Domaine Rabiega

Domaine Rabiega is a wine estate, boutique hotel and restaurant located in the Provençal countryside just outside Draguignan in the Var department of France. The property combines vineyard land, olive groves and hospitality: it produces estate wines under the Rabiega and Domaine Rabiega names, operates a 26-room boutique hotel set in an olive grove with views over the vineyard and the Malmont mountains, and runs Restaurant Rabiega, which is open to the public. The estate also hosts wine tastings, weddings and receptions, small business meetings and private estate buyouts, and offers packages such as a 'Provence Escape' stay. The modern commercial history of Rabiega begins in the 1960s, when Christiane Rabiega started producing wine under the Rabiega name, building on land that had been connected to wine and agriculture since the 16th century. In 1986 the Swedish state-owned company Vin & Sprit, then holding Sweden's monopoly on wine imports, acquired the property both as a conference and course facility and to deepen its own winemaking expertise. The appointment of Lars Torstenson as winemaker in 1988 marked a turning point in quality, and international recognition followed in 1993 when a Syrah-based prestige cuvée from the 1990 vintage, Clos Dière Cuvée I, achieved great success in an international wine competition. This helped establish Domaine Rabiega as one of the notable wine estates of Provence. In the early 2000s Vin & Sprit decided to refocus on its core business, and in 2005 it announced that Domaine Rabiega would be sold; Lars Torstenson left the estate at that time. The property was bought in 2006 by the Åkesson family, previously associated with Kronovall Castle, and was later sold to a French owner who died in 2017, after which the estate was again for sale. In the summer of 2019 Yohan Adell von Corswant and Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB, a Swedish wine importer based in Stockholm, began work on acquiring the estate together with a number of Swedish investors. Since 27 July 2020 Domaine Rabiega has been under Swedish ownership via Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB, with Lars Torstenson once again connected to the winemaking. During 2020 and 2021 the estate was renovated, including the hotel and restaurant/bistro, and the wines have appeared in Systembolaget's order assortment as well as at selected wine bars and restaurants.

The land that now forms Domaine Rabiega has been connected to wine and agriculture since the 16th century, shaped by the Provençal landscape and climate. The modern history of the estate began in the 1960s, when Mrs Christiane Rabiega started producing wine under the Rabiega name, laying the foundation for the estate as it is known today. In 1986 the Swedish company Vin & Sprit acquired the property. At the time Vin & Sprit held the Swedish monopoly on wine imports and saw Rabiega as an opportunity to deepen its understanding of winemaking by operating its own vineyard in Provence; the estate also served as a conference and course facility. The wines of the early Vin & Sprit period were not considered especially successful, but a new chapter began in 1988 when Lars Torstenson was appointed winemaker. With dedication and a clear vision, he played an important role in elevating the quality and reputation of the wines. International recognition followed in 1993, when a Syrah-based prestige cuvée from the 1990 vintage — Clos Dière Cuvée I — achieved great success in an international wine competition. The result helped establish Domaine Rabiega as one of the notable wine estates in Provence, with a reputation as one of the best in its appellation, Côtes de Provence. This occurred at a time when several producers in southern France, in Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon, were redefining the region's reputation for quality, producing wines that could stand alongside the classic French appellations. In the early 2000s Vin & Sprit decided to focus on its core business, concluding that owning and running a conference facility and its own wine production did not belong to that core. Following Sweden's entry into the European Union in 1995 the company had also lost its monopoly position as Swedish wine importer, which reduced the importance of the wine business relative to spirits production, notably the export success of Absolut Vodka. In 2005 it was therefore announced that Domaine Rabiega would be sold, and Lars Torstenson left the estate at that time. In 2006 the property was bought by the Åkesson family, who had previously run Kronovall Castle. After a few years the estate was sold to a French owner, who died in 2017, and the property was then again for sale. During the summer of 2019 Yohan Adell von Corswant and Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB, a Swedish wine importer based in Stockholm, began work on acquiring the estate together with a number of Swedish investors. Since 27 July 2020 Domaine Rabiega has been under Swedish ownership via Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB, and Lars Torstenson is once again connected to the winemaking, which is pursued with high ambitions. During 2020 and 2021 the estate was renovated, including a hotel and restaurant/bistro, with a planned opening date for stage 1 of 1 August. Across these eras the wine range evolved. During the Vin & Sprit era the assortment included Clos Dière Cuvée I (a Syrah-dominant prestige cuvée), Clos Dière Cuvée II (a Carignan-dominant prestige cuvée with Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon), Clos Dière Blanc (a white wine of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier), and Rabiega Rouge, a standard-quality red created in 1997 from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with shorter oak ageing, using barrels from various parts of France (Allier, Nevers, Vosges, Tronçais), the USA, Slovenia, Hungary and Russia. Rabiega also produced special variants, such as a series in which the same base wine was aged in oak barrels of different origins and bottled separately. After the Åkesson takeover the range was restructured: Clos Dière became a 100% Syrah prestige cuvée corresponding to the earlier Cuvée I; Le Rocher became a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant prestige cuvée with Syrah; and Cuvée Selection became a series of white varietal wines labelled by grape variety. In addition, several standard-quality red, rosé and white wines are made under the Rabiega and Domaine Rabiega designations. A number of the estate's wines are found in Systembolaget's order assortment and, in time, possibly in selected stores; they are also available at well-stocked wine bars and restaurants.

• 2021

  Renovation of the estate, including hotel and restaurant/bistro, continues.

• 2020

  From 27 July the estate is under Swedish ownership via Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB; renovation of hotel and restaurant begins.

• 2019

  Yohan Adell von Corswant and Gastrodev Vin & Sprit AB begin the acquisition process with Swedish investors.

• 2017

  The French owner of the estate dies, and the property is again for sale.

• 2006

  The Åkesson family, previously associated with Kronovall Castle, buys the estate.

• 2005

  Vin & Sprit announces the sale of Domaine Rabiega; Lars Torstenson leaves the estate.

• 1997

  Rabiega Rouge, a standard-quality red of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, is created.

• 1993

  Clos Dière Cuvée I, a Syrah-based prestige cuvée from the 1990 vintage, achieves great success in an international wine competition.

• 1988

  Lars Torstenson is appointed winemaker, elevating the quality and reputation of the wines.

• 1986

  Swedish state-owned Vin & Sprit acquires the property, using it as a conference facility and to deepen winemaking expertise.

• 1960

  Christiane Rabiega begins producing wine under the Rabiega name, founding the modern estate.

A Provençal wine estate and boutique hospitality destination combining estate wines, vineyard-view accommodation and Mediterranean dining, with a long-standing Swedish ownership and market connection.

• Clos Dière Cuvée I

  Syrah-dominant prestige cuvée from the Vin & Sprit era; the 1990 vintage won international recognition in 1993.

• Clos Dière Cuvée II

  Carignan-dominant prestige cuvée with Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

• Clos Dière Blanc

  White wine of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Viognier.

• Clos Dière

  After the Åkesson takeover, a 100% Syrah prestige cuvée corresponding to the earlier Cuvée I.

• Le Rocher

  Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant prestige cuvée with Syrah.

• Cuvée Selection

  A series of white varietal wines labelled by grape variety.

• Rabiega Rouge

  Standard-quality red created in 1997 from Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah with shorter oak ageing.

• Rabiega / Domaine Rabiega range

  Standard-quality red, rosé and white wines under the Rabiega and Domaine Rabiega designations.

• Provence Escape
• Paint & Enjoy in Provence
• Private Estate Buyout

1. 1Domaine Rabiega official websiterabiega.com
2. 2Our History – Domaine Rabiegarabiega.com
3. 3The Hotel – Domaine Rabiegarabiega.com
4. 4Gallery – Domaine Rabiegarabiega.com
5. 5Domaine Rabiega – Wikipedia (Swedish)sv.wikipedia.org
6. 6Domaine Rabiega – Wikidatawikidata.org