HIstory

The creation of a vineyard in French Polynesia required long years of preliminary research. No production of such scope had yet been undertaken in Polynesia, and certainly not on an atoll.

The most important in winegrowing is understanding the soil. Another element essential to the balance of winegrowing territories is water. Irrigation is made possible by wells dug at the lowest point of the plot, reaching the water table, which is always present and never very deep. The moisture content of the vine stock and its evolution are very important for properly conducting the development of a terroir. The sun also has a decisive influence on the vine in producing quality fruit. But what is crucial on this "terra incognita" remains the control of the vegetative cycle, the quality of sun exposure and the pruning which will actually determine the time of blossoming, maturing and harvesting, as Polynesian climate does not feature a cold season.

The first stocks were imported in 1992 and went though acclimation and selection tests in the main archipelagos of Polynesia. Because seasons are not clear-cut, it is the pruning that will kick start the life cycle, provoke a stress and allow the birth of new buds that will turn into grapes.

There are two harvests per year, in May and December, which we call austral winter and austral summer harvests.

The Rangiroa vineyard is the result of long hard work, demanding much patience from the promoters of the project and their team.

A few key dates

1992-1994 : Plantation try-outs in the five archipelagos, to determine the ideal location for winegrowing in French Polynesia.
1997 : Three hectares are planted in Rangiroa after much groundwork.
1999-2000 : First harvests.
2003 : The winery produces 400 bottles per harvest, twice a year.
2005 : Construction of a new storehouse.
2006 : Production rises from 10 to 26 tons of grapes.
2008 : The Vin de Tahiti Blanc sec, raised in oak barrels, vintage 2006, wins the silver medal at the 14th Vinalies Internationales in Paris.
2009 : The Vin de Tahiti Blanc de corail, vintage 2007, wins the silver medal at the 15th Vinalies Internationales in Paris.
2010 : The domaine represents 6 hectares of vine and a production of 30 000 bottles per year.