Domaine Santa Duc, a renowned name in the world of Rhône wines, has announced it has acquired 4.7 hectares of exceptional vineyards in the celebrated Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The expansion brings the estate’s total surface area to approximately 10 hectares and underlines a commitment to crafting world-class wines rooted in the Rhône Valley’s unparalleled terroir.
Domaine Santa Duc’s newly acquired vineyards are located across prestigious lieux-dits, including Montredon, L’Arnesque, and Farguerol Nord, and boast a mix of Grenache and Syrah vines, renowned for their rich, complex, and elegant expressions.
The soils, ranging from Miocene sands and safres to Villafranchian rolled pebbles, offer a unique canvas for producing wines of depth and character.
Details of the Acquisition
The purchase, facilitated by SAFER, covers the following plots:
- Montredon: 1.87 hectares (Grenache and Syrah, of which 0.75 ha will be planted with white grapes)
- L’Arnesque: 0.71 hectares (Grenache)
- Farguerol Nord: 2.12 hectares (Grenache)
The vineyards potential aligns with Domaine Santa Duc’s philosophy of respecting and amplifying the voice of the land.
“This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for us,” said Yves Gras, owner and winemaker. “The terroir of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is legendary, and we are thrilled to craft wines that honour this region’s legacy.”
Future Ambitions
Domaine Santa Duc plans to integrate these parcels into its celebrated range of wines, with a focus on enhancing the acclaimed Habemus Papam label. Additionally, the wine estate is considering creating a single-vineyard cuvée from Farguerol Nord, showcasing the distinctive qualities of its safes and pebble-laden soils.
About Domaine Santa Duc
Since 1874, six generations have succeeded one another at Domaine Santa Duc, each contributing their unique expertise to shape this Gigondas vineyard, renowned since Roman times for the power and distinctiveness of its red wines. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. These noble grape varieties lie at the heart of the Gras family’s identity, which strives to elevate them with the utmost precision and rigour.
Massal selections, biodynamic farming, whole cluster harvests, fermentation with Indigenous yeasts, minimal intervention, and bottling without filtration are part and parcel of the Gras family’s approach to winemaking. In addition, there is evident respect for nature to ensure the accurate essence of each terroir. The family philosophy was passed from Yves Gras to his son Benjamin and is also reflected in their vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
This results in wines that reveal the fundamental qualities of excellence: balance, elegance, purity, and depth. It is only natural for a family of winemakers rooted at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, whose wild beauty and creative inspiration constantly fuel their work.
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