PRESS FILE CONTENTS Step into a secret garden p. 4 & 5 Vines inspired by their terroir p. 6 & 7 Wines of luscious elegance p. 8 & 9 On the cellar trail p. 10 & 11 Nestling in the heart of the Rhône Valley, on the river’s western bank, the vineyards of Gri- gnan-les-Adhémar cover 1,800 hectares (just under 4,450 acres) in the southern, Provencal reaches of the Drôme département (or county). In this land of plenty, the vines flourish along- CONTENTS side fields of lavender, truffle oaks, aromatic Step into a secret garden p. 4 & 5 herbs and olive groves. They yield wines Vines inspired by their terroir p. 6 & 7 with elegant style and mouth-wateringly lush Wines of luscious elegance p. 8 & 9 fruit. Most of them are red wines, offering a On the cellar trail p. 10 & 11 complete array estlingof red and in blackthe fruitsheart andof of spices, as well asthe the Rhône more Valley,complex on flavours the of pepper, violets and truffle typical of ageworthy eastern bank of the river, wines.N The whites and rosés are seductively fresh, thefruity vineyards and elegant. of Grignan-les-Adhé- mar cover 1,800 hectares (just un- der 4,450 acres) in the southern, Provencal reaches of the Drôme département (or county). In this land of plenty, the vines flour- ish alongside fields of lavender, truffle oaks, aromatic herbs and olive groves. They yield wines with elegant style and lush, mouth-wa- tering fruit. Most of them are red wines, offering a complete array of red and black fruits and of spices, as well as the more complex fla- vours of pepper, violets and truffle typical of ageworthy wines. The whites and rosés are seductively fresh, fruity and elegant. eep in the Rhône Valley, there lies a secret garden: Grignan- les-Adhémar. Poised midway between North and Midi, it Dheralds the magic of Provence. This land is an infinite var- Step iety of lights, smells, sounds and colours as well as majestic cloak- and-dagger castles. Here, the climate grows milder, and into A secret garden the prevailing Mistral permits exceptionally high amounts of sunshine, while the natural scenery is painted in shades of lavender, olives, cypress, pine, thyme and bay. The vines grow in this intimate and unspoilt setting, which they share with another local treasure: the truffle. It is not uncommon to see a truffle oak standing between two rows of vines – with, prospering by its roots, the precious ‘black diamond’, whose gamey, woody notes blend closely with the wines’ aromas. Grignan-les-Adhémar: a name with deep roots Grignan, dear to the Marquise de Sévigné Grignan was dear to the heart of the Marquise de Sévigné, whose letters brought her posthumous fame. She used to go there to visit her daughter, the Comtesse de Grignan, after the latter’s marriage to François Adhémar de Monteil. Swayed by the charm of this walled village, she settled there in 1694, two years before she died. Her body lies in the Collegiate Church of the Holy Saviour. Since the 300th anniversary of her death in 1996, Grignan has played host every July to a Festival of Correspondence. Its castle, which dates back to the 12th century, stands on a bare rocky hill that dominates the village be- low. Converted into a fortress in the 13th century, it was later fashioned into a luxury resi- dence by the Marquise’s son-in-law. Now owned by the Drôme County Council, it is one of the area’s main tourist attractions as well as a venue for many theatre and music events. My daughter and Monsieur de Grignan hosted me so well, taking La Garde Adhémar: an aristocratic pedigree me to a land so different from the one I had departed, that I thought I was in a fairy-tale Perched on a rocky spur, the village enjoys sweeping views of the Rhône Valley. Straight in castle. Well, madam, judge for yourself: front of it is the village of Grignan, the AOC’s other driving-force. They share an affiliation there is no poverty, famine, disease or to the Adhémar family, who were the lords of Montélimar between the 11th and 15th paupers to be seen. It feels like another centuries. The family’s renown and the size of its estates placed it in the highest ranks of world. Provencal nobility. Pauline de Grignan, the Marquise de Sévigné’s granddaughter and also Letter from the Marquise de Sévigné’’ the Marquise de Simiane, resided in the village’s castle, which was later destroyed at the to the Comtesse de Guitault, 20 July 1694. revolution. It was Pauline de Grignan who published her grandmother’s letters in the 17th 4 century. Today, the village is a coveted holiday location for lovers of pretty old buildings and intimately hospitable addresses. Grignan-les-Adhémar: a new start for the appellation Three questions for Henri Bour (Domaine de Grangeneuve in Roussas), AOC president. The decree author- A taste of history ising the new name of the appellation was published on 17 No- Historically, the area was heavily wooded and a variety of crops vember 2010 in the were farmed. Vine cultivation gained impetus in the 1960s, driven French statute book. by growers repatriated from Algeria. Vine by vine, they restored the Why the change? yards largely destroyed by phylloxera in 1885. The area obtained For several years, our VDQS (vin délimité de qualité supérieure) status in 1964, followed growers had no longer felt by the AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) label in 1973. in sync with the Coteaux du Tricastin name. ‘Tricas- But in these parts, the presence of vines stretches back to the time tin’ was seen as a byword for ‘industrial’ – because of the Phoenicians, who planted the first stock in the fifth century of the nearby power plant – and this seriously BC. The Romans later carried on the activity: they turned the area damaged our image, despite all the collective and into one of the most prolific wine producers in ancient and medieval individual efforts made to produce quality wines Gaul, with the Rhône serving as the major route for communication that respect their terroir. and wine transport. Our Roman guests, with their sharp noses, had already discovered all the riches of this secret garden: a winery Is Grignan-les-Adhémar a name that discovered in Donzère testifies to their presence. Dating from the unites all the producers? first century AD, it is the largest surviving complex of its kind in In everyone’s mind, the name of Grignan conjures the world. the listed castle where the Marquise de Sévigné, the celebrated French letter-writer, once lived. It is a powerful, evocative symbol of the area’s identity. The Adhémars were a family who reigned over the Provencal portion of the Drôme for several centu- ries, and who expanded its reputation to the city of Montélimar and its environs. The history of the Adhémars is closely linked to that of Grignan – and so the banner name brings together the entire area. Do you feel optimistic about this new start? We’re facing a real challenge. We want to showcase a terroir of which we’re proud, so that our wines can enjoy the recognition they deserve. The Gri- gnan-les-Adhémar name will help erase people’s preconceptions. The change will restore growers’ pride in the wines that they make, promote and sell. 5 he vineyards of Grignan-les-Adhémar boast soils of great geological diversity, thus offering a collection of Twines directly inspired by their nourishing subsoils: Vines the chalk imparts elegance, and the clay lends richness. In this mosaic of terroirs, the growers compose inspired by THEIR TERROIR their varietal blends in search of the greatest harmony and finesse. To Montélimar St-Gervais-sur-Roubion Valence A geological quartet The subsoils consist mainly of chalk/clay or sand, but the topsoil varies ac- cording to locale. The AOC area encompasses four geological formations. Châteauneuf- Allan • Pebbles conveyed and polished by the Rhône. The wines from these du-Rhône soils are distinguished by their complexity, generous character and very Viviers La Roche- Ruoms St-secret rich expressiveness. • The high terraces of the Rhône valley (150-200m) with chalky-clay soils, Roussas Montbrison Donzère surrounded by green hills. This formation yields wines with an elegantly Valaurie Grignan rounded quality coupled with considerable strength. Les Granges Gontardes • Very stony or gravel-rich soil. In these clay-rich locales, the wines have La Garde St-Pantaléon Chantemerle- Chamaret les Vignes Adhémar lès-Grignan a firmly confident style and are dark in colour. Valréas Bourg-St-Andéol Clansayes Montségur-sur-Lauzon To Nyons • Alluvial terraces by the Rhône. The resulting wines are elegant and St-Paul Richerenches Trois-Châteaux supple on the palate. La Baume de Transit St-Restitut St-Paulet-de-Caisson Visan Bouchet The meeting of Suze-la-Rousse Tulette Bollène North and South To Orange Rochegude Ste-Cécile-les-Vignes In their Mediterranean-influenced climate, the vines of Grignan-les- Violès Adhémar ripen in idyllic conditions. Winters are mild, temperate and windy; summers are hot, dry and bright, but often cool at night. In July, the average temperature is 23°C, and sunshine totals 350 hours! These The Mistral according to conditions let the grapes build up sugar slowly and steadily. Thus nourished, the Marquise de Sévigné the bunches achieve uniform maturity, which helps ensure balanced wine. “ Madame de Chaulnes tells me that I am too contented And although the prevailing northerly wind, the Mistral, sometimes gives here, with this lovely sunshine.