Portraits of winemakers

DOMAINE SAINT-ANDRÉ DE FIGUIÈRE, COMBARD FAMILY: BURGUNDIAN BY BIRTH, PROVENÇAL AT HEART

Family Legacy

François is an artist. A graduate of the Fine Arts, he spent his early adult years focusing on painting and sculpture. In 1997, his father Alain invited him to work with him on the family vineyard. "François jumped at the chance: producing wine is a form of art. My brother thus found the creative aspect that has always attracted him," recounts Magali. Seven years later, Magali and their other sister Delphine joined the Domaine Saint-André de Figuière to help their family.

For ten years, the three Combard siblings learned the art of winemaking from their father. When he passed away, François, Magali, and Delphine decided to preserve the family legacy and form a partnership. François manages the vineyards, Delphine handles the administrative side, while Magali is responsible for marketing and promoting the estate. "I come from a marketing background in the tourism and sales sector. Delphine has 15 years of experience as an administrative manager in large vacation clubs. Our three profiles are perfectly complementary," she highlights.

From Burgundy to Provence

Located in La Londe-les-Maures, about ten kilometers from the city of Hyères, Domaine Saint-André de Figuière is uniquely owned by former residents of Burgundy. "For 20 years, our parents owned a vineyard in Chablis: Domaine Laroche. It was there that our father made his first foray into the world of wine," reveals Magali. Originally from Provence, Alain Combard and his wife felt the desire to return to their home region. In 1992, the couple decided to sell their Burgundy property and search for a vineyard to acquire in Provence. "It was quite a daring move because, in the 90s, Provence was lacking in wine production and fame. But our father believed in it: he chose the La Londe terroir, which reminded him of Chablis. This convinced him to settle here. He was the Burgundy winemaker established in Provence. He introduced a new style of white wine to the region, incorporating the minerality and freshness of Chablis. This helped him stand out and gain recognition," Magali continues.

"Fine, Mineral Wines Without Makeup"

Spanning 85 hectares of organically farmed vines, Domaine Saint-André de Figuière produces 1.3 million bottles annually. This includes white, red, and rosé wines. Committed to preserving the paternal viticultural heritage, François ensures the Burgundy touch that defines the estate’s unique wines. "Fresh, mineral wines without makeup," describes the winemaker.

At the forefront of technology, the Combard siblings regularly invest in sophisticated machinery to optimize their winemaking methods. Their latest acquisition: a pneumatic press with aspiration that produces a finer and more aromatic grape juice. "We had the opportunity to inaugurate it during the recent harvest, which concluded last week," notes Magali. Very satisfied with the harvest, the Combard siblings are anticipating a superb vintage "complex and expressive, similar to 2015."

First Edition of the Live Performance Festival at Domaine Saint-André de Figuière

Aware of their location in a highly touristy region, the siblings cleverly leverage oenotourism: for several years, Domaine Saint-André de Figuière has hosted summer jazz concerts in the vineyards in partnership with the La Londe Festival Jazz. July 2016 also saw the launch of the first Figuière Festival, offering three days of live performances (theatre, music, dance) amidst the vines. As for future projects, the 2017 vintage will not escape the constant spirit of innovation that characterizes Domaine Saint-André de Figuière, as Delphine, Magali, and François are currently preparing a major surprise that the public will discover starting next January. Stay tuned…