The Saint-Joseph appellation, a Rhone Valley Cru, spans 1370 hectares of vines, extending 50km along the Rhône’s right bank from Chavanay in the north to Guilherand in the south, covering 23 towns in Ardèche and 3 in the Loire. The climate is semi-continental, leading to late harvests, and the region benefits from a mix of Mediterranean and continental influences. The vineyards are mostly terraced on steep slopes, crucial for sun exposure and drainage. Granite dominates the soils, with some tender gneiss and acidic granite in the south. This soil diversity enriches the wines.
Soil: Granitic terraces, on steep slopes with a south/south east exposure in Chavanay and Malleval.
Vinification and ageing:
Harvested by hand in the morning in small cases less than 20 kg and pressed directly in whole clusters. Stainless steel vats and oak barrels (25%) Malolactic fermentation begins naturally in the fall or spring depending on the vintage. Ageing on fine lees for 8 months.
