Rivesaltes (; ) is an appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) for naturally sweet, fortified wines (vin doux naturel or VDN). The name refers to both a production region within Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France, and the style of sweet wines produced there.
The Rivesaltes AOC designation of origin has been protected by INAO since 1972, combining several smaller protected designations created in 1936.
Grapes and styles
Rivesaltes AOC wines are similar to Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC wines, except the grape varieties are not restricted to Muscat. The wines are red or white. Rivesaltes blanc, using white grapes, appears amber in color, while Rivesaltes rouge appears darker.
Rivesaltes style requirements: Rivesaltes made with white grapes can gain aromas of vanilla, baked cherries, and honey. Due to the winemaking process, Rivesaltes is relatively shelf-stable when open, and can remain at room-temperature for several days without losing quality.
According to prominent négociant Philippe Gayral, Rivesaltes is optimal at 50 years of age, and needs a minimum of 20 years before its tannins soften enough.
Rivesaltes can have an affordable price, sometimes less than €10 (about $13 USD) a bottle. Some of these, especially the related Muscat de Rivesaltes, are not considered quality wines.
Rivesaltes is typically served slightly chilled.
Rivesaltes AOC has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and dry summers. Rain averages annually, spread over few days in spring and fall. The region has about 300 days or 2,555 hours of sunshine each year, called the sunniest in France.
By the 2020s, global climate change began to affect the climate of Rivesaltes AOC. Among earlier harvest dates in France, vineyard owners in Rivesaltes began harvesting August 5, instead of the more usual September. They also began machine-picking their grapes at nighttime or starting hand-picking at dawn, as daytime temperatures reached . Weather in 2020 included catastrophic springtime rain, mildew in the summer, and an absence of the Tramontane breeze, followed by drought-like conditions.