Rivesaltes AOC

The vineyards of Rivesaltes, Rivesaltes named after the place, has the status of a Appellation d' Origine (since 19 May 1972). In 86 villages of the Pyrenees -Orientales and nine municipalities of the department of Aude total of approximately 10,000 acres of vines are grown on rocky terraces. It is mostly fortified sweet wine, Vin Doux Naturel ( German: naturally sweet wine) produced. In wine making its fermentation is stopped by the addition of alcohol to achieve the desired natural sweetness and biochemical stability. Depending on Ausbauart four basic types are distinguished:

• Grenats reductively -developed young red wines,
• Ambrés developed oxidative white wines,
• Tuiles (oxidative developed reds ) and
• Hors d' âge (5 years or older wines of the variety Ambrés or tuiles ).

Target of oxidative expansion is the goût du rancio ( the Rancio - taste) to achieve. Due to the oxidative aging in barrel or in Gärballon the wine is exposed to all weather fluctuations. Because of the cold in winter and heat in summer, the wine ages faster and is increasingly brown (this is true by the way both for the white as well as red wine, the color barely differ in age). It tastes very rich of raisins, nuts and plums and has a long and despite the residual sugar rather dry finish. Therefore, these wines are not only suitable as a dessert wine, but also as an aperitif.

There are also bottled vintage wines, which can be stored for at least 25-30 years.

Authorised varietals

For white wines, the grape varieties Muscat blanc à petits grains, Muscat d' Alexandrie, Grenache Blanc, Macabeo, Tourbat (also called Malvasia du Roussillon ) are allowed.

Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeo and Tourbat may be used for the reds. In a small extent also Carignan, Cinsault, Syrah and Listán are allowed.

List of professional communities

• In the department of Pyrénées- Orientales:

Argelès -sur -Mer, Bages, Baho, Baixas, Banyuls -dels- Aspres, Bélesta, Le Boulou, Brouilla, Cabestany, Caxias, Calce, Camélas, Canet, Canohès, Cases-de - Pène, Cassagnes, Castelnou, Ceret, Claira, Corbère, Corbère- les- Cabanes, Corneilla -de- la- Rivière, Corneilla -del- Vercol, L' Ecluse, Elne, Espira -de- l'Agly, Estagel, Fourques, Ille -sur- Tet, Laroque -des -Albères, Latour -Bas- Elne, Latour- de -France, Lesquerde, Llauro, Llupia, Maureillas, Maury, Millas, Montauriol, Montescot, Montesquieu, Montner, Nétiach, Opoul - Périllos, Ortafà, Palau -del- Vidre, Passa, Pia, Perpignan, Peyrestortes, Pézilla -de- la- Rivière, Planèze, Le Soler, Ponteilla, Rasiguères, Reynès, Rivesaltes, Saint -André, Sainte Colombe, Saint- Esteve, Saint- Feliu - d'Amont Saint Féliu -d ' Aval, Saint- Genis-des -Fontaines Saint- Hyppolyte, Saint -Jean- Lassaille, Saint- Jean-Pla -de- Corts, Saint Nazaire, Saint -Paul -de- Fenouillet Sale Illes, Salses- le -Château, Le Soler, Sorède, Tautavel, Terrats, Thuir, Tordères, Toulouges, Tresserre, Trouillas, Villelongue -dels- Monts, Villemolaque, Villeneuve -de- la- Raho, Villeneuve -de- la- Rivière, Vingrau and Vivès.

• In the Aude department:

Cascastel -des- Corbières, Caves, Fitou, La Palme, Leucate, Paziols, Treilles Tuchan and Villeneuve- les- Corbières.