Ortas – Cave de Rasteau
Established in 1925, this cooperative winery is the chief producer of the Rasteau appellation. Its wines are essentially made from Grenache. Over the past few years it has become the leading supplier of Rhone Valley wines in Quebec, thanks to Ortas Tradition, and is also number one in Ireland. Le Cercle des Vignerons du Rhône is now the result of an service union between three cellars: Ortas Cave de Rasteau, Cave de Visan and Cave de Sablet – Le Gravillas, the last to join in January 2017
Tél. 33 (0)4 90 10 90 10 – www.cavederasteau.com
GRAPE VARIETIES :
Grenache (60 %), Syrah et Mourvèdre (20 %), Carignan, Cinsault…
PRESIDENT :
Thierry Eysseric
MANAGING DIRECTOR :
Antoine Müller
DISTRIBUTION :
50 % GMS via la filiale de commercialisation VRT (5,8 millions de cols), 20 % secteur traditionnel
(dont 10 % au caveau), 30 % export (900 000 cols expédiés à 65 % en Amérique du Nord, 30 % en Europe, le reste dans les pays tiers dont l’Asie)
MAIN BRANDS :
Ortas Tradition, Ortas Prestige, Ortas Les Viguiers, Domaine de Pisan
PRODUCTION :
27 000 hl par an (environ 4 millions de bouteilles) : 49 % en Rasteau rouge, 25 % en Côtes-du-Rhône rouge et rosé, 17 % en Côtes-du-Rhône Villages rouge, 3 % en Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau, 4 % en Vins de Pays, 2 % en Côtes-du-Rhône blanc…
ASSETS :
The semi-underground cellar is made out of stone from Vaison-la-Romaine, and includes a 600 m2 wine shop and tasting room. It is the setting for temporary exhibitions, concerts, entertainment, cultural activities and monthly tastings.
The Wines
Ico(o)n reflects the force of Rasteau’s terroir, all the while expressing finesse and elegance. It has its own small cellar, where the 7 best selected parcels available at Cave de Rasteau are used in its production: Grenache from the famous Saint Didier, Girards, Chaberte and Crapons localities, boasting typical yellow clay soils; Syrah from Encostes and Combe Julière, offering well-watered deep clays and loamy sand; and Mourvèdre from Blovac Nord, comprising a first layer of dry gravel, followed by deeper marls. Afterwards, specific and rigorous production requirements are respected both in the vineyard and in the cellar, including hand picking in crates, containing 10 to 12 kg at the most – nothing short of star treatment!
