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Wine production on Ile de Ré dates back several centuries, since the first vine was planted there in the 12th century.
Today, vineyards cover 650 hectares of land and several types of wine are made. The wine cooperative was founded in 1950 and since 1966 has been known as UNIRE.
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To
this day, the main product is still Pineau des Charentes (both white and
rosé), known as Ilrhéa (the old name for Ile de Ré was Rhéa); not
wine and not liqueur. It is said that Pineau came about by accident, when
someone long ago used the wrong barrel, which had some Cognac left in it.
The alcohol prevented the grape juice (must) from fermenting and
the mixture became famous as a sweet, full-bodied aperitif known as
Pineau des Charentes. Delicious, served chilled, without ice. Brilliant
with melon or fois gras.
Being
within the Cognac production region, which spreads from around the town
of Cognac all the way to the islands of Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oleron,
Cognac is also produced locally. The
island has an unusual microclimate with plenty of sunshine year-round and
this combined with the sea breezes leave a salty taste on the grapes,
which help to develop a warm powerful Cognac.
Le Gouverneur is the king of digestives while 40° Sud is
specially made as an aperitif. It is served with ice or is particularly
refreshing the local way as a long drink with Schweppes.
Although Île de Ré’s wine-making tradition goes back to the middle ages, today’s wines are hardly world renown. Nevertheless, they are very drinkable and have won many medals of excellence in recent years. The white wines, Le Royal and Brise de Mer, the latter a chardonnay, are both light and ideal for accompanying the island’s plentiful seafood and particularly oysters. The rosé is Rosé des Dunes; just right for summer lunch times and speciality dishes of ‘fruits de mer’. For cheese and meats, try the reds, Petit Sergent and Le Gouverneur. The production of sparkling wines has increased in the last few years and Trousse Chemise Blanc and Trousse Chemise Rosé are now very popular.
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Coopérative des Vignerons de l’ile de Ré at Le Bois-Plage organises
tour visits twice a day in the summer. All the products can be tasted and
purchased at the onsite cellar.
You will also find the local cooperative’s wines in most of the island’s restaurants and on sale in supermarkets, markets and gift shops. |