Domaine de Chevalier produces some of the worlds very best luxury wines and is situated in the middle of a forest which protects the vines from the extremes of weather and is often termed, the secret garden, away from the limelight.

Only a great terroir is able to choose a luxury wine of the very best, which is something of a paradox. However, when talking about the Chateau these are the words that are spoken thanks to some of the very best wine produced. These words also relate to the philosophy not only when it comes to viniculture but also the spirit that is felt on and around the estate and all who work there.

The Domaine, terroir and vineyard are all inseparable and the notion of this, one of the very best Chateaus, relies on many subtle interactions between the terroir, the vines and the wider concept which takes in the history and socio-economic context. Gradual vineyard expansion in order to keep producing the wine began in 1985 which called for new facilities for making wine and so all of the buildings were entirely renovated with most of the work taking place in 1984 and 1991. The renovation style was unostentatious and chosen without attempts to imitate architecture; all additional buildings have been integrated to the very best without changing any original structure which goes back to the 17th century when wine was first produced here. The central building façade has kept the double doors on the first floor which used to open to receive the grapes before they went in to the vat via gravity flow. The long low building widens and fills the space between the vineyard and the forest. It all fits in with the location perfectly and is in keeping with the proportions.

The terroir used to produce some of the very best luxury wine is exceptional. The superb grapes ripen remarkably early, providing of course that it is treated carefully and with respect. However great wine comes from some of the most difficult terroir and under the most trying of conditions, in fact wine takes its greatness from such difficulties. Only one of the most dedicated of families are able to produce some of the very best wine in vineyards where nothing else is grown but vines.

Thanks to the surrounding forest the terroir of the luxury Chateau ensures a greenhouse effect in summer which helps with the ripening, it is isolated and planted in a single block with a high quality ecosystem without risk of contamination. Is there any wonder that some of the very best wine is produced?

Editorial | Image Courtesy Of Domaine De Chevalier