History

The cultivation of Viognier dates back to Greek times. Emperor Domitian had it uprooted around 92 AD, claiming that wine debased armies. Emperor Probus had the vineyard replanted around 280 A.D., claiming that it made men better. Originally a Gallo-Roman village, Condrieu became the property of the Church of Lyon. In the 12th century, the archbishop had the castle built, which still dominates the town today, in order to resist multiple attacks. Condrieu, along with Saint Michel and Vérin, was then the birthplace of the courageous Rhone bargemen who, for centuries, ensured maritime transport between Lyon and Beaucaire... Condrieu wines had already enjoyed a reputation for excellence for generations: the popes of Avignon already appreciated it, and Curnonsky cited it as one of the greatest white wines of France. It then fell on hard times: phylloxera, the 14-18 war, the crisis of the 30s and industrialization almost led to its abandonment. By the 1950s, only a dozen hectares remained under cultivation, in three communes: Condrieu, Vérin and Saint Michel. The vineyard was revived in the 80s by a few enthusiastic Viognier growers, notably Georges Vernay & Robert Niero, who replanted the abandoned slopes and rebuilt the low walls. In 1986, the appellation area was revised to keep only the best exposed slopes, where Viognier reaches its best ripeness.

Terroir & Climate

The Condrieu appellation is located on the right bank of the Rhône, about 40 kilometers south of the city of Lyon. The vineyards are spread over 7 communes: Condrieu, St Michel sur Rhône, Vérin, Chavanay, Saint Pierre de Boeuf, Malleval and Limony, in the Rhône, Loire and Ardèche departments. Today, there are around 200 hectares in production. The vines are planted on steep, sunny slopes above the river. The climate is continental, Lyonnais-type, with Mediterranean influences. However, temperatures are very high in summer due to the orientation of the vineyards and the stony soils, which store heat. The region's soil is mainly composed of granite and gneiss, with pockets of sand and schist. This soil composition lends the appellation's wines a distinctive minerality, as well as a fruity, floral character.

Grape varieties & Wine typicity

Viognier, Condrieu's unique grape variety, gives it smoothness and generosity. In the glass, its color is pale gold with green highlights. Fresh yet highly perfumed, Condrieu offers floral notes of violets and fruity notes of mango, white peach and apricot. At its peak, it gives off hints of musk, gingerbread and tobacco, as well as a noble bitterness.

Our parcels in AOC Condrieu

Our parcels are located in the localities of Vernon, Chéry, La Roncharde, Vergelas & Corbery. They are all located in the commune of Condrieu. The single grape variety planted is Viognier. Planting density is 9,000 vines per hectare. The vines have an average age of 40 years. They are trained on stakes on steep slopes or trellised, with single Guyot pruning. The variety of terroirs we are fortunate enough to work with enables us to produce 4 Condrieu cuvées with distinct profiles. Les Ravines, a blend of our 4 parcels, with freshness and minerality. Cœur de Roncharde, typically round and greedy. Vernon, the great Condrieu, expressing floral finesse and intensity. Chérytage, a blend of the Domaine's best barrels.