Chateau Rayas

Chateau Rayas is one of the most prestigious wineries in the southern Rhône Valley, renowned for its exceptional wines of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC appellation. The estate’s history began in 1880 when Albert Reynaud, after losing his hearing, purchased the château and devoted himself to winemaking. His successor, Louis Reynaud, elevated the estate to a new level by becoming one of the first producers to bottle and sell their own wine in the region. He also drew attention to the products by adding the «Premier Grand Cru» designation to the labels, despite violating appellation laws. The Reynaud family significantly expanded their holdings by acquiring Chateau des Tours (1935) and Chateau Fonsalette (1945), as well as constructing new cellars in the Pignan area. After Jacques Reynaud’s death in 1997, management passed to his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, who restored the wines’ former greatness starting in 2005. He is now preparing his sons, Louis Damien Reynaud and Benoît Reynaud, to take over the estate. Today, Chateau Rayas remains a legendary domain, with vintages from Jacques Reynaud’s era reaching prices of $2,000 per bottle.