Rivesaltes

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical zone forms a vast amphitheatre open to the east toward the Mediterranean and enclosed by the Canigou massif, the Albères, and the Corbières.
• The Canigou massif reaches its highest point at the Pic du Canigou, at 2,780 metres above sea level, to the west of the geographical zone.
• To the south lies the Albères massif, peaking at the Roc de France at 1,450 metres, and to the north the Corbières massif, peaking at Mont Tauch at 878 metres.
• The soils of the delimited parcels are shallow, very dry, poor in organic matter, consistently very stony and well drained, found on terraces of rounded pebbles, clay-limestone soils, soils derived from the degradation of schists, or Pliocene sands.
• The vineyard enjoys annual sunshine in excess of 2,500 hours and rainfall of between 500 and 650 millimetres, often of a stormy character, while the Tramontane, a cold north-westerly wind in winter, blows one day in three.
• The proximity of the sea exerts a moderating effect, tempering the intensity of summer sunshine and maintaining a slight nocturnal freshness across the geographical zone.

• The technique of mutage — adding alcohol to wine during fermentation in order to arrest it — was developed from the thirteenth century onwards by Arnau de Vilanova, a physician.
• In 1972, the appellations Côtes du Haut-Roussillon, Côtes d'Agly, and Rivesaltes, recognised in 1936, were consolidated under the single name Rivesaltes, owing to the renown of that commune.
• The Brousse Act of 15 July 1914 specifies the grape varieties authorised for the production of vin doux naturel: Grenache blanc, Grenache gris, Grenache noir, Macabeu, Muscat à petits grains, Muscat d'Alexandrie, and Tourbat, locally known as Malvoisie du Roussillon.

• The rosé wines are produced from the traditional grape varieties of vins doux naturels and most often display aromas of red fruit with a pleasing freshness.
• The grenat wines, made exclusively from the Grenache variety, are characterised by a deep purple colour and aromas of red and black fruit with spiced notes.
• The ambré and tuilé wines are aged under oxidative conditions for a minimum of twenty-four months, yielding a complex range of aromatic and palate nuances.
• After several years in bottle or cask, these wines take on a tile-red or amber hue with complex, evolved aromas extending to rancio character, evoking roasting and dried fruits, notably walnut.
• Rivesaltes ambré hors d'âge, produced by the same method as the ambré, must be aged for five years in the cellar — an extended ageing period also required for the hors d'âge designation.

• A dry, highly ventilated, and warm climate, together with naturally poor and well-drained soils, promotes the physiological ripeness of the grape varieties and the rich aromatic potential required for vins doux naturels.
• The practice of mutage with neutral alcohol during fermentation preserves the primary aromas of the grape and enriches the wine with fermentation-derived aromas, while ensuring its balance and physical stability.

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 14 juin 2023, JORF 18 juin 2023
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVR — Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon