Our History
Since 1936 …
The story of the Gabriel Meffre Winery began in 1936, when Gabriel and his wife Juliette, both passionate about wine, created their ‘Négociant-Vinificateur’ business in Gigondas.
More than 80 years later, the family business has built on its strong foundations and has established its reputation as a leading Winery in the southern Rhone Valley with a complementary know-how of ‘Négociant-Eleveur’ and Producer.
Gabriel Meffre, a visionary entrepreneur
n 1936, Gabriel Meffre (1908-1987), a wine merchant and winemaker, acquired his first parcel of vines in the Gigondas appellation with his wife and set up Maison Gabriel Meffre. Gabriel Meffre understood very early on the need to create a commercial structure to sell the fruit of his production, and success followed.
Until the early 1980s, Gabriel Meffre invested in the vineyards of the Rhône Valley and Provence. With 800 hectares of vineyards, he gradually became France’s leading producer of AOC vines. The company vinifies and markets the Domaines Meffre wines. The famous Gabriel Meffre-branded lorries criss-cross the roads of France, supplying retailers throughout the country and as far afield as Switzerland.
And Gabriel Meffre created the Plan de Dieu
Gabriel Meffre grew up near the Plan de Dieu, a sun-drenched stony plain that had been left fallow for a long time… He was convinced that great wines could be produced here.
In the 1950s, he bought a few hectares of this tough land that had been mined during the war. Gabriel set about the titanic task of clearing the land of mines and working the soil. After an enormous effort, the first vines were planted!
Success was not long in coming. Vintage after vintage, the exceptional quality of this terroir was confirmed and other winegrowers began to settle in. Official recognition came in 2005 with the classification of Plan de Dieu as a Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages PDO.
Reconnecting with our roots
After the death of the founder in 1987, his 3 children, Jack, Christian & Sylvette, decided to refocus on the estates and sold the company.
During the 90s, Gabriel Meffre continued its activities as a negociant and expanded its export business.
In 1999, wishing to return to our origins as winegrowers in Gigondas, La Maison Gabriel Meffre became the owner of Domaine de Longue Toque in Gigondas (27ha). Our vineyard is managed according to the principles of integrated viticulture, aimed at significantly reducing the use of phytosanitary products and limiting our impact on the environment.
In 2001, Domaine de Longue Toque was awarded the Terra Vitis label (Viticulture Raisonnée) for the first time, and this has been renewed every year since.
In spring 2017, the Domaine began its conversion to organic farming. This approach is part of a profound desire to promote biodiversity while respecting the natural resources that make our environment unique.
Winegrowers and Creators
This painstaking work in the vineyards demonstrates our commitment to preserving the soil and the environment, while laying the foundations for the selection of exceptional parcels at the heart of our estate.
Throughout 2000, a meticulous study of the soils enabled us to draw up a detailed map of our parcels and understand their full richness. These exceptional plots, which vary in age, exposure and soil type, offer unrivalled diversity to create wines that reflect the nuances of our terroirs. Vines grown under the Vacqueyras, Plan de Dieu and Cairanne PDOs complete this mosaic of exceptional terroirs around the Dentelles de Montmirail.
As winemakers and creators, we are committed to creating wines that offer pleasure and inspire sharing. These are complex wines, the result of skilful vinification and ageing, making Gabriel Meffre an exceptional reference in the southern Rhône Valley.
