CHÂTEAU BARBEBELLE

Welcome to a true haven of peace in the heart of Provence. The estate is one of the oldest in the Aix region and has a breathtaking geographical heritage. The bastide, which is several hundred years old, stands in the middle of a much larger surrounding area: 300 hectares of nature where fauna and flora flourish freely.

History of the Castle

Château Barbebelle has been in the Herbeau family, the current owners, for 4 generations. Heirs of a historical know-how and pioneers in terms of respect for the environment, the "elders" are gradually passing on this panel of knowledge to the younger ones. Mathilde, a recent graduate of one of the most prestigious business schools in the country, is preparing to take over from her father alongside her husband Valentin. Ancestral know-how in the vineyard and in the cellars for the father, the art of selling, communicating and strategic development for the daughter: the tandem looks ideal!

The vineyard

The estate's 50 hectares of vineyards stretch between cypress, umbrella pine and holm oak trees. The traditional grape varieties of the Côtes de Provence appellation are planted there. Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault are used in the blending of reds and rosés. For the whites, we use Rolle (also known in the Mediterranean as Vermentino), Ugni Blanc, or Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard has been managed in a way that respects nature and the men and women who work it for several generations. But it is only recently, during the confinement, that the family took to ask for the labeling HVE 3... that it quite naturally obtained.

Due to its southern position and its proximity to the Mediterranean, the Château's vineyards enjoy a set of ideal factors. Indeed, the berries benefit from warm and sunny days, but the vines stay cool thanks to a clay-limestone soil at a slight altitude. In addition, the Mistral wind comes to dry the grapes and sanitize the vineyard, preventing it from being attacked by fungi that thrive in humid environments.

The wines of Barbebelle

The Chateau produces three lines of wine, each declined in the three colors. Vinified as past generations did, the wines are generous and the oak aging gives them a real strength of character (except for the rosé, which is aged in stainless steel). The traditional shape of the "Côte de Provence" bottle, named after the appellation, and the sleek design of its label are further proof of the father-daughter complementarity. The second range celebrates the latter: the "Madeleine" range. Finally, the Fleuris range, which is one of the most popular. As its name indicates, the three wines are all light and aromatic. The rosé, composed of 50% Grenache, 35% Cinsault and 15% Syrah, is fruity and greedy. One delights in its notes of peach, strawberry and harlequin candy... No wonder Decanter voted it "Best Rosé of the World 2020"!