Rosé des Riceys Wine Region

Rosé des Riceys Wine Region

The distinguished sub-region of Rosé des Riceys has an array of exclusive rosé wines known throughout the world for their prominence and influence. As you embark on your travels through the wine region of Champagne, we encourage you to explore these exemplary wines.

Rosé des Riceys’s refinement and success are a result of unique methods, exquisite Pinot Noir grape, and ideal climate. These elements provide a style of wine found nowhere else in France or the world for that matter. Wine Destination Hunting Starts Here!

We encourage you to explore the exemplary wines that make Rosé des Riceys a favourite for wine drinkers worldwide. Look through our site to discover what Wineries in Rosé des Riceys have to offer and start planning for your holiday today. Find out more about Wine Tasting and Tours in Rosé des Riceys.

Where is the Rosé des Riceys Wine Region?

Rosé des Riceys, one of the major wine-producing communes in the Champagne region, has 350 hectares of vineyards. This charming village, which is the southernmost in Champagne and borders Burgundy, exudes the wealth of a varied history.

The only source of this wine, which Louis XIV was notionally in love with, is the Riceys region, which consists of the three villages of Riceys-Haut, Riceys Haute-Rive, and Riceys-Bas.

Unique terroir of Rosé des Riceys appellation

The terroir of Rose des Riceys is predominant with the Kimmeridgian limestone subsoil. Rosé des Riceys AOC is composed of a series of small, steep U-shaped valleys. These valleys are home to Pinot Noir vines that are twenty years old on average.

History of Rosé des Riceys wine region

Although viticulture was probably established in antiquity, there is historical evidence of it in the area dating back to the 8th century. During the building of the Château de Versailles, according to legend, Riceys employees gave King Louis XIV a bottle of their rosé. The wine is said to have been a favourite of the king.

When Phylloxera arrived in the latter part of the century, the region had been flourishing well into the middle of the 1800s. Once the method of grafting the varietal onto hardy rootstocks was developed, the reconstruction process was started. The Les Riceys vineyards were officially reestablished as part of the Champagne appellation zone in 1923.

Rosé des Riceys was given AOC (appellation) status in 1947 as a result, rewarding the few producers who had persisted. 

What is Rosé des Riceys Wine?

Pinot Noir vines with an average age of twenty years are present in the vineyards of Rosé des Riceys. Only dry conditions are suitable for grape harvesting. Only when the grapes have a minimum alcohol content of ten degrees are they ready for harvest. The grapes are brought to the cellar after being separated from their botrytis-affected or underripe fruits. The grapes are vinified using a "semi-carbonic" maceration before being whole-bunch pressed. The winemaker then proceeds to lightly punch the cap and pump over as the fermentation quickly begins.

The famous Riceys taste, the pride of the local winemaker, is "voluntarily blocked" in order to create the Rosé des Riceys, which is obtained during the maceration process. 

Winemakers who are devoted to this picturesque appellation produce fewer than 50,000 bottles across the entire appellation even in the best years.

The end result is a wine that is incredibly fine and delicate with a flavour that is exquisite, round palate, broad and full-bodied. Nose is a complex and rich fragrance. The bouquet includes ripe cherries and black and red berries. The famous «Riceys taste» has a touch of vanilla-almond and grenadine, set off by a hint of bergamot. The richness of the texture and the density of the structure make them more akin to red wines than classic rosés. 

Food to Pair with Rosé des Riceys wine

Chaource 

In the French Aube region, chaource is a tall, soft cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese must mature for at least 14 days before it can be consumed, either young, when almost no rind has formed, or mature when the rind has almost completely formed (2-3 months). Salty, fruity, mild, buttery, slightly acidic, and mushroom-like describe its flavour. When purchased, it is packaged in a wooden box and wrapped in greased paper. Since the cheese ripens from the outside in and becomes runny when it is sliced, it is ideal to eat it at room temperature.

Baeckeoffe

Baeckeoffe is a one-pot meal from the Alsace region of France that includes three types of marinated meat—pork, beef, and lamb—along with potatoes, vegetables, and wine. Since French women used to leave the pots for the baker in the early morning, the name of this common peasant dish literally translates to "baker's oven." They left to do the laundry and would pick up the pot from the baker when they returned home with their kids after school.

Choucroute Garnie

A typical winter dish from the French Alsace region is called choucroute Garnie. Its foundation is sauerkraut, a silky, sour, fermented cabbage dish that is flavoured with goose fat, onions, garlic, juniper berries, caraway, and white wine, like the dry Riesling from the area. A substantial number of ingredients, including fresh or smoked beef and pork sausages, bacon, pork loin, and pork shoulder, are used to garnish sauerkraut. 

Places to visit in Rosé des Riceys 

While taking in the local culture, guests at the Riceys have the chance to view a significant architectural heritage and vineyards that stretch for miles.

Historical Castles, Churches and Chapels of Les Riceys

It is possible to visit several churches with regionally typical architecture in the three boroughs that make up Les Riceys. Particularly, the church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, along with the churches of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and Saint-Vincent, are listed as Historic Monuments.

The castle of Ricey-Bas is a recognized historic monument that was constructed in the 15th century on the foundation of a former stronghold from the 11th century. It is secluded and surrounded by the Laigne and a sizable park. On the identical island, Ricey-Haute-Rive, one can also admire the castle Saint-Louis.

The Riceys are home to a variety of chapels, including those dedicated to Saints Antoine, Claude, Clair, Jacques, and Sainte-Sabine. The 16th-century San Sebastian chapel in Ricey-Haut is now recognized as a Historic Monument.

In the list of Historic Monuments is the private castle Clos Saint-Roch. It was constructed in the second half of the 18th century and features delightful period furnishings as well as a vaulted cellar beneath the terrace.

Between Vines and Rock Cottages: “Circuit of Cadoles”

A stroll through vineyards and forests to find the former homes of winemakers. The cadole is probably Les Riceys' wine heritage that is the most unusual. The cadole is a modest winegrower's building that was painstakingly constructed entirely out of local dry stones. Wine growers could find shelter from inclement weather, warmth in the winter, and coolness in the summer thanks to this type of construction. The phylloxera invasion caused the cadoles, who were born at the start of the 19th century, to be abandoned after a few decades.

Near the Riceys vineyards, twenty cables can be seen right now. To encourage the curious to explore the vineyards, hiking trails have been marked. They enable you to appreciate Les Riceys' rich wine-growing history and to learn about it in a new way.

For experienced hikers, a 12-kilometre route that includes the short route leads you into the forest where you can find additional outstanding cables and stunning vistas of the surrounding valleys.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rosé des Riceys