Beverage
Rasteau
Rasteau as a fortified wine is the southern Rhône vin doux naturel from Grenache on the hills around the village of Rasteau in Vaucluse. Spirit addition preserves sweetness and lifts alcohol; styles include tuilé (oxidative, brick-tinged) and ambré (white/oxidative), plus fresher red fruit expressions. The same commune also produces dry red AOC table wine; this product variation refers to the historic fortified sweet wine. Serve Rasteau VDN with chocolate, red fruit tarts, and spiced biscuits. In the kitchen it reduces into duck and pork glazes or cherry sauces; oxidative tuilé bottles bring walnut depth to jus.
Also known as: Rasteau VDN
Track this ingredient
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Grading systems
Grades are placed along a shared scale so systems can be compared side by side.
History
Sweet fortified Grenache wines developed in the southern Rhône village of Rasteau.
AOC recognition protected Rasteau vin doux naturel production.
Dry red Rasteau gained separate prominence while fortified VDN traditions continued.