Domaine de Sulauze
– Provence, France
In 2004, the couple Karina and Guillaume Lefèvre started Domaine de Sulauze on a beautiful old estate in Miramas, a commute an hour drive away from Marseille. It comprises 500 hectares, of which only 30 hectares are devoted to viticulture, in addition to 20 hectares of wheat and corn and 5 hectares of olive trees. The rest is wilderness, with traces here and there of previous inhabitants, from Romans to Carolingians.
From day one they have been working organically, and within a short time they were able to extend that method to biodynamics. They feel obliged to this way of working, so that this place is not affected too much for future generations and grow everything according to biodynamic and agroecology principles, without the usage of chemical treatments.
The lunar calendar is followed for every operation, in both the vines and winery. This includes a degree of self-sufficiency: Karina and Guillaume bake their own bread, brew beer, grow fruits and vegetables, and a small amount of livestock scours the property.
Their wines reflect the character of the Province: lively and ‘agréable’. Les Amis 2021 for example is a vin de France rouge, made with 100% Syrah à petits grains. It bursts with fruit, complemented by fully integrated tannins. Once a bottle graces the table, it quickly disappears. The Pomponette 2022, an AOP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence rosé, is crafted from a blend of 40% Grenache noir, 15% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Mourvèdre, and 5% Vermentino. It tastes fresh and mineral with pleasant aromas of little red fruits and citrus.
Despite their natural ways they maintain a sense of ‘bon vivant’. When you hear about the Sulauze farm, you can only imagine that it is a place that despite living responsibly, people also live to the fullest.
Sulauze, in short, represents a way of life that is fully reflected in their wines.
Cultivation: 30 ha, 2 ha of barley for brewery, 2 ha of wheat for bread, 5 ha of olive trees
Production: 15,000 bottles/year
Varieties: Vermentino, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Sciaccarellu
Approach: Biodynamic
Certifications: Organic
Sulfites: Only added during bottling
