Château des Roques
The Château des Roques produces vintages of Cru Vacqueyras, practicing manual harvesting and applying reasoned agriculture methods. The terroir of the region, clay-limestone and stony, gives the wine balance and a structure of great quality. An amazing detail but an important one: the cellar aging is troglodyte with a natural source that allows ideal conditions for the development of wine. This delicate elaboration is sublimated by the use of french oak barrels and demi-muids.
• Red Vacqueyras grappes: Red Vacqueyras grappes 70% Grenache, 15 % Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre.
• White Vacqueyras grappes : White Vacqueyras grappes 25% Grenache blanc, 25% Viognier, 25% Bourboulenc, et 25% Marsanne.
The vineyard of the Château des Roques is an exceptional place; consisting of a hamlet of sixteenth century made out dry stone, a chapel and a castle of the eighteenth century, planted with plane trees, all surrounded by 38 hectares of vineyards... It is in this idyllic setting that was born the story of a passion handed down from generation to generation and extended by three generations.
Technical Sheets
- Château des Roques Cuvée Blanche 2019 : Wine Advocate 90
- Château des Roques Cuvée Blanche 2018 : Wine Advocate 90
About Vacqueyras (AOC)
Situated in the south of the Rhone Valley, Vacqueyras is a Provencal village full of character, with its picturesque narrow streets converging towards the church, its houses leaning against the ramparts, the surrounding wall of the Vassadel’s noble chateau, the Cours Stassart, the dry-stone walls and its cottages and wells. The Provençal name “Vacqueyras” comes from the Latin “Valléa Quadreria” which means “valley of stones”. The town is defined by its authenticity and the ‘art of living’. The first traces of vine cultivation here date back to the middle ages which the village was devoted to mixed farming: olive orchards, mulberry trees for silkworm breeding and vine growing. In 1414, the first land registry of the Comtat Venaissin indicates the presence of vines in the village, and in 1448, taxes levied on the grape and wine harvests are mentioned. The vine has therefore always been cultivated in Vacqueyras, and today it is the primary crop of the village with 1,460 hectares dedicated to it.
History of the appellation:
In 1937, the village of Vacqueyras was located in the Côtes du Rhône appellation area. In 1955, it joined the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation which was then notified by decree in 1967. Finally, Vacqueyras acquired its own “CRU” appellation on 22 February 1990, by decision of the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (INAO), a decision ratified by publication in the Journal Officiel on 15 August 1990.
The Cru of 3 colours:
The Vacqueyras terroir is a defined geographical area within which the physical and biological environment (climate, soil, grape variety) and a set of human factors interact. Protected by the Dentelles de Montmirail overlooking the village, the Vacqueyras vineyard benefits from a diversity of soils and terroirs; pebbles, fine sands, clay, marl, saffron, sandstone, gravel and fragments of white limestone.
More information in English at www.aocvacqueyras.com
I used to import and distribute Château Des Roques Vacqueyras while working in Texas from 2003 to 2006. This wine had a great success and I always enjoyed it. Corine Seroul came to me late 2017 and asked me to be in charge of their wines for the US and it is with a great pleasure that we are now working together. We hope you will enjoy as much as we do and that you will have an interest to distribute it in your states.