History
Vestiges from a gallo-roman villa from 2^nd century is the oldest evidence of wine growing in Tavel. 
1636: Land register tells about wine growing of a certain scale.
1716: Administrative archives tell about local wine "cru de Tavel".
1902: A Syndicate of wine growers is founded.
1926: Rules for the local wines are created as the first step of being an appellation, The local wine growers syndicate with Aimé Roudil as présiden was adviced by Baron Le Roy from (Chateau Fortia) in Chateauneuf du Pape.
1936: AOC Tavel is approved

Aime Roudil and Baron le Roy

Tavel Rosé can only be made from vineyards in Tavel commune - and a few parcels in Roquemaure.
The potential area in the appellation is 960 ha.

Allowed grape varieties
Primary varieties: Bourboulenc, Cinsault, Clairette Blanc, Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, Mourvedre, Picuepoul Blanc Piquepoul Noir, Syrah.
Other varieties: Calitor (if planted before 1994), Carignan Blanc, Carignan Noir.

Shares of varieties in the vineyards of eath exploitation (Cépagement)
Grenache (3 types) must be min. 30% and max. 60%.
A single primary variety may not exceed 60%.
Other varieties may not each of them exceed 10%

Vinification
Normally the wines are made with a short maceration period - 12-36 hours.
In such a short period only a small amount of colour and punch will be extracted from the skin.
Only a few producers use ageing in wood -  maybe for a special cuvée.
The wines are normally bottled a few months after the harvest and most of them are meant to be drunk young.

Producers
Nearly 50% of the production is vinified by the cooperative and the rest by private producers - about 40. Some of the private producers sell a part of the wine to negociants.
Most of the producers have vineyards in Lirac and/or Cotes du Rhone. Only a few producers only make  Tavel Rosé.

Declared area and yield 2015-2019

Terroirs

You find 3 distinct different terroirs in Tavel. 
Lime stones Rolled stones and Sandy soil

Gaël Petit is tjhe president of
Syndicat Viticole de l’Appellation Tavel

Go to   Home   Tavel