Few Figures

Area in production: 1,455 hectares exploited

Two towns: Vacqueyras and Sarrians

Production: 42,325 hectoliters (96% red wines, 3% white wines, 1% rosé wines)  & 200 winegrower families.

Main grape varieties:

Reds: Around Grenache Noir, pillar of the grape variety with at least 50% of the surface, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault (especially for rosé) are the great grape varieties of the appellation.

Whites: Although in the minority (3% of production), Vacqueyras white wines inspire with the combination of their freshness and smoothness. They rely on the use of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette and La Roussanne.

The VACQUEYRAS appellation takes its name from the Latin Vallea Quadreria: the Valley of stones - cairo meaning stone in Provençal.

Terroir: It was very precisely demarcated by the INAO in 1990 when Vacqueyras became a vintage.


Credits: Georges TRUC

• In Sarrians, the Garrigues plateau is mainly composed of gravel of alluvial origin placed in the form of terraces by the Ouvèze, an active and violent river. The cailloutis des Garrigues produce wines that are generally colorful, tannic, powerful and spicy.

• Higher up, in Vacqueyras, the sandy hillsides of slope produce aromatic, fine and very fruity wines.

• Finally, in the sandstone and stony part of scree, at the top of the appellation, the wines appear rounder and very harmonious. Here, too, in the far east of the AOC, high-quality limestone marl for the vine.


Important events:

In 1990, the work and the know-how of the winegrowers raised Vacqueyras, the flagship of the Côtes du Rhône to the rank of Cru.

It was in 1992 that the bottle engraved with the coat of arms of Vacqueyras was created, under the leadership of the Union of Vintners.