Côtes du Rhône Cru AOC Beaumes-de-Venise
The lush vineyards of Beaumes de Venise could be straight from the landscapes of Tuscany.
Vines and olive groves grow side by side on land lovingly tended by the winegrowers, where sustainable agriculture is a natural extension of their deep love for this unique, fertile, precious land.
The name “de Venise” makes us think of Venice, and sounds as if it might have romantic connotations. But this area isn’t named for the beautiful Italian town; it’s a derivation of “de Venisse”, from “Comtat Venaissin” (also known as Comtat Avignonnais), which was once part of the Papal States.
Beaumes de Venise lies in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail and their jagged peaks of Jurassic limestone, a terroir made up of 3 types of soil, notably the rocky outcrop known as Le Trias, exceptional soils which produce a very specific type of wine.
Informations
Climate: Mediterranean
Soils: Cretaceous white lands / Jurassic grey lands / Red lands triassic
Web site appellation: https://www.beaumesdevenise-aoc.fr/
key figures
Production surface area in 2023: 711 HA
Total production in 2023: 25 233 HL
Average annual yeld: 35 HL/HA
Export: 4%
Recognition in AOC by the I.N.A.O.: 2005
Communes: Beaumes-de-Venise, Lafare, La Roque-Alric and Suzette in the Vaucluse
Grape varieties
Main grape varieties
Grenache noir
Secondary grape varieties
- Syrah
- Mourvèdre
Complementary grape varieties
- Bourboulenc
- Brun argenté (locally known as Camarèse or Vaccarèse)
- Carignan
- Cinsault
- Clairette
- Clairette rose
- Counoise
- Grenache blanc
- Grenache gris
- Marsanne
- Muscardin
- Piquepoul blanc
- Piquepoul noir
- Roussanne
- Terret noir
- Ugni blanc
- Viognier
To know
History
Vines have been grown in Beaumes de Venise since ancient times. Much of the vineyard was devastated by phylloxera in the late 19th century, but was revived in the early 20th century and now enjoys a new vigour.
In 1957, Beaumes de Venise became part of the Côtes du Rhône production area; in 1978, the wines were awarded Côtes du Rhône Villages Beaumes de Venise status, and on 9th June 2005, Beaumes de Venise red wine officially became a standalone Côtes du Rhône Cru.
Climate
The climate is influenced by the Mediterranean.
Temperatures are high, as the Dentelles de Montmirail protect the area from the Mistral wind.
Soils
The character of Beaumes de Venise wines is shaped to a large extent by three major terroirs.
These are:
The Terres du Trias (Triassic soil). The Triassic period is the name given to the earliest part of the Mesozoic era. Normally, the Triassic rock in this area would be buried some 1,500m underground, but as the Dentelles de Montmirail emerged they brought the Triassic deposits to the surface, mainly around the town of Suzette, in a compressed formation unique to the Rhône Valley known as the Suzette Diapir. The soils are shallow and generally poor, but are cultivable; they protect the vines from both drought and humidity, as the fine earth, coloured ochre by the presence of iron, hardens during times of drought but contains fissures which help it remain porous.
The Terres Blanches (Cretaceous White soil), around the village of La Roque-Alric, made up of calcareous clay and marl. The parent rock is greyish in colour, showing a touch of red where iron is present. As they grow, the vines’ roots bore down into the limestone, extracting the minerals they need to thrive. The terroir is farmed mainly on terraces with maximum sun exposure.
The Terres Grises (Jurassic Grey soil) are found chiefly to the north of the village of Lafare, set against the south-eastern slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail.
The soils are mainly Oxfordian black marl, made up of silt, clay and sand. They face east and south east, giving excellent sun exposure and favouring uniform ripeness.
Geography
The appellation spans the villages of Beaumes-de-Venise, Lafare, La Roque-Alric and Suzette, in Vaucluse.
Varieties and flavours
The final blend must include Grenache noir, bringing aromas of red fruits, of liquorice and spices. Together with Syrah and/or Mourvèdre, they must represent at least 60% of the blend. Mourvèdre is also grown and may be used as a secondary varietal, adding complex, earthy aromas of black fruit, leather and forest floor. Lastly, a range of complementary varietals, including Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise and some white varietals, are also authorised up to a maximum of 10%.
These give a unique quality to the wine, and are often seen as the winemaker’s personal signature.
Associated appellations