Madone | Domaine de la
The Domaine de la Madone is located on the renowned hillside of la Madone in FLEURIE. This hillside is often considered by connoisseurs to have the best growing conditions for wine in the area. It is blessed with exceptional amounts of sunshine, and the soil is composed of pink granite, highly suited to growing the Gamay grape variety. The 33 acre domaine has been cultivated by the Despres family for five generations.
The grapevines are cultivated with carefully managed intervention to ensure the highest quality while respecting the environment. Great efforts are currently going into the management of the vines to improve the maturing of the grapes and reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides. Recently planted vines are pruned and trained to a shape which encourages this. The grapes are hand-picked by about thirty grape pickers, and rigorously sorted to keep only the ripest and healthiest.
Wines here are made in the traditional way according to the methods established by their forefathers, taking care to bring out the best from the soil and the fruit. This allows the Despres to produce a wine which is fruity and which keeps well. The wine is bottled on site after being aged in vats or barrels for 6 to 12 months depending on the vintage. The family nature of the business was reinforced recently when their son Arnaud took over the cultivation of his great grandfather’s grapevines of the Domaine du Niagara.
Available Wines