Château les Valentines

History

Provence is the oldest vineyard in France, with many operations existing for centuries. Château Les Valentines is no exception, with vines present since the late 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, several cooperatives opened their doors to welcome winemakers from all over the region.

This was the case for the property which brought all its harvests to these organizations so that they vinify the grapes and elaborate the wines. It is only very recently that the estate vinifies its grapes and bottles them at the property. This turning point in the history of the château 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. This name appeared as an evidence for the couple, they were indeed inspired by the first names of their children: Valentin and Clémentine. It's a nice wink that allows to foresee, maybe, the future takers of this life project.

But for the moment, it is more than 20 years that the team working on the estate shares the same passion for wine, the land and the vine. A feeling that can be noticed on the plots, all of which are conducted in organic viticulture...

A logical choice

It is indeed in this corner of paradise, in Provence, that Gilles Pons and Pascale Massenot make their talent speak. With 35 hectares of vines, 25 of which are red and 10 are white, they market nearly 180,000 bottles each year. These wines reflect the full potential of the grape varieties present in the vineyard. In red, they use Grenache (30%), Syrah (30%), Mourvèdre (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Carignan (10%). In white, Ugni Blanc is in the majority with 50% of the vineyard, Rolle and Clairette complete with 25% each.

The wine range is more focused on rosé wines, produced at 75% while red wine (15%) and white (10%) are in the minority. Chateau Les Valentines focuses on making balanced and consistent wines, taking advantage of an exceptional terroir. The latter must be preserved, so the choice of organic viticulture was logical. With fewer inputs and a ban on the use of chemical weed killers, the estate takes care of its vines in the most natural way possible.

Chateau Les Valentines is a sure bet in the appellation, confirming year after year its great shape and commitment to the organic sector, and has done so for over twenty years. It is not only in France that the property excels, but all over the world with more than 40 countries to which the wines are exported.