Tavel

Tavel is an appellation in the southern Rhône region that produces exclusively rosé wines. Located in the heart of the Rhône Valley's finest terroirs and cultivated by generations of winegrowers for centuries, Tavel was once the wine of kings and remains an elite wine, the wine of those for whom passion and authenticity are prerequisites for enjoyment. As early as 1902, with remarkable foresight, one of France's very first agricultural defense unions was formed in Tavel. After lengthy legal battles, these winegrowers obtained a delimitation of the Tavel appellation area in 1928. In 1936, with the creation of the INAO, they immediately obtained the AOC Tavel classification. Today, the protection covers 960 hectares, limited to the municipal territory of Tavel alone.

If you look at a map, you'll find a beautiful neighborhood: Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Gard region, its sunshine, Mediterranean lands swept by the mistral wind.

Among AOC wines, it is the only one to have deliberately refused to produce red and white wines, remaining faithful to its centuries-old specialization: here, the color pink is not a fad, it is an original identity, with Tavel being described as the "King of Rosés."

Powerful and aromatic, Tavel wines are widely considered to be the best rosé wines in France. They are easily recognizable by their distinctive bottle with a coat of arms. The grape varieties used are Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Picpoul, and Carignan. No single grape variety may exceed 60% of a vineyard's total plantings. The reputation of the Tavel terroir is admirably upheld by the wines of Château d'Aquéria, Domaine Pélaquié, Domaine Maby, and Domaine de la Mordorée.

Tavel wines benefit from exceptional sunshine with little rainfall. The soil is clayey, made up of sand and rounded pebbles. The choice of grape varieties—Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault—is an excellent combination for creating rosé wine. That being said, inventive winemakers wanted to create a little brother with similar qualities, and so an equally delicious Tavel white wine was born.

First, there is elegance. This is a formal virtue that can be appreciated first and foremost in the distinctive bottles of Tavel rosé wines. Their slender design is instantly recognizable. But there are several ways for a wine to exist: through the eyes, the nose, and the mouth.

When young, Rosé de Tavel has a beautiful light pink hue, clear and bright. As it ages, its colors become richer, with pretty golden highlights against a pink background that can deepen.

These are aromas of black and red fruits, raspberries, blueberries, and blackcurrants. Sometimes there are hints of almond or walnut. After more than a year of aging, new aromas appear. Ripe fruits, various spices. With a little more age, Tavel wines develop aromas of licorice, port, or Madeira.

Aromas of fruit, spices, nuts, and almonds, a blend so subtle that you have to hold it in your mouth for a while to let it unfold. Tavel rosé wine has a roundness on the palate, a suppleness that does not assault the taste buds.