Domaine du Chêne
Domaine du Chêne (Sustainable winemaking)
Click here for the video of a winery tour (IN FRENCH)
Address: 8 Le Pêcher, 42410 Chavanay, France
Appellation: St-Joseph AOC, Condrieu AOC, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, Northern Rhône, France
Meet the winemaking family Rouvière! Domaine du Chêne is a family owned winery operated by Dominique, Marc, and their children, Julien and Anaïs (now taking over from their parents).
History
In 1985, after graduating from a wine school in Davayé (Burgundy), Dominique and Marc Rouvière bought a property of 5 ½ hectares in Chavanay. They renovated the old house in the middle of the vineyard and named it Domaine du Chêne and so began their new lives as vignerons. They chose the name Chêne because of the old oak tree at the entrance of the property.
Their children, Anaïs and Julien, have inherited their passion for wine. They've also studied winemaking and took wine internships in France, California and New Zealand before joining the family operation in 2012.
Philosophy
"I bend but don't break, like an oak tree.", said Marc. He definitely shows it through his dedication to the Domaine. He invested time and money to improve the vineyard and renovate the winery in order to produce elegant and terroir driven wines.
The family is committed to producing top quality wines from outstanding estate-grown fruit that are true expressions of their region. They are increasingly concerned with sustainability, have reduced their use of spraying and are researching the use of sheep for weed removal in their Condrieu parcels.
Grapes
The family now owns 28 hectare of land. They planted Viognier in Condrieu, Syrah, Marsanne and Roussane in St Joseph, with more vines of Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne for IGP Collines Rhodaniennes.
Soils
Granite is the major soil type in the area with some gneiss and marls in certain vineyards.
Wine
Today, the winery produces a sparkling wine, 2 rosés, a IGP Syrah, a IGP Viognier, a IGP Marsanne, 3 Condrieu, 1 St Joseph Blanc and 3 St Joseph Rouge.