AOC RASTEAU Emilie RACHENNE 1 Place de l'Église 84 110 Rasteau Tel : + 33 (0)9 62 50 02 16 Fax : + 33 (0)9 71 70 58 58 [email protected] PRESS CONTACT We agency 17 rue de Javel 75015 Paris www.we-agency.fr + 33 (0)1 44 37 22 44 Muriel NICOLAS muriel.nicolas @we-agency .fr Julie HAGET julie.haget@we-agency .fr Lucile ORBLIN lucile.orblin@we-agency .fr t e l u o M l e n o i L © PRESS KIT 2014 01 Rasteau, a Côtes-du-Rhône P. 02 Cru in « Body & soul » Rasteau : One village... P. 04 two Crus Once upon a time P. 06 in Rasteau An outstanding terroir P. 10 Events and festivities P. 14 in Rasteau List of producers P. 16 and negociants 02 03 Rasteau. A Cru from the southern Rhône Valley, the product Rasteau, or “Lou Rasteu” in Provençal, derives its name from the area’s unique topography: the surrounding hills of dedication on the part of local winegrowers, their willingness and valleys form a series of spurs which look rather like to share their skills within their community, and a naturally the teeth of a rake- un râteau. bountiful terroir. And Rasteau can now take its place alongside Châteauneuf- du-Pape, Côte-Rôtie and Gigondas, adhering to the stringent Rasteau, regulations imposed by the AOC. a Cotes-du-Rhone Cru in « Body & soul » Rasteau’s wines reflect the character Syrah with its distinctive red fruit of its winemakers : they are sincere flavours adds elegance and complexity, and full of passion; they give selflessly while Mourvèdre, which enjoys the so that we can capture the true best of the sunshine, gives essence of things. these are generous, wellstructured tannins, power and good sensual wines; wines with great ageing potential. Rasteau wines have depth, whose diversified pebbly and inspired a loyal following over many clayley terroir (among which the decades, and are famous for their big Location well-known « blue marls » gives them personalities: fruity, heady and richness and finesse. powerful. They are popular with wine Avignon 35 km Orange 20 km Rasteau wine is authentic and full of aficionados who like to search out a Vaison-la-Romaine 10 km integrity, a combination of the real region’s signature wines. Autoroute and the ephemeral. Truly a wine for Rasteau’s vignerons are justly proud of A7 et A9 body and soul. their appellation, which is known not sorties Orange ou Bollène only in the Rhône Valley but throughout the wine in Body & soul Airport France. they have carefully retained the In the Rasteau vineyards, Grenache Avignon 40 km distinctive character of their Cru and Nîmes 80 km shares its space with syrah and Marseille 135 km the identity of their wines; their Mourvèdre. Grenache is the main ambition is to become the number TGV station varietal grown, and gives Rasteau wines Avignon 35 km u three Cru of the southern Rhône. a Orange 20 km e their roundness and a generous body. t s a R C O A © 04 05 Grapes are the only crop grown here in Rasteau. The growers are passionate about their product and take great pride in their skills. For many years they worked hard to achieve the AOC status they deserved: after all, Rasteau Vins Doux Naturel had been granted AOC status back in 1944. And then in 2010 - the ultimate accolade. Growers finally saw a reward for all their hard work: Rasteau dry red wines were elevated Key figures AOC status in their own right. After almost 30 years of perseverance, Rasteau reds were acknowledged AOC Rasteau for their distinctive qualities and rich terroir; at last Awarded on November 24th, 2010 they held the official title of Côtes du Rhône Cru. Geographical area Commune of Rasteau Production area 937.73 Ha in 2013 899 Ha (average 2010-2013) Colour Red 100% Harvest Chiefly manual Annual yield 26 824 Hl in 2013 29 614 Hl (average 2010-2013) AOC Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau Awarded on January 4th, 1944 Geographical area Commune of Rasteau + 20 plots in Cairanne AOC Rasteau - Regulations and sablet Production area 24,72 Ha in 2013 From 1 ha of vines, the yield may not exceed: 36,42 Ha (average 2010-2013) • AOC Côtes du Rhône: 46 hl / Ha Colour Average 2010-2013 : Red (37.41%), Rosé • AOC Rasteau: 38 hl / Ha (58.93%) and white (3.66%) • Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel: 30 hl / Ha Harvest Manual AOC Rasteau: authorised grape varieties and proportions Annual yield • Grenache Noir: 50% or more 419,69 Hl in 2013 • Mourvèdre Noir and syrah Noir: 20% or more 997,05 Hl (average 2010-2013) • Supplementary varietals: 15% or less • White varietals: 5% or less Rasteau : One village… AOC Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau: proportion of planted varieties • Grenache Noir/Gris/Blanc: 90% or more two Crus • Supplementary varietals: 10% or less The Rasteau appellations undergo analysis and organoleptic testing throughout This unique terroir brings us two outstanding the year; this is carried out by an authorised laboratory. é Crus - Rasteau Vin Doux Naturel and Rasteau h l i r AOC dry red wine. G e h p o t s i r h C © 06 07 Rasteau’s history is one of impassioned winegrowers, proud of the work they do and determined to spread the word about Rasteau wines Rasteau, the village with throughout the world. three bell towers Rasteau, a village Once the seat of bishops, Rasteau still of mediaeval colours displays plenty of evidence of a past Rasteau is a small mediaeval village, dominated largely by the church, and full of Provençal charm - a true is known as the village of three bell Rasteau, masterpiece, steeped in the towers. To admire the scenery, an enviable terroir atmosphere of a bygone era. nothing can beat a stroll through the the archaeological remains of a Cobbled streets lead to a mediaeval old village, stopping first to admire the Roman baths and some amphora fort and the ruins of an ancient castle, chapel of Notre Dame Des Vignerons, fragments are evidence that the which are ready to transport visitors which dates back to the 18th century. Romans were present in Rasteau - back in time to experience their rich The tour continues to Place de and probably established what has become today’s village - from about 30 BC. the Voconces Vin Doux Naturels, including those of Rasteau, were first discovered in 70 A.D. Once upon a time In the middle ages, this historic land of vines and vineyards was the source of considerable profit, and remained under the protection of the in Rasteau é h l i ecclesiastical community despite the r G efforts of the all-powerful seigneurs of e h p o the era, who tried many times to t s i r wrest it away. until the 14th century, h C the church and the bishops of © Vaisonla-Romaine ensured that Rasteau was one of their main wine and fascinating history. l’Horloge, where visitors can relax in suppliers. The village, with its cobbled streets, the shade of the cypresses and laurels The Crusades were a pitiless time for ruins and churches, has retained a to contemplate the bell-cote with its Rasteau, although the village remained delightful mediaeval ambience. At its historic clock, and finally, the warm largely untouched by the great plague heart, in the dappled shade of the colours of the stone façades will guide of 1597. Severely weakened, the centuries-oldplane trees, lies the visitors to the ruins ofthe castle, the villagers retreated behind the walls of Place de l’Apparent, exuding the walls of whose chapel alone survive. their fortifications, and the rural village charm of yesteryear. The church of st Didier was built in we know today was not to emerge 1005 by the Bishop of Vaison; it has again until the 19th century. In the 18th-century, the area was been restored numerous times, and bequeathed to the community by boasts a magnificent bell tower. Thanks to their courage and tenacity, Mademoiselle de l’Apparent, on At a human level, the Rasteau terroir Rasteau’s winemakers have shaped condition that it remained in use as a is both heart-warming and authentic. this magical terroir, which lives on space for children to play and for the To visit Rasteau is to journey to the é h l i through the reputation of its highly villagers to enjoy. Even today, the very heart of its history, its flavours r G prized wines. and its scents… e square is a hub of village activity. h p o t s i r h C © 08 09 Rasteau, the land of wine Rasteau has always relied on its Life for the Rasteau villagers was hard agriculture. Since 1929, this fertile - until hope returned at the beginning land has seen a wide range of crops, of the 20th century in the form of a including wheat, rye, oats and spelt technique to graft vines onto as well as olives and vines. Back then, American root stocks. The vineyards farming cereal crops restricted vine gradually returned to their proper cultivation. hallowed place by the end of the First Storage was limited and preservation World War. complicated; also transport difficulties meant that wine was usually kept only In 1925, weary of being at the mercy for local consumption. Forest and of grape merchants and winemakers, scrubland covered some three the vignerons came together to form quarters of the commune, providing the first wine cooperative. At the same an ideal environment for the time, the first Rasteau-specific cellar silkworms which were introduced into was also established, spelling the end the area in the 18th century.