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

Les vins et spiritueux de la coopérative des vignerons rétais constituent une excellente idée de cadeau à ramener à vos proches à la fin de vos vacances sur l’île de Ré. La cave distribue les vins rouges, blancs et rosés élaborés sur l’île, mais aussi les cognacs et pineaux blancs et rosés issus de sa distillerie. Le Trousse Chemise, vin mousseux emblématique, est également produit en blanc ou en rosé. La coopérative vinicole est située à 3 km seulement du camping Slow Village : vous pourrez aisément vous y rendre à vélo lors de votre séjour, et y refaire un saut avant de nous quitter pour faire quelques dernières emplettes. Les dégustations gratuites au cellier ont lieu tous les jours en juillet et en août, du lundi au samedi au printemps et en automne, et du lundi au vendredi en hiver. Les visites de cave sont proposées à heure fixe : à 10h30 et à 15h30 les jours de semaine en été, et à 15h30 le mardi et le jeudi au printemps et en automne. Il n’est pas nécessaire de réserver. La visite suivie d’une dégustation gourmande de produits locaux se déroule en semaine à 17h. Prêts à réserver votre prochain séjour œnologique sur l’île de Ré ?

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