Saint-Péray AOC

An area classified as a cru in the northern section of the Rhône on the right bank, named after the town of the same name. This is located around five kilometres west of Valence on the eastern flank of the Massif Central and is overlooked by the ruins of Crussol Castle. Viticulture was already practised here by the Romans. The name Saint-Pérey refers to St Peter. The vineyards cover 60 hectares in the communes of Saint-Pérey and Toulaud in the Département of Ardèche. They are largely protected from the cold winds of the Mistral. The area is crossed by the river Mialan.

The white wine is blended from Marsanne and Roussanne. A sparkling wine is produced from the same varieties under the Saint-Péray Mousseux label. The first sparkling wine was produced here as early as 1829. One famous lover was the composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883). In 1877, while he was working on the opera Parsifal, he had 100 bottles sent to Bayreuth by express post. Well-known producers include Chaboud, Auguste Clape, Bernard Gripa, Jaboulet-Aîné, Jean Lionnet, Thiers and Alain Voge. There is also a grape variety called Saint-Péray Blanc.

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