The vineyards
A vine is something very precious and it is a fact that grapes have been the most treasured of fruit over many centuries. The Maison Guigal manifests its total respect for the vine by its unremitting commitment to the preservation of each ancient plot. In each season, growers pay great attention to the maturation of the grapes. From budding through to harvest in September, they tend the vines to ensure that each plant survives the winter months unharmed and is nourished by the sun and the rain once spring arrives in order to produce fruit of exceptional quality. Every measured and precise act of care and attention has been handed down through the generations who have looked after this first-class terroir.
The Domain Guigal
Ampuis lies to the south of Lyon at the very heart of the Côte-Rôtie appellation. Here, on the stark and steep terrain formed by the Rhône River cultivated in terraces since ancient times, the Guigal family works the greatest appellations of the Rhône Valley with both passion and perseverance.
Today, the domain is made up of numerous exceptional vineyards: Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Hermitage, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage... Outstanding plots producing prestigious wines which showcase the excellence of this domain.
Sustainable viticulture and respect for the soil's ecosystem
At the heart of the Maison Guigal’s exacting standards lies the desire to preserve the vineyards with complete respect for the ecosystem of the soil. From the cultivation and maintenance of the terraces to the pruning and care of the vines, each step of the way the viticultural practice works in harmony with nature and is sustainable and nourishing. A true reflection of the people who work in the vineyards and of the wines produced by them.
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Planted on slopes by the Romans 24 centuries ago, this illustrious vineyard is made up of the Côte Brune, upstream of the Reynard and the Côte Blonde which is downstream. Planted almost exclusively with Syrah, the Côte Brune produces a powerful, intense wine. Thanks to a dash of Viognier which compliments the Syrah, the Côte Blonde is more subtle. There is a charming legend attached to this appellation and the Château d’Ampuis: “the sire of this place had two daughters, one with hair as dark as the night and the other blonde like a field of wheat. When they got married he endowed each with two of his best slopes. This is how we inherited the Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde”
With its steep terraces which plunge towards the Rhône, this vineyard is planted solely with Viognier. A rare grape varietal imported by the Greeks at the beginning of our era, combined with granite soils its naturally complex character produces a unique white wine with a yellow golden hue and intense and subtle notes of delicate apricot and white peach.
Enjoyed at the table of kings, this illustrious wine’s name hails back to the 16th Century and the Jesuit monks of Tournon. The reds are made from Syrah and the whites from Marsanne and Rousanne. These grape varieties grown on a South to South East facing steeply sloped vineyard with granite soils produce elegant, luscious wines.
A prestigious appellation since ancient times, it is named after a 13th Century hermit who sought redemption by devoting himself to prayer and the cultivation of vines. Enjoyed by the Russian Court and the great and the good of Europe, this rich and powerful wine with intense aromas is produced from Syrah for the reds and Marsanne and Roussanne for the whites.
A typical wine of the northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage benefits from warm pebbly soils with good drainage. This is a vast appellation partially planted on slopes. The reds are produced from Syrah and the whites from Marsanne and Rousanne. The red wine is deep ruby in colour, full of savoury flavour and well-balanced. The white wines are dry and aromatic with floral notes.
These soils are composed of calcareous round pebbles and the vineyards are swept by the Mistral winds and warmed by the Provencal sunshine, resulting in wines with unmistakable flavours of the South. These southern wines are produced from a complex blend of the 13 grape varieties of the appellation with Grenache as the main component. They are complex with soft and powerful tannins and are characterised by a generous and strong personality.
