Abbaye de Lérins

The land of the Abbey of Lerins

The Abbey of Lérins occupies a territory that is part of the commune of Cannes, in the Alpes-Maritimes department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The vineyard flourishes in a luminous landscape, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The monks of the Abbey of Lérins came to settle there in 405 and are still there today. 21 Cistercian monks live from the production of wines and liqueurs, applying the Benedictine doctrine "ora et labora": pray and work.

The surface of the soil of the abbey of Lérins is composed of a red clayey silt, ranging from 30 to 1.20 metres thick. It covers the dolomite rocks, rich in magnesium, and the sedimentary rocks, mostly limestone.

The vineyards of the Abbey of Lérins

The vineyard of the Abbey of Lérins officially dates from the Middle Ages and perhaps even earlier. It is located in the centre of the island and covers a little more than 8 hectares. The vines, which are between 25 and 80 years old, are dedicated to red wine on 5 hectares and the rest to white wine.
br>The grape varieties are Pinot noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre for the red wine; Chardonnay, Clairette and Viognier for the white wine. The vines are treated in green harvest, which means that the supernumerary bunches are eliminated before veraison. This reduces production to 40,000 bottles per year, but magnifies the excellence of the wine. The cultivation is done mechanically, without chemicals.

The wine of the Abbey of Lérins: "An island, brothers, a great wine"

Lérins Abbey offers red or white wine, but no rosé. The offer is also extended to liqueurs. Here are some of their best productions.

The red wine of the Abbey of Lérins

Saint Sauveur: with its intense garnet colour, Saint Sauveur produces flavours of red fruits, blackberries and blueberries, accompanied by a hint of violet. Its silky tannins give it spicy notes and a very fresh finish.

Saint Eucher: Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Côtes de Nuits region of Burgundy, Saint Eucher has a beautiful carmine colour with ruby highlights. Its aromas of green pepper, currants and cherries are magnified by its delicate tannins.

The white wine of the Abbey of Lérins

Saint Pierre: with its delicate straw yellow colour, tinged with golden highlights, Saint Pierre offers a nose of citrus fruits and honey, enhanced by subtle notes of boxwood. Its mineral finish coats the palate and brings out its iodine touch. Sainte Ombeline: produced from vines protected from the sea wind by a wall of fencing, the Sainte Ombeline Chardonnay has a golden yellow colour. Its nose is delicate, with hints of citrus and broom flowers. It reveals a subtle acidity that magnifies the notes of roasted almonds.

The liqueurs of the Abbey of Lérins

l The Abbey of Lérins offers various liqueurs: Lérincello, Mandarin, Lérina Jaune, Verveine, Sénancole, Lérina verte, to name only the main ones.