Rivesaltes

The Rivesaltes wine region covers more than 4,000 hectares spread across 86 municipalities in the Pyrénées-Orientales and 9 municipalities in the Aude. Production is highly diverse: “Ambré, Tuilé, Grenat, and hors d’âge.” The decree of December 29, 1997, regarding the appellation distinguishes these four main types of Rivesaltes. Amber Rivesaltes wines, made from Grenache Blanc and Gris, Macabeu, Malvoisie du Roussillon, Muscat Petits Grains, and Muscat d’Alexandrie, are aged in an oxidative environment for at least two years in large containers (tanks or oak casks); they have a beautiful dark golden or amber color and are distinguished by their aromas of hazelnut, almond, walnut shell, candied citrus, and roasted notes. Red Rivesaltes wines bottled young (75% Grenache Noir) are aged in a reductive environment for at least 12 months, including 3 months in bottle. They captivate with their deep ruby hue and aromas of red berries (cherry, blackcurrant, raspberry, blackberry). “Tuilé” Rivesaltes wines (50% Grenache Noir) are aged in large containers in contact with air for at least 2 years. Their color takes on a lovely tuilé hue with brown or orange highlights. They develop aromas of coffee, cocoa, tobacco, and candied fruits (fig, prune, strawberry, quince). The term “hors d’âge” may be added to the designations “ambré” and “tuilé” for wines of the Rivesaltes appellation that have been aged for at least 5 years after production.

The Rivesaltes wine appellation takes its name from the town of Rivesaltes, which means “High Banks” in Catalan. Crossed by three rivers—the Agly, the Têt, and the Tech—which have shaped a landscape of terraced slopes and hills, the Rivesaltes vineyards span a wide variety of soils: sometimes white, such as the pebbles on the middle and upper terraces or the granitic sand of the Albères; sometimes red, such as the clays and silts found in the foothills of the Corbières or in the Aspres; and sometimes black or brown, such as the schist of the Agly Valley. The terroir of Rivesaltes is fully expressed in the wines produced by Domaine Sarda-Malet, Domaine de Rancy, and Domaine La Casenove.