Terroirs
“As a combination of a soil, a climate and a human expertise, the “terroir” is an essential notion on our estates and in the work we do with our wine-grower partners.
Learn about the terroirs of each appellation with these maps and geological cross-sections.”
Lirac
The Cru Lirac vineyards are planted on terraces and hillsides in four communes on the right bank of the Rhône, between garrigue, mistral and arid soils bathed in bright sunshine. It is growing, preserved and tranquil, off the beaten track. Blending wines from different terroirs produces the Lirac style: powerful, structured and aromatic, yet fresh and always elegant.
The maps
Geology
AOP Gigondas
The appellation is a mosaic of terroirs which draws its originality from the geological layers, altitude and particular orientation. Our plots are situated on 4 of the 5 terroirs which make up the appellation.
AOP Châteauneuf-Du-Pape
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is the jewel in the crown of the southern Rhône Valley's winegrowing heritage, and one of France's finest crus. In the 14th century, Pope Jean XXII built a fortress at Châteauneuf and developed the famous vineyard, whose cultivation is perpetuated in the great papal tradition of the City of the Popes in Avignon. This exceptional terroir, located on the left bank of the Rhône between Avignon and Orange, is made up of vast terraces covered with red clay mixed with numerous quartz pebbles. In the heart of the southern sector, the Mediterranean microclimate is the warmest in the Côtes-du-Rhône, with 2800 h of sunshine and an average temperature of 14°C over the year. Châteauneuf-du-Pape also owes its rich aromas to the use of a large number of grape varieties, 13 in all.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Vacqueyras
Our plots are divided between the alluvial terrace of the Garrigues (scrubland) dating back to the quaternary period to the west and the safre (sandy rock) and marl from the tertiary period close to the village.
AOP Lirac
The Lirac Cru vineyards are planted on terraces and hillsides in four communes on the right bank of the Rhône, between garrigue, mistral and arid soils bathed in bright sunshine. It is growing, preserved and peaceful, off the beaten track. Blending wines from different terroirs produces the Lirac style: powerful, structured and aromatic, yet fresh and always elegant.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Cairanne
Sun-drenched hillsides, fragrant garrigue, a mischievous river that changes its spelling... Cairanne is a charming village, unveiling itself at the bend of a rocky outcrop and enticing visitors with its red and white wines. The assets of the appellation: a "village" spirit nurtured by generations of winegrowers who have made their wine and their trade a craft for excellence.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Rasteau
Facing due south, this Haut-Vaucluse village perched on a 200-meter high hill faces the Dentelles de Montmirail. The vineyards, relatively sheltered from the Mistral wind, are planted on a wide variety of soils with very uneven relief, enabling the production of dry red wines with strong typicity.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Beaumes de Venise
The fertile vineyards that give birth to Beaumes-de-Venise wines borrow their landscapes from Tuscany... Vines and olive trees stand side by side on a land preserved by winemakers who combine sustainable agriculture with a love of an unusual, rich and precious terroir. The name "de Venise", though rich in romantic evocations, owes nothing to the city... It's a deformation of "de Venisse", meaning "du Comtat Venaissin". Situated at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the terroir is made up of three types of soil, most notably "Trias", the exceptional soil that enables the cultivation of a specific wine.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu
This is a wide, uniform terroir made of alluviums deposited by the Aygues and the Ouvèze in the quaternary period and covered in limestone gravel. Good hydration of the vines is provided by a deep blue clay soil and sandstone.
AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages
In its southern part, the Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyards stretch over the terraces and alluvial plains of the Rhône, or over the slopes of various hills, at the top of which nest as many perched villages. Vines have been grown here since Roman times, and no fewer than 95 communes make up the Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyards. From the Drôme Provençale to the banks of the Durance in the east, and from the Ardèche to the Pont du Gard in the west, discover these villages perched on their promontories to unearth the finest nuggets. Depending on the nature of the soil, you'll come across a wide range of Côtes du Rhône Villages, but one thing's for sure: you'll need more than a day to tour them all!
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Côtes du Rhône
Along the Rhône, the vineyards of the Côtes du Rhône appellation are spread over 171 communes and richly varied terroirs... all under the same generous sun. Take the time to explore them: they all surprise you with their diversity and the strength of their character. Among them, you'll discover nuggets that are often unsuspected.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Costières de Nîmes
The Costières terroir is made of gravel deposited by the Rhône and the Durance in the quaternary period, covered in different coloured sands on a deep blue clay soil. The vines of Château Grand Escalion come from a contiguous geographical area.
AOP Tavel
Tavel wines are all rosés... But what a rosé! The novelist Honoré de Balzac said that this is one of the rare rosés that can be advantageously left to age... Its wines of strong character are without equal: complex, fleshy, dense and highly aromatic.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Ventoux
Classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1990, the Mont Ventoux site is a showcase for terroirs that have been cultivated with respect for nature and the region's cultural and historical heritage.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
VDN Muscat Beaumes de Venise
Northeast of Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras and Gigondas set the Beaumes-de-Venise terroir against the backdrop of Mont Ventoux. The vineyards are located on the southeastern slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail (between 100 and 600 m) in northern Vaucluse, where vines and olive trees harmoniously share the landscape. The deep, well-aired soils give Muscat its finesse, resulting in a naturally sweet wine of great elegance.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
IGP Pays d'Oc
Since August 1, 2009, Pays d'Oc wines have benefited from an official sign of quality recognized at European level, the Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP). This is a 100% guarantee of the origin of wines produced under this name in the Pays d'Oc vineyards. Totally in tune with the times, Pays d'Oc PGI wines celebrate thirty years of conquest in the heart of France's oldest vineyard, founded in the 6th century BC.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Hermitage
Situated on a hill, the appellation consists of three parts: granite soil to the west, ideal for red wines; limestone and silica in the centre with a more fertile lower part to the east, famed for white wines.
The maps
Geology
The grape varieties
Our wines
AOP Côte Rôtie
Known for its impressive slopes, which sometimes have a gradient of more than 60 degrees, AOP Côte Rôtie is situated on metamorphic rock. There are three types of soil: mica schist, gneiss and migmatite.
The maps
Geology
The grape varieties
Our wines
AOP Condrieu
The loamy alluviums of the Rhône cohabit here with the granite soils of the abrupt slopes where the vines are planted on "chayées" (narrow terraces) which are particularly difficult to work.
The maps
Geology
The grape varieties
Our wines
AOP Saint Joseph
Although granite reigns here, it shares the limelight with soft gneiss to the north and marl to the south. This diversity is what gives the appellation its typicality.
AOP Crozes-Hermitage
Covering over 1,500 ha, the vineyard flourishes on a variety of soils: gravel, red clay, loess, white sand and granite, each one adding its own characteristic to the grape variety.
The maps
Geology
The grape varieties
Our wines
IGP Collines Rhodaniennes
The Collines Rhodaniennes cover the Rhône, Loire, Isère, Drôme and Ardèche regions: a rich mosaic that allows winemakers to give free rein to their creativity.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
AOP Côtes de Provence
The Côtes de Provence appellation covers more than 20,000 hectares in 3 départements: Var, Bouches-du-Rhône and one commune in Alpes-Maritimes, a total of 84 communes. The terroir of the Côtes de Provence appellation is as beautiful in the vines as it is in the roots. The complex geology of the subsoil is particularly well-suited to wine.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
IGP Côtes de Gascogne
Since August 1, 2009, Côtes de Gascogne has been registered as a protected geographical indication. The production area is located in Gascony, the historic province of south-western France, between the Garonne river to the north, the Landes forest to the west and the Pyrenees to the south.
The maps
Geology
Our wines
VDF Vin de France
Vin De France is a category of its own, with a unique DNA. If the name had to be summed up in one word, it would be "freedom". Its main advantage lies not in the zone of origin, nor in the principle of strict specifications, but in the creative freedom it offers the winemaker and the winegrower. Vin De France is thus a veritable "creative playground" for these true artists, who produce harmonious wines that are easy to enjoy.
The maps
