Beaumes de Venise

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The Dentelles de Montmirail massif constitutes the most geologically complex structure on the left bank of the Rhône, with Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous substrates surrounded by Oligocene and Miocene formations.
• The Nîmes fault has brought gypsum-bearing Triassic deposits to the surface along a south-west/north-east axis, forming the Suzette-Gigondas diapir.
• Four principal soil types can be distinguished: those derived from hard limestones; those derived from Jurassic or Miocene marls, covering most of Lafare; those derived from marly or clay-silt Triassic deposits, present across all four communes; and those of Miocene molasse, sands, and sandstones, notably at Beaumes-de-Venise.
• The topography has given rise to narrow terraces cut into the hillsides, known locally as restanques or faysses, laid out along contour lines to encourage the absorption of rainwater.
• The vineyard extends from 200 to 450 metres above sea level across the territory of four communes in the Vaucluse département.

• From the early twentieth century onward, the vineyard — devastated in the nineteenth century by powdery mildew, downy mildew, and phylloxera — was restored thanks to the nurserymen-winegrowers of Carpentras, who were the first to graft local vines onto American rootstocks.
• The commune of Beaumes-de-Venise was incorporated into the Côtes du Rhône appellation zone as early as 1957; in 1979 the geographical designation Beaumes de Venise was added to the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation across four communes, before full recognition as a standalone appellation in 2005.

• The wines must always combine Grenache and Syrah, which make up the majority of the blend, together with other grape varieties.
• The colour is intense and the structure is elegant, full, and rounded, with a balance of acidity, alcohol, and silky tannins.
• Fruity and spicy aromas are enriched by animal notes after ageing.

• In the higher-altitude sectors, the diurnal temperature range between day and night promotes aromatic finesse in the wines.
• In the lower-altitude sectors, south-facing exposure, lean and naturally well-drained soils, and summer water deficit lend the wines tannic finesse and a good aromatic richness.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 5 février 2021 publié au JORF du 16 février 2021, JORF 16 février 2021
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône