Rosette AOC

Rosette AOC sits northwest of the town of Bergerac in Southwest France, within the broader Bergerac appellation. The six communes that make up the appellation benefit from south-facing amphitheater terrain, which provides exceptional sun exposure for ripening grapes. At just 44 hectares, Rosette ranks among the smallest and most obscure AOCs in all of France.

• Six communes northwest of Bergerac town center
• South-facing amphitheater terrain maximizes sun exposure
• Part of the greater Bergerac AOC and EU Protected Designation of Origin (AOP/PDO)
• Vineyard area has contracted steadily due to urban encroachment and shifting wine market trends

Rosette experiences a maritime climate with a continental influence, resulting in cooler winters and warmer summers than neighboring Bordeaux. The soils are a patchwork of sand and gravel with a heavy, impermeable clay layer beneath, as well as lighter, acidic sandy soils. This combination of terrain and climate shapes the appellation's characteristic style: fresh, vibrant, and moderately sweet rather than richly luscious.

• Maritime climate tempered by continental influence
• Cooler winters and warmer summers than Bordeaux
• Sand and gravel soils over impermeable clay, plus light acidic sandy soils
• Soil structure and sun exposure contribute to freshness and vibrancy in the wines

Rosette AOC produces semi-sweet to sweet white wines exclusively from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, and Sauvignon Gris. Regulations require that Sauvignon varieties collectively account for 15-70% of each blend, ensuring a consistent aromatic profile. The wines are pale straw in color with fruity and floral aromas, and they are notably lighter and fresher than similar Sauternes-influenced wines from nearby Monbazillac.

• Permitted grapes: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris
• Sauvignon varieties must be 15-70% of the blend
• Pale straw color with fruity and floral aromatics
• Lighter and fresher style than Monbazillac and similar Southwest French sweet wines

Vines have been cultivated in this corner of the Dordogne since the Middle Ages. The phylloxera crisis of the 1880s nearly wiped out viticulture in the area entirely, as it did across Europe. Recovery was gradual, and the producers' union formed in 1943 before the appellation was formally recognized in 1946. Since the mid-20th century, the appellation has faced ongoing pressure from changing consumer preferences toward drier wines and urban expansion from the growing town of Bergerac, contributing to a steady reduction in planted vineyard area.

• Viticulture in the area dates to the Middle Ages
• Phylloxera devastated vineyards in the 1880s
• Producers' union established 1943; AOC status granted 1946
• Vineyard area has declined steadily due to shifting tastes and urban encroachment