Domaine de Bonserine

Condrieu

Since Emperor Probus allowed the plantation of the vineyard during the 3rd century, the wines of Condrieu have enjoyed a reputation of excellence for years. In the 14th Century, they were amongst the favourite wines of The Popes of Avignon. Successive crisis such as the phylloxera spread, WWI, the 30s crisis, impacted deeply the Condrieu vineyards which turn almost abandoned in the late 70s. Finally, in the 80s, the Viognier grape was massively replanted thanks to a bunch of passionate winegrowers, who also rebuilt walls and terraces.

Appellation

Appellation created in 1940
100% white wines
200 hectares of vines
8000 hl / year
42 hl / hectare
23% production exported
Dry, semi-dry and more rarely sweet wines

Vineyard

Grape varietals

100% Viognier.

Terroir

Blend of three plots on very steep slopes. Les Rivoires and Les Eyguets in the commune of Chavanay and La Grande in Saint Michel sur Rhône. Granite soils.

Average age of vines

27 years.

Winemaking and ageing

Winemaking method

The harvest is 100% manual. Pickers use small boxes of 25 kg in order to preserve the quality of the grapes. Grapes are sorted twice, then directly pressed. Each plot is vinified separately with its own indigenous yeasts. The 2 fermentations (alcoholic and malolactic) take place in oak barrels.