Rasteau
| Rasteau | ||
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| region | Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur | |
| Department | Vaucluse | |
| Arrondissement | Carpentras | |
| Canton | Vaison-la-Romaine | |
| Community association | Vaison Ventoux | |
| Coordinates | 44 ° 14 ′ N , 4 ° 59 ′ E | |
| height | 117-366 m | |
| surface | 18.81 km 2 | |
| Residents | 846 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 45 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 84110 | |
| INSEE code | 84096 | |
| Website | http://www.rasteau.fr/ | |
 Village view with vineyard in the foreground |
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Rasteau is a French commune of the department Vaucluse in the region d'Provence-Alpes-Cote Azur . Administratively it is assigned to the canton of Vaison-la-Romaine and the Arrondissement of Carpentras .
geography
The wine village with 846 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) is located on the right (western) bank of the Ouvèze 18 kilometers northeast of Orange and 35 kilometers north-northeast of Avignon . The village is connected to the D69 département road , which crosses the D975 département road in the southeast of the municipality. The climate is Mediterranean , but the place is heavily exposed to the mistral , which can reach top speeds of up to 90-100 km / h all year round, which often occurs in the area and leads to sensitive cooling.
history
The Roman colonization left clear traces in the area. In the district of Hautes-Rives , a burial place with rich grave goods was uncovered. Other finds, some of which are probably even older, could not be precisely assigned, for example an altar with mother goddesses , a grave with a scenic mask, hairpins, votive statuettes and the grave inscription of a prefect of the Gallic tribe of the Voconces .
In the early and high Middle Ages , the bishops of Vaison ruled the area in spiritual and secular affairs. The earliest written mention of Rasteau can be found in a pamphlet about a property belonging to the municipality called Saint-Martin . Bishop Pierre II. De Mirabel took up this matter in 1009. In 1188, Raymond V of Toulouse , Margrave of Provence, who was in dispute with Bishop Bérenger de Reilhane, took possession of the village. The region survived the Huguenot Wars without damage.
Toponymy
The oldest attested spelling of the village name is Rastellum, derived from the Latin word of the same name . This resulted in the French râteau ( Eng . "Rake", or " rake "). It is an oronym , originally referred to as a mountain.
coat of arms
Description of the coat of arms : In azure blue, four golden chains, which are held together in the center by a ring of the same color, form a cross .
Population development
| year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 330 | 289 | 269 | 234 | 266 | 293 | 295 |
economy
In the middle of the 19th century, the place with its loamy soils was known for its fruit and olives. The lower part of the municipality, which was often inundated by the floods of the Ouvèze, consisted of meadows. Today the village lives mainly from viticulture and (wine) tourism.
Viticulture
The Rasteau wine-growing region is an appellation named after the place of the same name in the southern wine region of the Côtes du Rhône . Rasteau has had the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for short) since November 22, 2010 . Mainly red wine ( Rasteau rouge ) and small quantities of rosé wine ( Rasteau rosé ) are produced. The growing area of the Rasteau AOC is limited to the municipality of Rasteau for red wines and to the municipalities of Rasteau, Sablet and Cairanne for rosé wines and extends over 733 hectares. The Rasteau rouge is more impressive because of its bulk than its elegance. Restaurateurs recommend the wine especially with game . It can mature in the cellar for ten or more years and usually benefits from it.
Soil and climate
Almost all of the town's vineyards are on the slopes of the Montagne de Ventabren . The terraces on this alluvial cone made of alpine material consist of pebbles and greyish limestone in a matrix of reddish clay . The climate is Mediterranean. The vineyards, which produce high-class wines, face south and are thus protected from the mistral.
Grape varieties
The Rasteau rouge is not a single varietal wine, but a blend (an assemblage ) of different grape varieties , with the red Grenache grape clearly dominating. Complementary varieties are Mourvèdre and Syrah . The following broad range is also permitted as secondary varieties: Bourboulenc , Brun Argenté (locally known as Camarèse or Vaccarèse ), Carignan , Cinsaut , Clairette Blanche , Clairette Rose , Counoise , Grenache Blanc , Grenache Gris , Marsanne , Muscardin , Piquepoul Blanc , Piquepoul Noir , Roussanne , Terret Noir , Ugni Blanc and Viognier .
Producers
The Rasteau wine cooperative was founded in 1925. Its members began to focus on quality rather than quantity. Independent wineries also emerged in the 1970s. The cooperative, which today has 170 members, provides around 55% of the total production. There are also 34 independent winemakers, 20 of whom are active in the Rasteau community.
quality control
The yield for red wine is limited by law to a depth of 38–42 hectoliters per hectare ; in fact, it is an average of 35 hl / ha. The minimum alcohol content is mandatory and must be at least 12.5 percent by volume . However, it is typically higher, in a good year it is an astonishing 15%.
Yield
The annual yield is around 27,000 hectoliters on average, which results in around 3,600,000 bottles. 80% of the wine is then also marketed in bottles; 40% of this is exported.
Wine festival
The wine festival called Nuit des vins (“Night of Wines”) was launched in 1986. It has since become a tradition and takes place annually in mid-August.
Attractions
- The medieval castle was first mentioned in 1255 under the name Castris Rastello . It adjoined the church and was subordinate to the bishops of Vaison. Today only very small remains of it have survived.
- Parish Church of Saint-Didier
- The chapel is dedicated to Notre Dame des Vignerons (“Lady of the Winegrowers”) and dates back to the 17th century. However, it was not given its current name until 1930. It was restored in 1957 and 1961.
- The main gate of the medieval fortification belt was built over with a clock tower in 1753 .
Remains of the castle
Saint Didier Church
Notre Dame des Vignerons chapel
clock tower
Town twinning
- Houyet , Namur, Belgium
Individual evidence
- ^ Jean Vialar: Les vents régionaux et locaux . New edition of Météo-France , 2003.
- ↑ a b c d e Robert Bailly: Dictionnaire des communes du Vaucluse , p. 333f. Edition A. Barthélemy, Avignon, 1986.
- ↑ a b Jules Courtet: Dictionnaire géographique, géologique, historique, archéologique et biographique du département du Vaucluse , p. 271. Éditions Christian Lacour, Nîmes, 1876, new edition: 1997.
- ^ Albert Dauzat and Charles Rostaing: Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de lieux en France , p. 1892. Édition Larousse, Paris, 1968.
