Château La Gordonne

Around 20 kilometres north of Hyères, in Provence, is Château La Gordonne. Even the Romans recognised the landscape, climate and slate soils of this region as ideal for wine production.

What began in antiquity continued through the Middle Ages with the Carthusians of La Verne in Pierrefeu-du-Var. Nobles of the surrounding area followed as owners, as well as the bishopric of Toulon. Today, we see a modern winery at La Gordonne, part of the Vranken-Pommery Monopole group, which aims to produce excellent Provençal rosés.

On around 330 ha, Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are planted in a clay-limestone plain and on slate slopes overlooking the sea. Winters are mild, summers hot and dry, sometimes scorching. The plants can catch up to 3,000 hours of sunshine each year. All the while, the mistral sweeps through the vines, keeping them dry and healthy.

Cellar master Julien Fort aims for wines "that are full of sunshine and exude the subtle scents of the Mediterranean." To achieve this, the harvest is done by hand at night, and any unnecessary oxidation is to be avoided. To protect the delicate Provence aromas, vinification is carried out with gentle pressing at low temperature. Before alcoholic fermentation, the must is clarified. Over the winter, the wines are matured in stainless steel and concrete tanks. Finally, the wines are blended into different cuvées.

© Images: Château La Gordonne