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VALÉRIE ROUSSELLE, THE OWNER OF CHÂTEAU ROUBINE<br />
THE VINEYARDS AT CHÂTEAU ROUBINE<br />
Well-known since the 14th century, it was owned by the Order of the Knights Templar<br />
before being passed on to the Knights Hospitaller then to a number of Provence families.<br />
“Our estate is one of Provence’s 18 historic Crus Classés”, explains the winery’s<br />
owner Valérie Rousselle. “We have the good fortune of being able to offer our visitors<br />
a unique setting of 72 hectares of unbroken vineyards which form a natural amphitheatre<br />
lined by pine trees and cork oak. Our wines have always displayed unique<br />
features stemming both from the use of old Provencal grape varieties and sensitive<br />
winemaking methods where temperatures are kept under control”. The programme<br />
of wine tourism activities is varied and robust, recounting the history, the varietal<br />
range and the unique aspects of the chateau from the terrace of the cellar door shop<br />
with its sweeping views out over the vineyards. Visitors then take a deep dive into the<br />
world of wine production as they enter the private doors to the winery. They discover<br />
the secrets of how Crus Classés wines are crafted, following the journey of grapes<br />
from the vineyards to their arrival at the winery, through the winemaking process<br />
and up to bottling. A vineyard trail takes them on an educational and historical walk<br />
to learn about the winery’s unique terroir with a thirteen-point itinerary that mirrors<br />
its thirteen grape varieties. “Increasingly, our customers are looking for authentic<br />
experiences”, continues Rousselle. “We are lucky in that we are one of the largest<br />
production facilities owned by a Provencal family, which is one of our strong points.<br />
We try and capitalise on sustainability as much as possible and on aspects of nature<br />
which are strengths at the winery. We have been practitioners of biodynamic farming<br />
for several years and also plan to build an eco-friendly hotel as well as a restaurant<br />
that favours local products served in the heart of our vineyards”.<br />
12 SUMMER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE
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