press kit 2016

PRESS KIT
2016
Contents
1- RIGAL, more than 260 Years of History
2 - RIGAL, 2016 Innovations
3 - RIGAL, the Cahors Specialist
4 - RIGAL and its partner estates
5 -
RIGAL, the signature of the
Southwest of France
6 - RIGAL Key figures
RIGAL, more than 260 Years of History
Maison RIGAL has been an important wine company in the Southwest of France since
1755 and offers a comprehensive range of unique and generous wines from this region. Founded on strong values, RIGAL adopted the truffle oak as its emblem, as it symbolizes longevity, strength, deep roots and the terroir. Distributed in over 50 countries,
RIGAL today works with prominent partner estates and produces superb Cahors wines
and vins de pays, which pay tribute to the unique grape varieties of the Southwest of
France, including Malbec, Colombard and Gros Manseng. Its expertise is recognised
each year at major French and international wine competitions.
1755
The RIGAL story started in the heart of the Southwest, when the first few
vines were planted in the village of Parnac, near Cahors, at the foot of an oak tree
which still stands proudly amid the vineyards today. RIGAL is firmly rooted in Cahors,
a traditional French wine region, where the Malbec grape was born 2,000 years ago.
1957
Having survived the Phylloxera crisis, RIGAL expanded in 1957 with the acquisition of Château Saint Didier Parnac. Saint Didier was a historical figure, who was
first bishop of Cahors and then Pope in Avignon. In the 70’s, the Rigal brothers gave
new impetus to their company when they switched from the trading of wine in bulk to
the trading of wine in bottle.
1980
RIGAL was the first merchant recognized as a négociant-producteur (trader-producer) in the Southwest, supplying all the region’s major appellations: Cahors,
Gascogne, Madiran, Fronton, Gaillac and Monbazillac.
2003
RIGAL became part of the AdVini group and continued its international
growth, developing a comprehensive range and a distinctive RIGAL brand style.
2011
The Pieron family joined forces with RIGAL for the distribution of its Château
de Rouffiac and Château Bovila wines.
2014
Pursuing its quest for excellence, Maison RIGAL signed a partnership agreement with Château de Chambert, one of the top châteaux in the Cahors appellation.
2015
Maison RIGAL launched its “Talents du Sud-Ouest” (Talents from the Southwest) Collection.
RIGAL, 2016 Innovations
Rigal moves to Château de Chambert:
Rigal opened a new chapter in its Cahors history in 2016, when it formed an alliance
with Château Chambert, aimed at achieving excellence! The RIGAL team has now
moved its offices to Château de Chambert.
This move reflects the company’s strategic objectives and its repositioning as the
supplier of a premium range of wines, unique in Cahors, with over 200 hectares of
partner vineyards in the appellation’s finest terroirs.
The new RIGAL visitor facilities include a panoramic tasting room with a view over the
upper slopes of the Cahors vineyards, where the Malbec has reigned supreme for
centuries. This is the perfect setting from which RIGAL can promote its fine wines from
Cahors and its unique expertise.
RIGAL, 2016 Innovations
Product innovations
In 2016, the Instant, Original, «Sud-Ouest» and the «Talents du Sud-Ouest» ranges
are expanding with new products, respectively, l’Instant Pêcher, a dry Côtes de
Gascogne100% Gros Manseng, Original Braucol, a Comté Tolosan 100% Braucol, Ambroisie a Jurançon 50% Gros Manseng, 50% Petit Manseng and Domaine du Crampilh, a Madiran 100% Tannat.
A 100% digital strategy:
In 2016, Maison Rigal launches a new website... A simple, educational and easy-touse website. The products’ technical data sheets have been redesigned and a new
food-pairing section has been created, with special recipes from l’Atelier des Chefs.
Maison Rigal has also created new social media pages: a Facebook page, a Twitter
page, an Instagram and a Pinterest account and a Youtube chain.
RIGAL, the Cahors Specialist
France’s Lot department is the birthplace of the Malbec, a
grape variety of incredible potential which has been wellknown since the Middle Ages.
RIGAL has become the reference for Malbec from Cahors.
With over 135 hectares of vineyards, RIGAL promotes Cahors
fine wines from both the valley and the plateau, a unique offering from within the Appellation.
RIGAL’s Cahors range is an expression of the company’s
unique knowhow and boldly explores the versatility of the
Malbec grape variety in fruity, supple, classic and elegant
Cahors wines, and in very expressive terroir wines offering
excellent cellar-ageing potential.
The RIGAL Range
Rigal Terroirs:
These wines represent three of the greatest terroirs
of the Cahors appellation. RIGAL aims to express
the particular characteristics of the Malbec grown in
these different terroirs, in a unique wine.
Troisième Terrasse, Les Pierres Blanches,
Les Terres Rouges
Rigal Cahors:
A modern approach in terms of wine style and
packaging, along with consistent quality with
each vintage: the new generation Cahors.
Les Terrasses, L’Esquisse, L’Absolu, Grand Chêne
RIGAL, the Cahors Specialist
Rigal, the "Vin Noir»:
Rigal pays tribute to the mythical “Vin Noir” (black wine) of Cahors.
Taking a new approach to traditional vinification (hot pre-fermentation maceration and entirely vinified in oak barrels), RIGAL produces a rare and intense Malbec.
This is a gastronomic wine of rare finesse.
Vin Noir vinification procedure:
RIGAL and its partner estates
Representative of RIGAL’s deep roots in Cahors, the old, traditional properties of Château de Chambert, Château Saint-Didier-Parnac, Château de Rouffiac and Château
Bovila are recognized as the flagships of the appellation
Château St-Didier-Parnac:
Château Saint-Didier Parnac, acquired in 1957, is
the company’s iconic property and its wine is widely
distributed in France and abroad.
Its main wine is a traditional Cahors (blend
composed of 75% Malbec and 25% Merlot).
Château Bovila et Château de Rouffiac:
In 2011, RIGAL acquired the very old Reutenauer company. This allowed it to expand
its portfolio with the addition of two magnificent Cahors properties belonging to the
Pieron family - Château Bovila and Château de Rouffiac.
These two vineyard estates represent a total of 60 hectares and are located on the
Cahors appellation’s most famous terroirs, the silty-clay hillsides of the Third Terrace and
the limestone plateau of the Causse.
Château de Chambert:
Pursuing its strategy of excellence, RIGAL signed a
partnership agreement with Château de Chambert
in 2014.
Château de Chambert occupies the finest terroirs
on Cahors’ upper limestone slopes, at 300m above
sea level and made up of red clays and marine
limestone sediments.
Philippe Lejeune, the current owner of the domaine,
with Stéphane Derenoncourt as acting consultant, produces wines full of finesse and elegance
on this exceptional terroir. Chambert has upheld
its
reputation for excellence through the
centuries, boasting over 170 medals and prestigious
awards. A unique track record in Cahors.
RIGAL, the signature of the
Southwest of France
From Cahors and the Malbec, RIGAL has expanded its
expertise to include other varietals and appellations of the
Southwest of France.
Aged and bottled under its brand name, RIGAL seeks to
produce original AOC and varietal wines with a unique style
combining fruit, freshness, character and modernity.
Today, RIGAL is the only company able to supply all the
appellations from the Southwest of France.
RIGAL is part of the AdVini group and is backed up by its
important French and international sales force. It currently
ships its wines to over 50 countries from its modern, IFS and
BRC-certified production facilities.
Our Ranges
Rigal L’'instant:
A range of typical Southwest varietals,
delicious, easy-to-drink wines which are
excellent quality + enjoyment value-formoney. Each varietal has a predominant
aroma and each aroma offers a perfect
drinking moment.
L’instant Truffier (Malbec), L’instant Réglissé
(Braucol), L’instant Figuier (Gros Manseng),
L’instant Pêcher (Gros Manseng sec),
L’instant Passion (Sauvignon),
L’instant Safran (Malbec rosé)
RIGAL, the signature of the
Southwest of France
Rigal Original:
A range of the famous varietals
from the Southwest of France.
A range full of colours and flavours that delight the eye and
the palate.
Original Malbec,
Original Braucol,
Original Malbec Rosé,
Original Sauvignon,
Original Gros Manseng,
Original Colombard
Rigal Sud-Ouest:
This range showcases the flagship appellations of
the Southwest. It is a range of character which
explores the great diversity offered by the Southwest of France.
Phorcys
(Madiran),
Ambroisie
(Jurançon),
Fringant (IGP Côtes de Gascogne)
Rigal's "Les Talents du Sud-Ouest»:
This range showcases the talent of unique and
remarkable winemakers from the Southwest.
RIGAL proudly presents its collection of domaines and châteaux from the Southwest,
produced by its winemaker partners who work
to stringent specifications, assisted by RIGAL’s
wine manager (vinification, choice of blend).
Château Beauvillain Monpezat (Cahors),
Domaine du Crampilh (Madiran),
Domaine Hauret (Côtes de Gascogne),
Château La Tour Olivier (Gaillac)
RIGAL Key figures
Surface area of associated vineyards: more than 200 Ha
Volume sold under the RIGAL brand: around 1 million bottles
Breakdown of production volume
26%
Cahors
Appellation
48%
Other Southwest
Appellations
26%
IGP Southwest
Breakdown of sales
France Focus
16%
49%
51%
84%
France
Export
Off Trade (supermarkets)
Export Countries: mainly Canada, the UK,
the Netherlands,Germany and Japan.
On Trade
Press Contact
Morgane Dupiech
morgane.dupiech@rigal.fr
Tél: +33 (0)5 65 30 78 06
MAISON RIGAL
Château de Chambert
Les Hauts Coteaux
46700 - Floressas
www.rigal.fr