DOMAINE GRAND VENEUR, France

The range is exceptional, with the whites equally superb as the reds: ‘La Fontaine’ is consistently rated one of the best white Châteauneufs while ‘Les Origines’ delivers the class expected of a premium cuvée with many international accolades. There is no weak wine here, and the well-priced Côtes du Rhône is produced from vines situated only metres away from those of the famous Château Beaucastel.

Viticulture

The domaine embraces a respectful and sustainable approach to viticulture, focusing on expressing the unique terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and surrounding areas. They prioritise low-intervention farming, aiming to maintain healthy soils and biodiversity in the vineyard. This includes careful vineyard management with minimal use of chemical inputs, encouraging natural balance and allowing the vines to thrive in harmony with their environment. Their goal is to produce grapes of high quality and authenticity that fully reflect their terroir’s character.

Winemaking

They combine traditional methods with careful modern techniques to preserve the character and authenticity of their terroir with a strong focus on gentle extraction to maintain elegance and balance, often using temperature-controlled fermentation to highlight the fruit and aromatic complexity. Aging is typically done in a mix of older and new oak barrels, depending on the cuvée, to add structure without overpowering the wine’s natural expression. Overall, their philosophy is to let the grapes and their unique terroir shine through, producing wines that are both refined and expressive.