Frédéric Rivaton is not exactly a social media personality – he likes better when his wines speak for themselves, i.e., he wishes for his wines to be his carte de visite, and it is with this approach that he has been building his reputation in the world of pure, artisanal wines. He started his project in 2004, in the mountainous village Lator de France, in the Mediterranean region of Roussillon, not far from the border with Spain, and it is in these arid and rocky lands (formed, in general, by schist, shale, and gneiss), in steep slopes, that Frédéric uses his sensitivity and talent to produce his peculiar wines, in 85-100 year-old vineyards.
Frédéric believes that in order to obtain a final product that is in harmony with the land and the place both chemical products and mechanical work have to be avoided at all costs. In the cellar, the right conditions are created for the indigenous yeasts to work freely, and a significant role is played, during fermentation, by 15 to 30‑hectoliter concrete tanks. The final result of these essays on biodynamics are fresh, deep, and harmonic wines.
"“I’ve chosen my profession because of my passion for wine. For me, wine has to be faithful to the place of its origin: it should be the drinkable expression of the place where it is made, shaped by the grapes and the environment, and fashioned by the winemaker who makes it.”"
— Frédéric Rivaton| Estate Name | Domaine Rivaton |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Roussillon |
| Vineyard Area | 12 hectares |
| Viticulture | Organic, Demeter biodynamic certification. |
| Terroir | 15-115 year-old vines. Gneiss, schist, and red clay soils. Mediterranean climate. |
| Grape Varieties | Carignan, Carignan Blanc, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Macabeu, Syrah |