TERROIR AND VINIFICATION

 

A classified terroir

 

The constant search for quality has allowed the classification of the terroir as Côtes du Rhône Villages Rochegude in 1966 by the I.N.A.O.
The soil varies from the summit of the massif, above the village, to the bottom in the valley. The summit at 280 m is covered by flat stones, a stony sand soil with the presence of pink flint. The garrigues at the bottom are red clay, light and permeable with round pebbles.

 

  The passion of the vine and the elaboration of great wines

 

The grape varieties : Grenache
Syrah
Carignan
Viognier
Mouvedre
Cinsault
Marsanne
Roussanne
Cournoise		 28
12
10
2.5
2.5
2
1.5
1
1		 hectares
hectares
hectares
hectares
hectares
hectares
hectares
hectare
hectare

 

  Management of the vineyards

 


The patches of vineyards are often surrounded by trees to preserve the natural flora.
The Syrah, Cinsault, Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne grape varieties are trellised, which allows the grapes to be aired. The vegetation is trained in summer and certain vines are green harvested.
The very old Grenache vines (planted in 1945) are shaped into goblets. We are turning towards a controlled cultivation with mechanical ploughing of the soil.
Harvesting is done manually, thereby allowing severe sorting of the grapes. All the vineyards benefit from an exceptional amount of sunshine as well as a strong wind, the Mistral: two beneficial factors for a harvest of good quality.



The principal terroirs:
Rochegude with the Massif d’Uchaux:
- very stony siliceous sandstone, with the presence of pink flintstone
Sainte Cécile les Vignes and Cairanne:
- provençal garrigues (brushland), red clay soil with round pebbles


These terroirs give birth to the wines representing our Domain, coming forth from a subtle marriage between ancestral methods and modern winemaking techiques.