Domaine de Ferrand
Philippe Bravay represents the fourth generation of the family that owns Domaine de Ferrand. The winery can be traced back to the 17th century. Philippe’s parents sold the grapes to wine merchants. But he decided to press and bottle his own wine.
7.5 hectares lie in the north of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, 10 hectares in the Côte-du-Rhône appellation. These include very old vineyards planted by his great-grandfather in 1904, 1910 and 1920; as usual in the so-called field blend. About 10% of the vines are Syrah, Counoise, Vaccarès, Bouboulenc, Mourvèdre and others, which are blended with the Grenache.
Red wines from Domaine de Ferrand
from Domaine de Ferrand
The soils are barren and stony, consisting of sand, clay and limestone. Philippe Bravay cultivates his vines according to organic farming principles. The canes are traditionally trained in the gobelet style or “en buisson” (in a bush). This results in lively, freshly crisp wines despite the increasingly hot climate. Fortunately, the mistral often blows from the north here, bringing cool relief and also ensuring that fungal diseases have next to no chance.
Philippe Bravay ferments his wines spontaneously, i.e. without adding yeasts. The wines are predominantly aged in concrete or stainless steel tanks instead of wooden barrels. They express their terroir in a precise, “unvarnished” manner, so to speak.
Producer
Maria Casanovas
The Bodega or Cava Maria Casanovas is located in the heart of the Penedès, in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, the centre of Cava production. It is owned by the Casanovas family and managed by three children of Maria Casanovas. Jordi and Jacint are responsible for the vineyards and the cellar, Rosa for administration and marketing.
Domaine des Pères de l'Eglise
In 1933, the winegrowers and wine merchants of Châteauneuf-du-Pape were the first to impose quality rules relating to the cultivation and production of wines that would bear the name Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The geographic definition of the cultivation area, along with the other regulations, is still in force today, in order to guarantee the wine quality for connoisseurs. The Gradassi family of the Domaine des Pères de l’Église is following the tradition, but with the fresh impetus provided by the young fourth generation.
Bodegas Ribas
We could talk about Bodega Ribas on Mallorca, all day long. But it's best to see and read for yourself! We sent wine journalist Britta Wiegelmann and cameraman Felix Groteloh to experience the winery and the family at first hand. Araceli and Javier Servera Ribas, the brother and sister team behind the wines, tell us how the oldest existing winery on the island survived phylloxera, why they love their local grape, the Mantonegro, so much and what the sea has to do with it all.