Château les Valentines

History

Provence is France's oldest vineyard, with many estates existing for centuries. Château Les Valentines is no exception, with vines present since the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, several cooperatives opened their doors to welcome winegrowers from all over the region.

This was the case for the estate, which transferred all its harvests to these organizations for vinification and winemaking. It is only very recently that the estate has been vinifying and bottling its own grapes. This turning point in the château's history is due to the arrival of new managers, Gilles Pons and his partner Pascale Massenot.

In 1997, they bought the land together to create Château Les Valentines, as we know it today. The name was an obvious choice for the couple, inspired by their children's first names: Valentin and Clémentine. It's a nice nod to the future successors of this life project.

But for the moment, for over 20 years now, the team working on the estate has shared the same passion for wine, terroir and vines. It's a feeling that can be seen in the plots, all of which are farmed using organic viticulture...

A logical choice

It's in this corner of paradise, in Provence, that Gilles Pons and Pascale Massenot showcase their talent. With 35 hectares of vines, including 25 reds and 10 whites, they market nearly 180,000 bottles each year. These cuvées reflect the full potential of the grape varieties grown in their vineyards. For reds, they use Grenache (30%), Syrah (30%), Mourvèdre (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Carignan (10%). In white, Ugni Blanc accounts for the majority, with 50% of the vineyard, Rolle and Clairette rounding out the blend with 25% each.

The wine range is more focused on rosé wines, 75% of which are produced, while red wine (15%) and white (10%) are in the minority. Château Les Valentines strives to producebalanced, consistent wines, benefiting from an exceptional terroir. The latter must be preserved, so the choice of organic viticulture was a logical one. With fewer inputs and a ban on chemical weedkillers, the estate looks after its vines in the most natural way possible.

Château Les Valentines is a sure bet in the appellation, confirming year after year its great form and commitment to the organic sector, and has been doing so for over twenty years. It's not just in France that the estate excels, but all over the world, with over 40 countries to which its wines are exported.