Carved into northern slopes of Provence's Alpilles are the spectacularly beautiful vineyards of Domaine de Trévallon. The vines are planted into the hillsides' steep, chalky, white limestone soil, making the mountains that protect them look as if they are always covered in snow.

René Dürrbach purchased this estate and farmhouse in Saint-Étienne-du-Grès for his family in 1955, drawn by its idyllic beauty that inspired his painting. An artist who moved in circles with Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, and Albert Gleizes, René envisioned Trévallon as a haven for art and creative communion. His wife Floriane, herself an artist who worked in embroidery and collaborated with Picasso, shared this vision of the estate as a place of peace where artists could work and gather with friends.

While René always thought the property would be ideal for winemaking, it was his son Eloi who, in the early 1970s at just 23 years old, began the arduous work of blasting into the mountains and planting vines. He made the bold choice to plant Cabernet Sauvignon, rare outside Bordeaux, alongside the region's traditional Syrah. Grown in this unique terroir, the Cabernet develops distinctive spicy notes of cinnamon and pepper, its tannins mellowed perfectly by late-harvest Syrah.

Eloi produced his first Trévallon wine from the 1976 harvest. He quickly gained a reputation among the top restaurateurs and sommeliers across France, who clamored for these intoxicatingly unique wines from this unique terroir. An AOC appellation was created for the region in 1985, and in 1991, regulations for Les Baux-de-Provence appellation were changed, with a decree that wines here could contain no more than 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. Eloi refused to change his blend or sacrifice his quality, and Domaine de Trévallon was recategorized to Vin de Pays status in 1993. Undeterred, Eloi kept growing his business, cultivating a cult-like following among oenophiles that continues to this day.

Following Eloi's passing in 2021, his daughter Ostiane has taken over leadership of the domaine. Having joined her father at the estate in 2009, she worked alongside him for over a decade, learning his philosophy of minimal intervention: "The less you do, the better the wine!" Now, as the estate's primary steward, Ostiane maintains her father's commitment to quality.

The property encompasses 45 hectares of land, with 14 hectares devoted to vines and five hectares to olives. The vineyards benefit from the temperate microclimate of Les Alpilles, where temperatures run three degrees cooler during summer months. Fog from surrounding trees blankets the parcels, each with its own microclimate. The air is perfumed with wild rosemary and fresh herbs, and the limestone soil is studded with large rocks.

The 2013 winery, constructed with natural materials and topped with solar panels that sell electricity back to the grid, represents the estate's commitment to sustainability. Each bottle label still features René Dürrbach's artwork, honoring the estate's artistic heritage.

Under Ostiane's leadership, Domaine de Trévallon continues to produce wines as distinctive and compelling as ever. The vineyard's elevation tempers Provence's heat, creating fresh, bright wines with high acidity, floral notes, and remarkable aging potential. The estate's unique terroir, artistic legacy, and unwavering commitment to quality ensure that these wines remain unlike any others in the world.


Farming and vinification practices: Sustainable, Organic