Domaine de Sulauze

About

Owners & winemakers: Karina et Guillaume Lefèvre
Vineyards: 30ha of vineyards amongst 420ha of garrigues
Vineyard management: Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2013
Soils: Sandy limestone
Grapes grown: Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Calladoc, Cinsault, Marselan, Rolle, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Ugni Blanc
Annual production: 130,000 bottles

Quick facts:

• Domaine de Sulauze is made up of 500ha in the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence region of France, but only about 30ha of the estate is planted to vineyards. About 420ha remain as wild garrigues, while the rest is devoted to other agricultural activities, including a brewery (for which the grains and hops are grown on site), vegetable garden, olive groves, and a cattle ranch.
• When Karina and Guillaume took over the domaine in 2004, they abolished the use of all chemical treatments, including herbicides and pesticides, and in 2013 they obtained Demeter certification. All grapes are hand-harvested, and fermentations take place with indigenous yeasts. Wines are not fined or filtered before bottling, and only minimal sulfites are added.