Our Terroir
THE ALPILLES
Located in the heart of Provence, northwest of Bouches-du-Rhône county, the Alpilles mountain range stretches from the banks of the Rhône to the banks of the Durance River.
Vineyards and olive trees have grown there since time immemorial. The forests of pines and holm oaks add to the beauty and permanence of the landscape.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Since 2006 our 90 hectares of vineyards have been organically grown.
Organic farming means no use of herbicides that contaminate soils, that lead to resistant weeds and jeopardize the consumer. We work the soil gently to eliminate weeds.Tilling aerates the soil, mineralizes organic matter, reduces water stress during the summer. Tilling discourages the vines’ shallow roots and encourages the roots to go deeper and deeper.
Agro-chemical mineral fertilizers are not used in organic farming. Such mineral fertilizers and herbicides are a major source of pollution for groundwater and watercourses. We prefer the use of organic composts and farm manure that nourish the soil directly and the vine indirectly. The slow, sustainable mineralization of these organic materials nurtures the vines more smoothly and gradually.
Tillage and use of organic composts make it possible to obtain grapes that have more flavor and better organoleptic balance. They encourage the vine roots to explore the soil which leads to better expression of the soil, the terroir.
It all begins with the work on the vines
Respect and love for this land have prompted the Valdition team to take an ever-more environmental approach. We have moved from responsible farming to organic farming. Domaine de Valdition wines are the fruit of constant work with a single objective: the search for quality.
Tout commence par le travail de la vigne.
After fermentation, the different grape varieties are blended. They then go into tanks, casks or oak barrels to continue maturation.
La récolte, triée très minutieusement, est égrappée, foulée puis vinifiée dans nos cuves.
Après la cuvaison et la fermentation, les différents cépages sont assemblés et mis en cuves, foudres ou barriques de chêne pour des élevages personnalisés.
THE VINEYARD
Un vignoble de 90 hectares dans les Alpilles
Our vineyards cover 90 hectares in the Alpilles range, at the confluence of three major growing regions: Rhône Valley, Provence and Languedoc. Domaine de Valdition vineyards grow a wide range of grape varieties.
White grape varieties we grow are:
Bourboulenc, Chardonnay, Chasan, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Muscat Petit grain, Roussane, Vermentino, Viognier and Pinot Gris.
Red grape varieties we grow are:
Bourboulenc, Chardonnay, Chasan, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Muscat Petit grain, Roussane, Vermentino, Viognier and Pinot Gris.
Soil composition at Domaine de Valdition naturally limits yield which is very conducive to the quality of our wine.
THE OLIVE GROVES
The olive tree is the symbol of the Mediterranean area
Sur le verger de Valdition, on retrouve les différentes variétés d’olive de l’AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence : Aglandau, Grossane, Picholine, Salonenque et Verdale des Bouches du Rhône.
We also grow the Bouteillan variety which originates from the Var region. It has adapted beautifully to the Alpilles and gives a fiery taste.
Our 30 hectares of olive trees are organically grown
Our oil is made exclusively from our olives that are harvested by hand from late October until early December.
Pour l’élaboration du Fruité Vert AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence, les olives et principalement l’Aglandau, sont ramassées tôt en saison et pressées dans les heures qui suivent la récolte, afin de préserver leur potentiel antioxydant.
Le Fruité Noir AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence est obtenu principalement avec des olives Salonenque qui sont conservées à l’abri de l’air quelques jours avant d’être pressées. Cette étape pendant laquelle s’effectue une légère fermentation, confère à cette huile ces arômes inimitables de tapenade, d’olive noire, de truffe et de cacao.
