Tahiti wine is produced in the heart of the South Pacific, more precisely on the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. Making a quality wine in that place in the world, that was the challenge that Dominique Auroy took on in the 1990s. This businessman, who has lived in French Polynesia for over 40 years, wanted to reinvent wine in the Pacific.
Vineyard of Rangiroa
Long years of research preceded the first vineyard on French Polynesian soil. Production of such magnitude had never before been undertaken in Polynesia, not even on an atoll. The vineyard is located on Rangiroa, one of the largest atolls in the world, almost the size of the island of Tahiti. The atoll was already known for its beautiful seabed and is now also for its wine. The wine is produced on a small motu (island) a few minutes by boat from the village of Avatoru. At the end of the road lined with coconut trees, rows of vines suddenly appear. Here is the domain Ampélidacées, where the vines grow 100 m from the lagoon and less than 400 m from the ocean. The Rangiroa vineyard is the result of a long-term effort that required a lot of effort and patience from the initiators and their team. The domain’s technical team is led and motivated by Sébastien Thépenier. As a vinologist, he has continued the work of his predecessors (Thierry Chaumais and Bruno Corneaux) on the vineyard since 2002.
Control of the growth cycle
A good knowledge of the soil is vital in growing the vines. Water also plays a key role. Irrigation is possible thanks to wells dug at the lowest point of the plot to the water layer, which is never exhausted and is not too deep. Constant monitoring of the vineyard’s water balance is very important for quality. But most importantly on this terra incognita ?? remains in control of the growth cycle: the sun and the size of the vine determine flowering, ripening and harvest, because the Polynesian climate does not have a cold season.
Grapes
The first grape varieties were imported in 1992. They have been subjected to acclimation and selection tests on the main archipelagos of Polynesia. Because the seasons differ little from one another, it is the size of the plant that initiates a growth cycle, so that new branches emerge which in turn produce grapes.
There are two harvests per year, one in the month of May and one in the month of November, which are called the winter harvest and the summer harvest.
Some important dates
- 1992-1994: Vines are planted on the five archipelagos to determine the ideal location of the vineyard.
- 1997: Three hectares are being planted on Rangiroa, after a whole series of works.
- 1999-2000: First vintage.
- 2003: The domain produces 400 bottles with each harvest (harvesting is done twice a year).
- 2005: Construction of a new wine store.
- 2006: Production increases from 10 to 26 tons of grapes.
- 2008: The white, dry Vin de Tahiti 2006, aged in oak barrels, takes the silver medal at the 14th edition of the Vinalies Internationales in Paris.
- 2009: The Blanc de Corail 2007 takes the silver medal at the 15th edition of the Vinalies Internationales in Paris.
- 2010: The domain extends over 8 hectares of vineyard with a production of 40,000 bottles per year.