Dauvergne et Ranvier

Dauvergne & Ranvier: Rhône Valley Wines - Tavel, Gard

Dauvergne & Ranvier, the warmest wine house in the South of France.

History and origins of the estate

François Dauvergne grew up between Bordeaux and the estate of Saint-Polycarpe, near Limoux, where his family owned a vineyard property. To fund his business school studies, he sold wine door to door. That is where the passion took hold. After working for major houses in Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, the decisive meeting came: in 1996, he crossed paths with Jean-François Ranvier.

Jean-François Ranvier was born surrounded by vines in Bagnols-sur-Cèze. Drawn first to geology, he went on to become an oenologist after completing an agronomy engineering degree in Montpellier. He ran an oenology consulting laboratory, then took charge of winemaking at a leading Rhône Valley house. Two different paths, one shared conviction about what wine should be, and the adventure began.

The terroir and its unique character

Dauvergne & Ranvier was born in the Rhône Valley, based in Tavel, one of the Gard's most celebrated appellations, long renowned for its exceptional rosés. But the duo's vision extends well beyond the Rhône. Over the years and through encounters, they have built strong human connections with growers from other regions, particularly in Bordeaux, taking their expertise across regional boundaries.

Their strength lies in their network of people. Over the years, Dauvergne & Ranvier have built lasting relationships with growers who share the same values, men and women rooted in their terroirs, who farm carefully and precisely. Much like a chef who selects ingredients directly from the producer, François and Jean-François choose the grapes that will make up each cuvée, working alongside their partners throughout the year, from vineyard to bottle.

Working the vines and our commitments

The Dauvergne & Ranvier method is built on genuine trust with growers. They work alongside them throughout the year, exchange ideas, and refine together the harvest date, that precise, crucial moment when everything is decided. When barrel ageing is called for, they purchase the casks and make them available to the growers. A real partnership, not a simple buyer-seller transaction.

The vast majority of wine in the range is made from organically farmed grapes. The environmental commitment is inseparable from their approach, working with growers who share the same respect for soil and nature is a condition, not an added bonus.

Each year, like a chef imagining new recipes, they create new cuvées from new appellations. This creative freedom defines them: a constant search for the finest fruit, on the best-suited plot, with the grower who understands their terroir most deeply.

Grape varieties and appellations

The Dauvergne & Ranvier range covers the great appellations of the Rhône Valley, Côtes-du-Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas,  Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Tavel, as well as Luberon,and several IGP designations. One of the most complete southern French ranges under a single house.

Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier form the backbone of the Rhône blends. On each appellation, the grape varieties are worked in accordance with their natural expression. Jean-François Ranvier, trained in geology before turning oenologist, reads soils as much as he tastes wines. This dual reading of terroir is what gives every Dauvergne & Ranvier cuvée its aromatic precision and sincerity.

The wine style and the cuvées

Dauvergne & Ranvier wines have a recognisable signature: fruity, precise, with a southern generosity that never overwhelms the finesse. Whether it is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape built for ageing or a Luberon for an everyday dinner, the house stands for the same thing, a wine that sparks conversation at the table, that opens a discussion rather than closing one.

What you will only find with Dauvergne & Ranvier

Grower partners, selected for their values. Dauvergne & Ranvier work with growers who cultivate their plots with the same exacting standards, respect for the soil, care for the fruit, organic commitment. This selection, as much human as technical, is what allows them to bring the same integrity to a Châteauneuf-du-Pape and an IGP Ardèche alike.

A geologist behind every cuvée. Jean-François Ranvier reads soils the way others read maps. His training in geology, combined with his oenology, gives him a way of understanding terroir that few houses can match. It is not just technique, it is a particular sensitivity to what the land has to say.

A genuinely committed house. Dauvergne & Ranvier support the Agir pour le Cambodge association (APLC) and its hospitality school Sala Baï, which trains around a hundred young Cambodians from extreme poverty each year for careers in hotels and restaurants, with over 98% finding employment within a year. They also support the Avignon Jazz Festival and the Théâtre Le Cratère in Alès. Wines that are engaged, not only delicious.

15 appellations, one signature. From Côte Rôtie to Luberon, via Châteauneuf-du-Pape every cuvée carries the mark of François Dauvergne and Jean-François Ranvier, a taste for ripe, precise fruit, thoughtful blending, and wines that open up at the table and make you want to fill the glasses again.

Frequently asked questions about Dauvergne & Ranvier