Île de Ré wines

Discovering Rhaetan winegrowers and terroir

The history of vine-growing on the island dates back to the 13ᵉ century: cultivated by the Cistercian monks of the Châteliers abbey, it continued to exist on the island long after their departure driven by the Wars of Religion. By 1950, vine-growing was at its peak on the island, occupying more than 2,000 hectares. It was also at this time that the island's winegrowers decided to form a wine cooperative. The Cave des Vignerons de l'Île de Ré was founded in 1951 in Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré, alongside a market-garden cooperative. Since 2008, the PDO potato cooperative and the wine cooperative have been grouped under a single umbrella organization: Uniré, l'union des coopératives de l'île de Ré. The winery brings together some sixty winegrowers, who today cultivate almost 600 hectares of vines, or nearly 7% of the territory of the Ré region. The cooperative is responsible for vinification, production of the various wines and spirits, bottling and distribution. The cooperative cellar is also a place of welcome and discovery not to be missed when you stay at our campsite on the Ile de Ré.

Wine tourism on the Ile de Ré

The island of Ré is a prime destination for wine and spirits enthusiasts. The island's historic cooperative winery offers a wide range of wine tourism activities designed to raise awareness of the local terroir. It welcomes visitors all year round to its cellar for tastings. Guided tours of the cellar provide an opportunity to discover the distillery and barrel cellar. They also end with a tasting session. For those with a sweet tooth, a visit to the distillery in Pineaux and Cognac is followed by a tasting of local products from the Retais region, including charcuterie, goat's cheese and chocolate. Other comprehensive activities are organized outdoors and in collaboration with other local players: don't hesitate to sign up for the vineyard bike tour with a stop at an oyster farm on the island, or the horseback ride through the vineyards ending with a tasting of the cooperative's wines directly at the equestrian center. If you're staying at Slow Village with friends or organizing a family reunion, the cooperative offers group tours and tastings at preferential rates for groups of 10 or more.

Wine tasting at the Ile de Ré wine cooperative

Wines and spirits from the cooperative des vignerons rétais are an excellent gift idea to bring back to your loved ones at the end of your vacation on the Ile de Ré. The winery distributes red, white and rosé wines produced on the island, as well as white and rosé cognacs and pineaux from its distillery. Trousse Chemise, the emblematic sparkling wine, is also produced in white and rosé. The cooperative winery is just 3 km from the Slow Village campsite: you can easily cycle there during your stay, and drop in again before leaving to do some final shopping. Free cellar tastings take place every day in July and August, Monday to Saturday in spring and autumn, and Monday to Friday in winter. Cellar tours are offered at fixed times: at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays in summer, and at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in spring and autumn. Reservations are not required. The tour followed by a gourmet tasting of local products takes place at 5pm on weekdays. Ready to book your next wine tour on the Ile de Ré?

More information on the official website of the Ile de Ré wine cooperative: https: //www.vigneronsiledere.com/