Vacqueyras
The Vacqueyras appellation was created as recently as 1990 (previously it was a leading Côtes du Rhône Village) since when the quality of its wines has steadily improved. However, it remains in the shadow of appellations such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas, desperately needing someone to make its name on the international stage.
Famille Perrin and Xavier Vignon make some of the best Vacqueyras wines.
Wine quality generally lies somewhere between the better Villages wines and Gigondas, as one would expect. However, it was only with the 1999 vintage that it has become clear why Vacqueyras received its own appellation: some exceptional wines were produced. Since then, it has been clear that Vacqueyras deserves its status as the third cru in the region with successful vintages mirroring those of neighbouring Gigondas in particular.
