Tucked away in a small valley at the base of the Massif des Maures and among the sun-soaked hills of Pierrefeu lies the Domaine de Grandpré estate. Owner Valérie Vidal Revel fell in love with the setting for its ideal climate for natural winegrowing – the mixture of warmth and mistral wind allowing the grapes to dry quickly after rainfall.
The site has history – the Romans grew vines here many centuries ago. Now, the estate houses 64 acres of vines alongside olive trees and wooded areas full of the wild scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme.
This is Provence’s ‘golden triangle’, where the soil is known as the terre de rosé. The estate’s soil – red, tan and rocky – is perfect for feeding the Mediterranean vines and helping them develop deep roots. Three springs run through the grounds, to provide natural irrigation for the plants.
The estate still grows the old Carignan vines that formed its reputation when it was created in 1957, but it has now expanded to include other varieties including Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvédre. This is a small-scale growers, producing around four thousand cases each year. Yields are limited to 40 hecto/ha, with grapes harvested by hand when they reach the point of perfect maturity.
