Camille Cayran - Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu La Bête à Bon Dieu 2023

Founded in 1929, the Cairanne cooperative is a major player in the region with its two flagship brands: Camille Cayran for the traditional retail market and Victor Delauze for mass-market retailers. In 2020, it merged with the Cave de Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes to become Cave de Cairanne Camille & Cécilia. It now manages more than 1,100 hectares and has expanded its product line to include an organic range.

Founded in 1929 in the southern Rhône Valley, the Cairanne cooperative is a model of success. It encompasses 330 hectares, cultivated by fifty-five cooperative members, yielding 13,000 hectoliters of wine. In 2014, however, it was selling off its production at rock-bottom prices to large retailers, with a debt of 8 million euros. 
To get this “old lady” back on her feet, the winery hired Denis Crespo as director in 2015. With his intimate knowledge of vineyards and wine, he succeeded in convincing the members that quality is the only way to succeed, while involving them more closely in the winemaking process. The grapes are harvested when ripe, and vineyard work is now carried out on a plot-by-plot basis. In the cellar, he revolutionized the winemaking process by using minimal sulfites—including some “sulfur-free” cuvées—to enhance tannin quality. 
 His goal: to achieve better balance. Above all, he has completely rethought the distribution channel, moving away from large retail chains in favor of direct-to-consumer sales, the restaurant industry, and exports. The wines have made a huge leap in quality. We commend this collective effort, which has yielded significant results both in terms of wine quality and the long-term sustainability of the winemakers.