📜 Rasteau
A southern Rhône village making Grenache reds and fortified sweet wines.
Rasteau is a village in the south of the Rhône valley in France. It has two different appellations. The first covers red wines made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The second covers sweet fortified vins doux naturels, called simply "Rasteau". They come in red and white.
Red Rasteau is dense and warm, with aromas of plum, prune and spice. It is made mostly from Grenache and suits stewed meat. The fortified wines are made by adding grape spirit during fermentation: the sugar stays and the wine becomes sweet and strong. They are served with dessert or chocolate.
Rasteau belongs to the Southern Rhône, the hot part of the valley. There are hills, stony soils and bright sun. The village is small but its wines are well known to Rhône lovers. The fortified wine is tied to the style of fortified wines, and the red to a warm Mediterranean character.
Links
- Where it is
- 📍 Southern Rhône
- Main grapes
- 🍇 Grenache, 🍇 Syrah, 🍇 Mourvèdre
- Wines
- 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Rosé, 🍷 Still wine, 🍷 Fortified wine, 🍷 Sweet wine
Frequently asked questions
What is Rasteau?
A village and appellation in the southern Rhône valley making red wines and sweet fortified wines.
Which grapes make red Rasteau?
Mostly Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre.
What is fortified Rasteau served with?
Desserts and chocolate, in small glasses.
Similar
📜 Côtes du Rhône Villages · 📜 Costières de Nîmes · 📜 Vacqueyras · 📜 Lirac · 📜 Luberon · 📜 Côtes du Vivarais
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.