Country: France > Provence

Chateau Malherbe

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Originally from Lyon, Louis Ferrari (no relation) purchased Chateau Malherbe in 1940 and his grandson Serge planted vineyards in 1960 to begin producing wine. From the outset, the vines were farmed entirely without herbicides or pesticides or indeed any synthetic products. Serge’s wife Mireille Ferrari strove from the outset to treat her vines with the utmost care and respect, since this was the only way to ensure that the property would survive through generations.

Today her grandson Sebastian leads the estate, the fourth generation to tend to the property, and he has expanded on Mireille’s philosophy, achieving Demeter certification of biodynamics in 2021. Cover crops of rye and flowers are planted every year to ensure water retention and cool the soil in an area often beset by drought in the modern age. They have succeeded by engaging Jannick Utard (formerly of the estimable Domaine de la Navicelle) and Burgundy’s natural wine pioneer Philippe Pacalet. Under their guidance, the estate’s vines and wines have reached new heights.

 

  • Appellation: Provence
  • Owner: Sebastien Malherbe
  • Winemaker: Sebastien Malherbe
  • Varieties Grown: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Rolle, Sémillon
  • Hectares/Age of Vines: 28 ha / since 1940
  • Altitude/Soil: Red clay and schist/shale based soils results in complexity and an overt mineral quality in the wines.
  • Farming Methods: Organic, certified (Demeter)

Wines

Red Rose White Sparkling Sweet Fortified Spirits Cider