A New Cru for the Côtes du Rhône - Vins Rhône

Avignon, 15th February 2016
A New Cru for the Côtes du Rhône
2015 is the first vintage for Cairanne, the Côtes du Rhône’s newest Cru.
On Wednesday February 10th 2016, the Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne appellation was
officially recognised by INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) as an
‘appellation communale’ – an appellation defined only by the name of its village
(‘commune’). This will be confirmed in a decree due to be published shortly.
Since 1953, when it was first entitled to add its name to the bottles of Côtes du Rhône
wine it produced, the Cairanne appellation has shown enormous drive and energy. Two
examples best illustrate the ‘Cairanne state of mind’: the first goes back to 1959 and the
creation of Caveau du Belvédère, the first cellar to feature a range of Côtes du Rhône
wines, while the second is more recent: the creation of the “Vendanges d’Artistes” event
– an initiative inviting artists to transform harvest trailers into temporary works of art.
Cairanne’s winegrowers have always been fully aware of the quality potential of their
products. In 2008 they submitted an application to INAO requesting promotion to
Appellation Cairanne status. This week, the Comité National handed the file over to the
French authorities for approval before passing it on to the European Commission.
“For us, promotion to Cru status is an acknowledgement of the huge improvements we
have made to the quality of both our white and red wines,” says Denis Alary, President
of the Syndicat des Vignerons de Cairanne - an association comprising 37 winegrowers in
private wineries and 3 cooperative wineries.
The Inter-Rhône Press Service
Tel : (+) 44 04.90.27.24.18 / Email: [email protected]
One Cru, two colours
Red wines: The diverse range of grape varieties particularly suited to the Cairanne
terroirs ensures production of unique, refined and elegant wines. Grenache accounts for
60% of the total AOC surface area, Syrah for 16%, Carignan for 15% and Mourvèdre for
6%.
60% of these varietals are over 30 years old, and 70% of plots are over 20 years old.
The combination of the broad varietal mix and the Cairanne terroir produces a range of
rich, complex wines. Cairanne’s winegrowers are determined to preserve their old vines
to safeguard the quality potential of their wines. Vines over 50 currently account for
over 400 hectares of vineyard.
White wines account for 5% of appellation production. These are made from Grenache,
Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier.
Clairette and Roussane grapes when blended together give wines with a nose of white
flowers, and a fruit-filled, mineral-tinged palate. Add any of the other secondary white
varietals and you have a wine with great complexity.
After a few years’ ageing, Cairanne white wines show good complexity, with aromas of
baking spices and beeswax; their flavours of candied citrus peel are lifted by a good
edge of minerality
Cairanne lies within the Rhône Valley area, 40 km north of Avignon and 15km north of
Orange, at the heart of Haut Vaucluse.
Key Figures
PRODUCTION
AREA
TOTAL AVERAGE
PRODUCTION 2011-2013
– Ends–
UK contact :
Alexandra Gerolami, Yasmin Jaunbocus
Focus PR
Phone: +44 (0)20 3117 1800
Email: [email protected]
FR contact :
Aude Tsitoglou
Inter-Rhône Press Department
Phone: +33 (0)4 90 27 24 18
Email: [email protected]
The Inter-Rhône Press Service
Tel : (+) 44 04.90.27.24.18 / Email: [email protected]