RIBERACH

Belesta, France

Riberach is a winery and eco-hotel located at the base of the Pyrenees in Belesta France. Historically this region was part of Catalunya, and the influence is still felt. The couple Luc Richard and Karin Puringher bought the building that houses Riberach and took it from a falling down wreck, to a beautiful resort that houses the hotel, restaurant, and winery. They have preserved the architectural details of the original building, honoring the the history of the building and town.

Riberach wines are a collaboration between friends who believe in bio-diversity, preservation of the the land, and sustainability. The vineyard is ten hectares in the foothills of the Pyrenees, forty meters up. Vinfication is done done traditionally with fermentation done in resin tanks, with aging done in a combination of large 600 litre barrels, or standard smaller sized barrels, depending on the varietal. Riberach is focused on local varietals, like carignan, carignan gris, macabeau, and grenache. Some of the vines date as far back as 80-90 years, with others dating back to the first grafted vines after the phylloxera epidemic. There are no chemicals used in the vineyard, fermentation is spontaneous using naturally occurring yeast.