Collection: Domaine les Ondines
France - Rhône
Domaine les Ondines
【A grower who draws out everything Vacqueyras has to give】
Les Ondines sits on the garrigue plateau at Sarrians, looking straight out at the Dentelles de Montmirail with the western flank of Mont Ventoux at its back.
At the heart of the Vacqueyras appellation, viticulture here is governed by the caprices of the Mistral.
Gusts of 100 to 120 km/h are nothing out of the ordinary in this corner of the Rhône.
Many of the rows are planted along the line of the wind as a result, which makes working sustainably a delicate business.
The climate is dry, and managing the water held in the soil is critical.
Geologically the plateau was formed by Mindel alluvium: mostly sandy gravel and stone, with the clay content varying from parcel to parcel.
The domaine now farms 57.5 hectares in the Rhône, making wines in four appellations as well as red, white and rosé Vacqueyras and olive oil from Beaumes-de-Venise.
Since the cellar was built in 2003, the estate has come a very long way.
The first white plantings, put in between 2002 and 2005, have now reached maturity and give a Vacqueyras Blanc of real complexity and balance.
Mourvèdre planted from 2016 has found its way into the Vacqueyras Rouge blends, and above all into the M range.
The conversion to organic farming came in 2009, though it changed little in daily practice.
The spirit of it was already there. What certification brought, alongside experience and greater precision in the work, was another clear step up in quality.
New plantings between 2012 and 2017 have left their mark, most visibly on the whites.
Over the three years that followed, a further ten hectares of Vacqueyras vines were added.
Among them are 2.5 hectares of Clairette and Roussanne. In 2015 fresh Clairette went into La Plage, a beautiful sandy Vacqueyras parcel.
In the search for the finest terroir, seven hectares of clay-limestone strewn with rounded stones now grow quite superb Grenache.
The sandy terroirs of Beaumes-de-Venise joined the estate in 2015, opening the way to new wines, an elegant Muscat among them.
[A producer that brings out the full charm of Vacqueyras]
Les Ondines is located on the Garrigue plateau in Sarrien, facing the Dentels de Montmirail and backed by the western side of Mont Ventoux. Located in the heart of the Vacqueyras appellation, vineyards here are highly dependent on the vagaries of the Mistral. In fact, gusts of up to 100-120 km/h are not uncommon in the region. For this reason, many of the vineyard rows are planted in the direction of the wind, making them extremely sensitive to work sustainably.
The climate is dry, making soil moisture management very important. Geologically, the plateau is formed by alluvial deposits of the Meindel type, consisting mainly of sandy gravel and stones, with varying clay content in different sections.
The domaine currently owns 57.5 hectares in the Rhône and produces wines from four appellations as well as red, white and rosé wines from Vacqueyras and olive oil from Beaumes-de-Venise.
The Domaine has evolved significantly since the creation of the cellar in 2003. The first white wine vines, planted between 2002 and 2005, are now ripening and producing Vacqueyras Blanc with complexity and balance.
Since 2016, Mourvèdre plantings have been used in Vacqueyras Rouge blends, particularly the "M" series.
The conversion to organic farming in 2009 did not fundamentally change the practices, as the ethos was already there, but this certification allowed the experience and precision of the work to be gained, further improving the quality of the wines.
New vines were planted between 2012 and 2017, with the changes particularly noticeable in the white wines.
Over the next three years, 10 hectares of new vines were added to the Vacqueyras estate, including 2.5 hectares of Clairette and Roussanne. In 2015, new Clairette vines were planted on the beautiful sandy Vacqueyras plot, "La Plage." In search of the most beautiful terroirs, 7 hectares of clay-limestone soils with boulders are cultivated to produce exceptional Grenache.
In 2015, the sandy terroir of Beaumes-de-Venise was added, allowing for the development of new wines, including an elegant Muscat.
