Vacqueyras AOC

Infobox Wine Region
name = Vacqueyras AOC


official name = Vacqueyras
other name =
type = Appellation d'origine contrôlée
year =
wine years =
country = France
part of = Southern Rhone
similar = Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Gigondas AOC, Lirac AOC
sub regions =
season =
climate region = Mediterranean climate
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soil =
total size =
planted = 1300 hectares
vineyards =
grapes = Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulenc
varietals =
wineries =
wine produced = 48,000 hl
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comments =

Vacqueyras is a French wine "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée" (AOC) in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It is primarily a Red wine region with some white and rosé wines being produced. Being a little brother of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and, arguably, Gigondas, the wine is moderately prestigeous and can yield beautiful results when treated right. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 162-165]

History

Wine has been produced in the region since the 15th century. However records are sparse, reduced to mentioning large vineyards and a decree on how to keep hungry goats away from the grapes. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 163] Vacqueyras received the A.O.C. Côtes du Rhône (CdR) Decree appellation in 1937 and as late as 1990, Vacqueyras was granted its own AOC, the first in the region since Gigondas in 1971 and the first of a number of candidates for that particular honor, recently bestwoed to Beaumes-de-Venise and Vinsobres.

Climate and geography

Located only a few kilometers south of Gigondas, Vacqueyras shares much of the same terroir with vineyards located in 100 to 400 meters altitude. The best vineyards are found on "Plateau de Garrigues". In the lowland it's warmer resulting in more powerful and often unelegant wines. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 162-163]

Grapes and wine

The bulk (97%) of the wine is red. The few whites are seldom worth mentioning, but the rosés (1%) can be a delight. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 163] The red wine can be much like the wines from Gigondas but for some reason Vacqueyras rarely manages to match their northern sibling. Some of this can be explained from the large amount of ambitious winemakers in Gigondas. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 162] .

Winemaking

Vacqueyras is, like Gigondas, known for its power rather than its elegance. The backbone of the wine is Grencahe, however producers of Vacqueyras use more Syrah than is used in Gigondas which can make the style seem cooler. [Niels Lillelund: "Rhône-Vinene" JP Bøger - JP/Politikens Forlagshus A/S, 2004. ISBN 87-567-7140-1, p. 163]

References

ee also

*French wine