Domaine Richaud, the benchmark for Cairanne in the Rhône Valley.

The domaine Richaud is a domaine wine estate in the Southern Rhône Valley located in Cairanne, which produces red wine and white wine made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre at buy online at prices domaine for home delivery.

Which wines from the domaine Buy Richaud ?

The “little ones” Côtes du Rhône are an excellent introduction to Richaud’s range of red wines. "Terres d'Aigles" is all about fruit, and it is this cuvée that should be purchased to enjoy in its youth and appreciate the expertise of the Richaud family.

With the second cuvée slightly denser, "Les Garrigues" ,it can also be cellared for around 5 years depending on the vintage, as Cairanne is a rich, sun-drenched AOP and both cuvées are made from noble local grape varieties: mainly Grenache, followed by Syrah and Carignan, among others.

Then we move on to the serious stuff with the AOP Cairanne and no longer mere Côtes du Rhône. The grape variety Mourvèdre accounts for the majority of the blend (alongside the ever-essential Grenache, Syrah and, to a lesser extent, Carignan). The cuvée "tradition" is the archetype of AOP Cairanne: rich and structured, yet with a finesse that only the finest winegrowers can reveal, often thanks to very old vines.

The cuvées "Ebrescade" and "Estrambords" are, lastly, the cuvées prestige wines, best enjoyed after they have been allowed to mellow for a few years. Ask us advice to choose between several vintages, especially new releases that are sometimes too young to reveal their full depth. The AOP Cairanne produces great red wines built for ageing, even in bottle format. But if you prefer magnums, the ageing potential will be greater, as the wine matures more slowly there.

Approach by cuvée, description of our selections:

Côtes du Rhône Terres d'Aigles:

This is the Richaud family's “simple” Côtes du Rhône—the bottle beginners love to buy without a second thought, and one you can serve slightly chilled if you wish. Made mainly from 70-year-old Grenache vines, its finesse pairs effortlessly with everything, especially in summer !

Côtes du Rhône Les Garrigues:

The quintessential “fully ripe” wine. From the warmest and driest parcels of the domaine, this cuvée with notes of jammy red fruit, black olive and anise, perfectly reflecting the typicity of the terroir of Garrigues. Enjoy within 4–5 years

Cairanne Tradition:

The cuvée flagship of domaine Richaud. Aged 40% in barrels and 60% in vats, achieving a legendary balance between tannins, fruit and freshness. The average age of the vines is around half a century, and yields are tiny for the region: 25 hectolitres per hectare). These vieilles vignes are scattered between the heights of the village of Cairanne and the foot of the slopes, mostly facing due south on terroirs with stony surface soils over Miocene subsoil. This is the Cairanne that goes with everything, perfectly suited to summer barbecues if you are looking for a wine with body, but not too much !

Cairanne L'Ebrescade:

This is the first cuvée parcel-based from the domaine, aged for two years in used oak barrels of varying sizes. As always at Richaud, the vines are very old and yields extremely low (here between 15 and 20 hectolitres per hectare depending on the vintage). The parcels selected for this cuvée, in the Ebrescade area, are located on high-altitude hillsides (around 320 meters) between Cairanne and Rasteau. The cuvée is beautifully age-worthy and can continue to develop for 10 years, or even twice as long in certain vintages. The finesse of this cuvée after a few years in the cellar, it will pair beautifully with the finest cuisine, much as a Châteauneuf-du-Pape and its famous galets roulés would.

Cairanne Les Estrambords:

It is the cuvée "apart", which is not released with every new vintage. As its name suggests, there are no rules in the making of this cuvée. Showcasing a grape variety, a terroir, or an ageing trial may be the subject of an Estrambord. In 2022, it is a cuvée of "super-prestige" as the vintage lent itself to it. The grapes come from the mountain in Cairanne, among the most prestigious sites in the vineyard: from vieilles vignes located in the lieux-dits Ebrescades and Combes. It is the cuvée to buy if you want to impress—first with its rarity, but also with its quality. In a blind tasting, no one will guess it is AOP Cairanne.

What are the characteristics of the red wines from Domaine Richaud ?

Red wines from domaine Richaud are predominantly Grenache and Syrah, which gives them aromas of red fruit and black, of Spices, from garrigue. Some cuvées are home to Mourvèdre, with a touch of coffee, leather, chocolate with age. On the palate, the structure becomes increasingly tannic depending on the length of maturation in the domaine, each tailored to the grape variety of the cuvée. The alcohol content is often high, but perfectly integrated with the fully ripe fruit, making it almost imperceptible. This is the talent from winemakers that comes through in this Balance. The diversity of red wine production makes it possible to enjoy both a cuvée on fresh fruit, sometimes another on well-defined tannins, but always with a signature balance that allows for Food and wine pairing exceptional, with the freshness and the minerality derived from the limestone of the Cairanne region which, together with the rolled-pebble soils and Miocene subsoils, make them very close rivals to Châteauneuf-du-pape the illustrious neighbor, notably thanks to length on the palate impressive.

The domaine Richaud was one of the pioneers of the organic farming in the region, Marcel Richaud had been working without inputs since 1980, and it was not until 2008 that he finally decided to obtain “official” certification. He passed on his experience to his children, who continue to follow the organic path.

How should you enjoy Richaud wines? Serving, cellaring, and food and wine pairings.

The Côtes du Rhône red wines from the domaine Richaud can be enjoyed young and slightly chilled (in an ice bucket filled with cold water, no ice cubes!) as their tannins are supple; there is no need to decant them, and they can be opened on the spur of the moment with friends, whatever the menu. They are not intended for long-term cellaring.

The reds of Cairanne in general and those of the domaine Richaud in particular are enjoyed around 17°C. Served too cool, the tannins would seem too assertive; too warm, the notable yet harmonious alcohol would come to the fore. Meats and cheeses are the finest partners for Cairanne, especially lamb, duck and various game. In summer, grilled, or in winter in slow-cooked dishes or in a delicately spiced sauce, the Provençal cuisine will be perfectly paired. If the vintage is not too mature, Richaud’s Cairanne will benefit from being decanted in a carafe to benefit from aeration, which will bring out its aromas. Indeed, the minimal dose of sulfites added only at bottling allows the wine to travel, but the winegrowers have deliberately limited oxygen exposure to prevent any oxidation. It is therefore up to the final consumer to oxygenate the wine so it can regain its original aromas; this may take around an hour in a decanter. Be patient !

Where is the Domaine Richaud ?

The domaine Richaud is THE domaine flagship of the AOP Cairanne, a small village in the southern Côtes du Rhône located among the thirteen villages renowned for their wine production, some of which have obtained their own AOP, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau... To put it simply, they are all located between Montélimar and Avignon. The domaine consists of 80 hectares of vines (mostly Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan), garrigue and forest, spread across a multitude of plots, all farmed in BIO for decades.

Which grape varieties are used in the Domaine Richaud ?

Grenache:

Aromas of ripe red and black fruits: strawberry, raspberry, black cherry. Aromas of sweet spices: pepper, garrigue, sometimes liquorice. With age, it tends towards leather, undergrowth and brandied fruit. On the palate, the structure is clearly present, rich and full, with a velvety texture and supple, rounded tannins, not forgetting a potential sensation of warmth. Acidity is moderate, but sufficient for balance. It is prized for its resistance to heat and its adaptation to stony and clay-limestone soils. It is, in a sense, the backbone of the wines of the domaine Richaud.

Syrah:

It plays an essential role alongside Grenache, bringing tension to the blend through its freshness and structure, with tannins more pronounced than those of Grenache. It also contributes colour and ageing potential. Its aromas are centred on black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry), spices (black pepper, clove), and floral notes, particularly violet. The palate is structured and long.

Carignan:

A grape variety that perfectly complements Grenache and Syrah, it brings freshness (thanks to its natural acidity) and character (with a more defined structure than Grenache). Its aromas are driven by black fruits (blackberry, black cherry), notes of garrigue and Mediterranean herbs, sometimes with a slightly wild, spicy touch. Its acidity gives the wines that benefit from it excellent ageing potential over time (and in a good cellar).

Mourvèdre:

A little like Carignan, but more challenging because of its late ripening, Mourvèdre offers aromas of black fruit (blackberry, plum) and spicy, lightly peppery notes, evolving over time towards coffee, garrigue, leather and undergrowth. Structured and powerful, Mourvèdre also brings tannins to the blend, lending a fine sense of depth and length—in short, the typically full-bodied character of Cairanne.

What are the prices of the wines from the Domaine Richaud ?

As with many domaines, quality and ageing potential increase with price. But it is important to tailor your wine purchase to the occasion. These are the simple Côtes du Rhône (€10–15) which will seem better in the year following bottling if compared with the Cairanne yet sold at a higher price (20-30 €). The anticipated long ageing potential is, of course, a mark of quality, but patience is required to witness it, so much so that the cuvée Ebrescade (around €30) may seem less good than the cuvée "Tradition" (around €20) if tasted too early! After 10 years, it will indeed be far superior and its price justified. Naturally, enthusiasts who prefer the powerful wines with well-defined tannins will be delighted by a young Cairanne, especially with game !

The advantage of structured wines such as those from the Rhône Valley is that you can invest over time: buy full cases to have them delivered to your home and lay them down in the cellar for varying lengths of time depending on the cuvées, in order to open one per year over 6 years, for example. This is all the more important when production quantities are limited, as at the domaine Richaud, a domaine leading, with prices that have remained highly accessible and the greatest Cairanne of all. Later, once the wines are no longer available anywhere, you can enjoy them over the years while they are still vibrant, appreciating how they evolve with time. This often brings wonderful surprises and the deep satisfaction of having made the investment a few years earlier. 

What is the history of the Domaine Richaud ?

The story of Marcel Richaud is intertwined with that of his domaine, which has gradually become the leading force in establishing the qualitative recognition of Cairanne wines worldwide.

1970s–2010s : Marcel Richaud took over the land from his father, Gaston. A visionary, as early as 1974, at the age of 20, Marcel Richaud set himself apart from the outset in his uncompromising pursuit of quality, even if it meant reducing yields. From 1974, he made the completely unconventional choice of organic farming and avoiding inputs that standardize taste. Winemaking is natural, while the use of sulfur and motorized machinery is kept to a strict minimum. The domaine does not use chemical herbicides, in order to preserve the leaf canopy and the vine’s natural balance.

1998 : a new, more modern winery is built.

2008 : The entire vineyard has ultimately been certified by the ECOCERT label

2009 : The new generation is gradually taking over. Marcel Richaud’s children, Thomas (in 2009) and Claire (in 2014), and most recently Edith, are carrying on their father’s work. Together, they are working on replanting the hillsides to produce fine Cairanne wines, both white and red. The domaine now spans 80 hectares between Cairanne and Rasteau. All the terroirs and grape varieties of the appellation are represented here.

2015 : Marcel Richaud joins forces with the Alary brothers to establish precise specifications that showcase his terroirs; Cairanne is granted “Cru” status within Côtes du Rhône.

Podcast RadioVino: Claire and Marcel Richaud (2021)

Marcel Richaud, pioneer of the modern natural Rhône:

Marcel Richaud initiated, alongside other winegrowers—some a little more eccentric or influenced by the cosmos—what is today regarded as best viticultural practices. In qualitative terms, of course, while never forgetting respect for the terroir and its expression in the various cuvées produced. He could have carried out this groundwork in any AOP, but his home ground is Cairanne, and it was he who undertook the key steps — as he knows every corner of it — to obtain the AOP with national institutions. It has therefore been pioneer in limiting yields and sulfite levels in the wines, with minimal chemical intervention in the vineyards and cellars (but without excess, and without ideological extremism). The hand-harvested were previously prohibited, he institutionalized them. Yields were consequently restricted (even with green harvesting), all with an openly quality-driven aim. What a success! The reputation of Cairanne wines is now almost as significant as that of Châteauneuf-du-Pape !

Podcast - Radio Vino: Marcel Richaud (2021)

What are the reviews of the Domaine Richaud ?

the domaine Richaud has for decades been the leading domaine benchmark wine of the AOP Cairanne, holding a special place in the hearts of lovers of red wines from the southern Rhône Valley. Each vintage shows a consistency exceptional, each cuvée also, perfectly representative of its terroir. The arid climat of Cairanne is not overly apparent in Richaud’s wines, even though they are fairly high in alcohol, as the family has acquired tremendous expertise in vinifying while preserving the balance between fruit, tannins, alcohol and acidity. A savoir-faire a rare cross-generational appeal, highly valuable at these latitudes. We love these wines, and we believe they deserve a place in your cellar. But as some clients have told us, “we are not objective, since we have tasted and selected them to sell: we have a vested interest.” That is why we prefer to “defend” our selection with the opinions and comments of major guides, more objective than we are:

Guide RVF des Meilleurs Vins de France 2026 (Sept. 2025): 2★/4 (Grand domaine benchmark). This domaine This Southern Rhône icon is masterfully run. Marie and Marcel Richaud can be proud of the work accomplished. Since 2014, Claire and Thomas have taken over, adding their own touch while preserving the spirit of the wines of the domaine, combining fine ripeness with freshness. We are impressed by the handling of wines with high alcohol levels. Each cuvée expresses its terroir and shows a highly distinctive aromatic profile. The quality and handling of the tannins are superb.

RVF Guide to the Best Wines of France 2022 : 2*/3 (very large domaine). There are very few winegrowers in France as exacting and accomplished, from vineyard to cellar, as Marcel Richaud. He has reached the pinnacle of his craft since acquiring a vinification and ageing cellar worthy of his ambitions. For wine lovers, this producer’s work is a blessing. His entire range reaches a remarkable level and is immediately captivating. Year after year, the wines gain in finesse and precision, while preserving the balance and ripeness of the South.

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2026 : 4*/5 (Very High Quality). Some winegrowers alone evoke an entire appellation; the charismatic Marcel Richaud is one of them. He has unquestionably helped bring noble status to the youngest of the southern Côtes du Rhône crus. The new generation that joined the family estate a few years ago is firmly intent on carrying the house’s savoir-faire into the future. Yet, as if to mark a turning point, Claire and Thomas have acquired a further 20 hectares, half of which adjoin the famous Ebrescades parcel, promising some delightful surprises to come. Most recently, Edith, the youngest, yielded to the siren call—above all, that of the vines; after a brilliant Parisian career in the domaine from the luxury sector, she eventually settled in the charming little village of Cairanne, bringing a major additional asset to the wonderful Richaud family.

Explore our selection of Fine Wines from domaine Richaud :