grenache, Carignane, and Mourvedre came by way of Spain two centuries ago. Syrah, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier are believed to be from wild vines from northern French forests.

While the grape list seems long, it’s easy to get an idea of what a Côtes du Rhône should taste like. That’s because since 1996 the French government has required that Grenache must make up 40% of southern red and rosé Côtes du Rhône wines. Likewise, white Côtes du Rhône wines have to be made of 80% of a collection of other very specific grapes. By putting in place these restrictions, Côtes du Rhône wines deliver more predictable flavors to consumers—or at least about as similar in predictability as American wines labeled by grapes.

So just forget awhile about what grapes went into making Côtes du Rhône wines. Simply remember whether or not you like the style—they’re youthful, fruity wines designed to taste similar from year to year, producer to producer.