Address: 11300 Cépie, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Phone: +33 04.68.31.43.20
Website: www.rives-blanques.com

Welcome to Château Rives-Blanques, an independent, family-run estate of 30 ha. We are one of the few in the region specialising in hand-harvested white wines, which are bottled on the property. Rives-Blanques has long been known for its environment-friendly practices, and was amongst the first vineyards in France to be given the ‘Agriculture Raisonnée’ accreditation by the Ministry of Agriculture, confirming the ecological honesty and integrity of the way we grow our grapes and manage our lands.  Our policy is to allow the land to work itself, naturally – and in doing so, a natural habitat has been provided for all sorts of wildlife. Our work in the fields is covertly, if not overtly, observed by wild boar, owls, hawks, wild deer … the variety is endless.

A complete compendium of history lies on the vineyard’s doorstep: the spectacular medieval walled city of Carcassonne and the famous Canal du Midi (both World Heritage sites) are both just 20 minutes away. The landscape is an unspoilt rural harmony of vineyards jostling with fields of sunflowers and fruit trees, in the sight of the snow-capped Pyrenees. Château Rives-Blanques is named after one of the white peaks dominating its horizon.

Languedoc Roussillon is France’s oldest, biggest and most exciting wine producing region, attracting investors from all parts of the world as well as important wine producers from the rest of France. The Greeks were making wine here 3000 years ago, followed by the Romans and then by the monks. At the heart of all the great wines here, is the soul of a great wine-making monastery – and that is why we say a little prayer of thanks to the16th century Benedictines in Limoux, who were the first in the world to bless their wine with beautiful bubbles. To this very day, Blanquette de Limoux is made only in the vicinity of the Abbey of Saint Hilaire, from a grape of the Renaissance called Mauzac.

Every vintage, from 2001 to date, included amongst the “Best French Wines of the Millésime” by La Revue du Vin de France. Best in Class International Wine & Spirits Competition 2008, Gold Medal 2008, Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc-Roussillon; Gold Medal 2008 Competition of the Great Wines of France; Silver Medal 2008 Concours des Grands Vins du Languedoc-Roussillon; Silver Medal 2008, Vinalies Internationales; Silver Medal 2008, Chardonnay of the World; Silver Medal 2008, International Wine & Spirits Competition London; Silver Medal 2008, MUNDUSvini; Silver Medal 2008 Competition of the Great Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon; Bronze Medal 2008, Decanter World Wine Awards, Bronze Medal 2008, International Wines & Spirits Competition; Bronze Medal 2008, Competition of Wines made by Envoronmentally Sustainable Viticulture; Bronze Medal 2008, Competition of the Great Wines of Languedoc-Roussillon; ‘Commended’ 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards; Commended 2008 International Wine Challenge, London. Every vintage presented from 2001 to date, has been included in the Guide Hachette.