Terroir & Vineyards

Aqueria is the largest estate of Tavel, with 244 acres of which 161 are planted in vines. The estate is also one of only a handful that possesses a contiguous domaine rather than scattered growing plots.  The long growing season and intense, sunny summers yield fruit of extraordinary ripeness, concentration and richness in sugar, such that alcohol levels in the wine are restricted by the appellation to 13.5%.

Tavel’s soils are distinct in that, in contrast to the red, stony soils on the left bank of the Rhône, Tavel’s are characterized by hillocks of sand over a chalky clay subsoil, very well drained and without limestone content. Around the Château, light, sandy-clayey soils, ideal for the production of the estate’s great rosé wines that are both fruity and complex. Northeast of the Château, the land is higher, more clayey with many rounded pebbles from the formation of the Rhône, highly conducive to deep reds with great freshness and complexity. East of the Château, the limestone scree soils give great white wines with outstanding fruit and depth.

An Awareness of Nature

The venerable Château d’Aqueria is today a cutting-edge observer of natural rhythms. The winery maintains a weather station in the vineyard in order to read and respond to real-time weather conditions. Environmentally friendly farming practices include the use of organic fertilizer and allowing grass between the rows to moderate the vigor of the vines.