Portraits of winemakers

CHRISTIAN RAIMONT: ‘THERE'S MORE TO PROVENCE THAN ROSÉ!

298 Views Posted on: 2024-06-05
 

Christian's Transition to Winemaking in Provence

In 1996, as his career as a financial advisor was coming to an end, Christian decided to fully dedicate himself to winemaking. He fell in love with a vineyard located in the commune of Eygalières, Provence: Domaine d’Éole. “When I learned that the owner was selling the estate, I didn’t hesitate. There was a real opportunity to seize,” Christian recalls. A few months later, he became the official owner of the estate.

Vines Over 25 Years Old

Christian then partnered with German oenologist Matthias Wimmer, who was already working on the estate and taught him all the tricks of the trade. Today, wine holds no secrets for Christian, and he tends to the 27 hectares of vines, all over 25 years old, with great care.

Typical Provençal Wines

At Domaine d’Éole, all wines are 100% organic. Under the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Vin de France appellations, the cuvées are made from a variety of grape varieties: Syrah, Grenache Noir, Roussanne, Carignan, Vermentino, and Cinsault. Harvests are done exclusively by hand. For Christian, who considers himself an “artisan of wine,” vine treatment is fundamental. “I want my wines to be enjoyed with pleasure. But more importantly, I want to give them a specific identity, typical of Provence.” To avoid falling into the “trap” of large-scale industrial agriculture, which he believes distorts the essence of wine, Christian favors small distribution channels. Among the 100,000 to 140,000 bottles produced each year at Domaine d’Éole, one-third is sold directly from the estate, while the rest is distributed through export.

“There’s More to Provence Than Rosé!”

Another of Christian’s missions, not the least of which, is to champion red wine values in the Provençal vineyard. “Many people associate Provence wines with rosé. But there’s more to Provence than rosé!” he laments. A member of the association Rouge Provence, Christian shows great determination in elevating Provençal red wine to the same level of recognition as rosé. “Of course, we have nothing against rosé. In fact, we produce it. But we must not forget that Provence is also a land of red and white wines. These are the values I defend.”