Domaine Des Bernardins

The history of the winery

The estate first belonged to the Bernardins monks who were already producing monastic wine, before it was acquired by the Castaud family in the 19th century.

In 1945, Louis Castaud obtained the AOC Muscat Beaumes de Venise. The current owners are the fifth generation to run the estate: Elizabeth, Louis' granddaughter, Andrew Hall her husband is also the cellar master and their son Romain is an enologist.

The terroir

The vineyard is planted with 8 hectares of red grape varieties, with a majority of Grenache, complemented by 25% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Marsanne. The white grape varieties represent 17 hectares, of which a quarter are Muscat à petits grains noirs and the rest Muscat à petits grains blancs. The red wine vintages are made mostly from Grenache and Syrah.

The estate has parcels in the Muscat de Beaume de Venise appellation and vines in the Beaumes de Venise AOC located on the clay-limestone soils of the Dentelles de Montmirail.

A vineyard conducted in integrated agriculture

Manual labor and natural practices are the rule. No weed killers are used, organic fertilizers are favored to enrich the soil and promote deep rooting. The soil is maintained by traditional ploughing. Biodiversity is preserved as much as possible and the plots are bordered by cypress, almond, olive, rosemary and caper trees.

Harvesting is done entirely by hand, as is most of the vineyard work such as trellising, disbudding and leaf removal.

The wines

The 2020 Beaume de Venise Rouge is a particularly successful vintage. This elegant and round wine has a clear color with purple highlights. It has a good structure and develops aromas of fresh pepper, blackcurrant and red fruits

Doré des Bernardins is a wine produced only in the best vintages, when the Muscat à petits grains harvests allow it. This dry white wine is fruity, expressing all the flavors of Muscat.

Les Balmes Blanc 2020 is a vintage full of freshness from a blend of Marsanne and Grenache blanc in equal parts. This balanced, round and fruity wine has subtle aromas of white peach and citrus.

Les Balmes 2020 also comes in a rosé, with a fresh and powerful wine with a nice density. The nose is expressive with aromas of apples, pears and white flowers. The palate has a nice substance, freshness and elegance. It is a rosé wine that will go perfectly with exotic cuisine, but also with grilled meats, fresh salads or white meats.