Rivesaltes

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• Amphitheatre of 85 communes (Pyrénées-Orientales) + 9 (Aude), enclosed by Canigou (2,780 m), Albères (1,450 m), and Corbières (878 m)
• Shallow, very dry soils, low in organic matter, very stony and well-drained, spanning all geological eras
• Rolled-pebble terraces, clay-limestone soils, weathered schists, and Pliocene sands coexist within the appellation area
• Tramontane (north-westerly wind) blows one day in three, very cold in winter after passing over the snow-capped Pyrenean peaks
• Sunshine exceeding 2,500 hours per year, rainfall of 500–650 mm with a stormy character, vineyards limited to 300 m altitude or the 13 °C isotherm

• The mutage technique, invented in the 13th century by Arnau de Vilanova, consists of halting fermentation by the addition of alcohol
• The Brousse Law (1914) established the permitted grape varieties for VDN wines: grenache (N, G, B), macabeu, muscats (petits grains, Alexandrie), and tourbat (malvoisie du Roussillon)

• The 'grenat' designation (pure grenache N): deep purple colour, red and black fruits, spiced notes; reductive ageing until 30 April following the harvest
• Ambrés and tuilés aged oxidatively for a minimum of 24 months: complex aromas ranging to 'rancio', evoking roasted notes and walnut; the 'hors d'âge' designation applies after 5 years

• Dry, well-ventilated climate combined with poor, well-drained soils leads to full physiological ripeness of the grape varieties and a rich aromatic potential in the VDN wines

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 18 juin 2023
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry