Resulting from the merger of three cooperatives, Vignobles Terrassous demonstrate that collective initiatives contribute to the optimal expression of a great Roussillon terroir.
A cooperative in the Aspres terroir
Dominated to the west by Mount Canigou and stretching eastward to the outskirts of Perpignan, the Aspres region is a land where garrigue scrubland, vineyards, and cork oak groves flourish. It is also a land of solidarity and Catalan culture, where the history of Vignobles Terrassous is deeply rooted . This history dates back to 1932, when the first cooperative was founded in Terrats, near Thuir. The region was particularly well-suited to the collective development of the vineyards. Indeed, while the Aspres is distinguished by its dry, mineral terroir, it has always been a land of wine. The vines are planted in plots where soil types and altitudes vary. This mosaic-like distribution makes the winemakers' alliance a strength and a valuable source of quality resources. The individual plot varieties and the diversity of grape varieties also contribute to giving Vignobles Terrassous the expected advantages of a great terroir in Roussillon.
Collective and high-end patience
Buoyed by the recent distinction of their vineyards as AOC Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres , Vignobles Terrassous demonstrates that a cooperative alliance has become a guarantee of quality. Firstly, because the collective approach necessitates coordinated and consistent vineyard management. Secondly, because benefiting from a wide range of viticultural resources, the cooperative is able to offer an extensive selection of wines while prioritizing single-vineyard selections, ensuring distinguished cuvées. The wine range thus covers the full spectrum of appellations permitted in this Roussillon region. Among these, the vintage Rivesaltes stand out , aged in oak barrels, with the youngest wines patiently awaiting six years of aging before revealing their full potential. They are a testament to collective patience and the commitment to crafting premium Rivesaltes . This leading showcase is joined by still wines produced under IGP Côtes Catalanes, AOC Côtes du Roussillon and AOC Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres.
The distinguished wines of Vignobles Terrassous
While naturally sweet wines, such as Rivesaltes, are frequently awarded and essential signatures of Vignobles Terrassous , their still wines also aspire to the highest distinctions. The Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres appellation stands out. The Les Pierres Plates cuvée , from the finest stony and schist terroirs, is a prime example, distinguished by a 90/92 score in the Parker guide. The Summum cuvée , aged for 18 months in oak barrels after a long maceration, concentrates all the typicity of old vines trained in the goblet style on soils with a distinctive mineral character. This refined expression is also found in the Côtes du Roussillon rosé, with Château Mossé, the result of a particularly rewarding selection of plots, beautifully complemented by its pale pink hue. On the aromatic side, it is impossible in Roussillon to miss the muscats with the dry Muscat by Terrassous , produced in IGP Côtes Catalanes, or the Muscat de Rivesaltes to complete the range of naturally sweet wines signed by Vignobles Terrassous.