AOP Côtes-du-Rhône Villages - Suze-la-Rousse
The vineyard of Suze-la-Rousse is located among lavender fields and truffle oaks. This vineyard is impregnated with aromas and sun of the Drôme Provençale. The terroir of this vineyard is also the one that promotes the development of the black truffle, known for its intense aromas. Vines and truffles find in this terroir the ideal environment to flourish.
The Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Suze-la-Rousse appellation embodies the wine experience of the region. Our cooperative cellar and independent winemakers join forces to produce wines that meet the requirements of the appellation. Each bottle tells the story of the terroir of Suze-la-Rousse.
The history of the appellation Côtes-du-Rhône village Suze-la-Rousse
Suze-la-Rousse is a place intimately linked to wine and its history. Indeed, in addition to being part of the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation, this village has been home to the Wine University since 1978. This institution offers a variety of courses dedicated to the professions of the vine and wine. Suze-la-Rousse also houses a tasting and documentation centre, as well as a wine laboratory.
Although the wine has been inked for years in the history of Suze-la-Rousse, it is only since 2016 that the AOP Côtes-du-Rhône village Suze-la-Rousse was created. Indeed, it is the winemakers of Bollène, Bouchet, Tulette and Suze-la-Rousse who have joined forces to bring this appellation to life. They have, in fact, sent a request to the INAO (Institute of Appellations of Origin) to set up a new appellation: the "Côtes du Rhône Villages de Suze-la-Rousse".
The soil of Suze-la-Rousse
The parcel area delimited in the AOC Côtes-du-Rhône Villages in Suze-la-Rousse, extends over an area of 1,935 hectares, including 200 in production. This area covers four municipalities: Suze-la-Rousse, Bouchet, Tulette in the Drôme, and Bollène in the Vaucluse.
The village of Suze-la-Rousse is the centre of the appellation bearing its name. It has rich soils and a Mediterranean climate. This climate offers this vineyard dry and hot summers, swept by the Mistral.
A varied geology
The Suze-la-Rousse vineyard has a diversity of three complementary soils. These soils, consisting of pebbles mixed with brown and red clays, testify to the legacy of the ancient terraces of the Aygues.
Pebbles, associated with brown and red clays, give the soil a major feature. Large water storage capacity. They are also soils that are distinguished by their calorific value. This provides an environment conducive to the cultivation of vines.
Another component of the soil of this vineyard is the sandstone molassic Miocene. These soils are characterized by the abundance of fine particles, including both sands and clays. This mineral diversity creates a delicate balance that influences the character of the grapes, which gives the wines a certain finesse.
To finish with the geology of this vineyard, the soils on colluvium slopes. These soils are composed of sandstone limestone fragment and clays. These lands, resulting from natural processes of displacement, offer soils conducive to the development of a variety of grape varieties.