AOP Beaumes de Venise

Until 2005 the appellation for red, rosé and white wines from Beaumes de Venise were Cotes du Rhone Village Beaumes de Venise. 
From the three small communes Lafare, La Roque Alric and Suzette the appellation was Cotes du Rhone Village without adding name of  acommune 

In 2005 a new appellation was approved Beaumes de Venise including only red wines from certain parcels in four communes Beaumes de Venise, Lafare, Suzette and La Roque Alric.

Commune		Inhab. 2015	Area -  km2
Beaumes de Venise		2.387	19,0
Lafare		125	4,5
Suzette		123	6,8
La Roch Alric		51	4,8

Declared area and yield 2016-2020

Cahiers des Charges Rules for the appellation

Allowed grape varieties:
Primary variety: Grenache.
Complementing variety: Syrah.  (Mourvedre is not included here)
Other allowed varieties: Bourboulenc, Vaccarese, Carignan, Cinsault, Clairette Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Mourvedre, Muscardin, Piquepoul Blanc Piquepoul Noir, Roussanne, Terret Noir, Ugni Blanc, Viognier.

The rules for shares of the grape varities from the plantation at a property.
Grenache and Syrah must together count for at least 80% of the plantation.
Grenache must count for at least 50% of the plantation.
Syrah must count for between 25% and 50% of the plantation.
White varieties may not exceed 10% of the plantation.

The yield may not exceed 38 hl/ha.
The percentage of alcohol must be at least 12,5.

Confrérie des Compagnons de Beaumes-de-Venise
The brotherhood of winegrowers was established in 1983.
The brothers take part in ceremonial activities to promote the wines.

Cahiers des charges  Rules for the appellation

This appellation for Vin Doux Naturel, sweet dessert wine, was created already in 1945 with effect from 1943.
However, it was not until 1958 that the final appeal limit was made by geologists from INAO.
The appellation includes vineyards from Beaumes de Venise and a very limited number of ha. in Aubignan.
It is only permitted to make wines on a single grape in two varieties, Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc and Muscat à Petit Grains Rouge. This means that you can meet the wines in 3 editions Blanc, Rosé and Rouge. However it is the white version that is the all dominant type

Declared area and yield 2016-2020

The three types of wines

Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Rouge is to be made on Muscat de Petit Grains Noir, and the wine undergoes a fermentation / maceration period - like other red wines
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Rosé is made of a mixture of Muscat de Petit Grains Noir and Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc, to be fermented together after a short maceration period.
Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc is made as other white wines after direct pressing after arriving at the basement.

As with other Vin doux Naturel in southern France, the special method called Mutage is mandatory. This interrupts conversion of grape sugar in to alcohol to ensure a high sugar content while ensuring a fairly high alcohol percentage.
At the rigt time the fermentation process is stopped by adding 95% pure alcohol (made from distilled grape must). It must take place so that the finished wine contains at least 110g of sugar per liter and have achieved an alcoholic strength of at least 15%.
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The syndicate of producers of Beaumes de Venise was established in 1901.
For some years the name was Le Conservatoire des A.O.C. de Beaumes-de-Venise. This name has not been used since 2015.
Syndicat des Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise and the ODG have both bodies Jean Paul Anrés as the président. He is also the mayor of Lafare and deliver his grapes to the cooperative.