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.”

Soleil
Vue sur le village de Lirac

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

Lirac - aire d'appellation

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.

The maps

Geology

The grape varieties

Bourboulenc, Cinsault, Clairette, Grenache blanc, Grenache noir, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Muscat à petits grains, Roussanne, Syrah & Viognier

See all grape varieties

Our wines

Châteauneuf du Pape AOP

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.

Vue sur le village de Lirac

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.

car

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.

AOC Beaumes de Venise

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.

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.

Côtes du Rhône Villages  AOP

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!

Côtes du Rhône AOP

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

Carte Côtes du Rhône

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.

The maps

Carte - Costière de Nîmes

Geology

The grape varieties

Bourboulenc, Carignan, Cinsault, Clairette, Grenache blanc, Grenache noir, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Syrah & Viognier

See all grape varieties

Our wines

Tavel-aop

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.

Beaumes de venise-aop

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.

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.

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.

Provence - aire d'appellation

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.

Cotes-de-gascogne-aop

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.

vin-de-France-aop

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.