Domaine Santa Duc

The vineyard

The history of Domaine Santa Duc began in 1874 when the first vineyard buildings were erected by the Gras family.

Six generations have since succeeded one another: Yves Gras took over the reins of the estate in 1985. He implements sélection massale, which consists in identifying the best fruit-bearing vines on his plots, taking vine shoot fragments and multiplying them, then replanting them.

He steers the vineyard towards organic farming, convinced that this is the best way to express the purity and typicity of a terroir. He introduced whole harvest, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, limited intervention and bottling without filtration.

Yves' far-sighted vision led him to continue his search for terroirs conducive to the production of great wines. He acquires magnificent plots in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and replants and develops a forgotten Clos in the village of Gigondas: Clos Derrière Vieille.

Parcel by parcel, Benjamin Gras, his son, continues his meticulous work, applying and enriching the family know-how. This is what enables him to exacerbate the fundamental characteristics of a great wine: balance, elegance, purity and depth.

A know-how that's passed on

A demanding and ambitious winemaker, Yves takes the time to consider nature, to better understand the different vintages.

Paying great attention to each stage of vinification, this meticulousness is reflected in fleshy, concentrated wines hailed by Robert Parker.

Benjamin has worked closely with his father since 2017. A qualified oenologist, he has been enriched by several experiences at the prestigious Romanée-Conti estates and Bodega Vega-Sicilia, which have strengthened his convictions and his desire to make wines that are close to nature and reveal the uniqueness of each terroir thanks to a place-based approach.

Continuing to farm organically, in 2016 he converted the entire estate to biodynamics.
Like his father, he aspires to the least intrusive winemaking possible, respectful of nature, while working precisely and rigorously.

In the cellar, terracotta tuns and jars have replaced barrels, again to give priority to the expression of terroir.

The wines of Domaine Santa Duc

The cuvée Les Hautes Garrigues has become an iconic wine for its power and concentration. This wine reveals an immediately recognizable expression of its terroir.

Aux Lieux Dits is a superb Gigondas: spicy, dense and deep, expressing the diversity of eight different lieux-dits.

Les Quatre Terres is a subtle, red-fruit Côtes du Rhône that revels in purity and elegance.

Les Grands Calcaires: between freshness and minerality, this is a white Côtes du Rhône that is both aromatic and complex.

Les Aubes is a Vacqueyras that expresses itself with elegance and finesse.

Les Plans is a velvety-smooth IGP Vaucluse dominated by black fruits: it's a sure bet!