GG_N43_COMPLET_ITA-WEB

RHONE VALLEY
– REGION –
Luc and Rémi Bayon de Noyer at Domaine des Gravennes
apply the principles of biodynamics and agro-ecology”. Their
philosophy is tangible in their six Côtes du Rhône and Côtes
du Rhône-Villages Suze-la-Rousse labels. These artisanal wines
are not sold in supermarkets. During the first lockdown, 35%
of the wines that are normally sold in the hospitality industry
and to wine merchants were immobilised. Their clientele of
restaurateurs is mostly concentrated in Paris, where many
fashionable, trailblazing outlets are located.
However, the brothers did not throw in the towel and
continued to expand their cellar door sales, local sales
and home deliveries. “During the first lockdown, we sent
e-mailings to our customers and provided free delivery on
orders of €300 and gave them a free bottle of wine. This
worked well for our private customers”, says Luc Bayon de
Noyer. When it came to the autumn and trade fairs were cancelled
again, wine merchants picked up the slack and sales
increased by 30% compared to previous vintages. “This time,
we developed short distribution channels. We had to reinvent
ourselves and secured listings with local organic shops”.
SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE 33