Cairanne

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The commune of Cairanne covers 22.51 km² in the northern part of the southern Rhône Valley sector, with an elevation peaking at 339 m in the north before descending toward a broad plain to the south.
• In the north of the commune lie the Miocene soils of 'la Montagne de Ventabren', composed of sands known locally as 'safres', overlain by marly formations and coarse sands and gravels.
• The Miocene hills are associated with the fluvial deposits of the Aygues river terraces to the west and those of the Ouvèze to the south, corresponding to the alluvial plains of the Würm and Riss glaciations.
• The alluvial terrace of the Aygues displays a network of braided channels typical of braided-stream sedimentation, resulting in constant variations in grain size and a mosaic of diverse soils across both area and soil profiles.
• The degraded Mediterranean climate is modulated by altitude and exposure to the Mistral, creating distinct microclimates between sectors sheltered by the relief to the east and the open plain areas, particularly on the right bank of the Aygues.

• As early as the fifteenth century, the 'Livre des estimations' constituted a genuine land register identifying numerous viticultural sectors, attesting to the long-standing presence of the vine in Cairanne.
• The vineyard area grew from some twenty hectares in the fifteenth century to a genuinely wine-producing commune by the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, reaching its peak surface area in the 1960s.
• Recognised in 1937 within the AOC Côtes-du-Rhône zone, the commune added its name to the appellation from 1953 and subsequently to Côtes-du-Rhône Villages from 1967.
• The distribution of vine-growing properties across four sectors with distinct potential has given rise to particular viticultural expertise, including in particular staggered harvesting according to grape variety and planting location.

• Grenache dominates the red plantings, complemented by Syrah, Mourvèdre, and often old-vine Carignan, forming a distinctive blend of varieties not found in neighbouring communes.
• The red wines display a well-balanced acidity-to-alcohol ratio, fine tannins, and fruity notes that evolve with ageing, evoking finesse and elegance according to connoisseurs.
• The white wines, produced mainly from blends of Clairette blanche, Grenache blanc, and Roussanne, are described as refined and fresh, with aromas of white fruits and flowers.

• The dry climate, reinforced by the action of the Mistral, reduces the risk of spring frost and promotes sound fruit at harvest as well as the accumulation of polyphenols in the grapes.

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 25 juin 2018 publié au JORF du 28 juin 2018, JORF 28 juin 2018
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Inter Rhône