Bruno Duchêne

Heroic viticulture on the Côte Vermeille

Originally from Loir-et-Cher, it was in 2002 that Bruno Duchêne took on the crazy challenge of creating his estate which today has 4 hectares of vines. 4 ha composed mainly of white, black and gray Grenache and 10% of Carignan planted on steep hillsides, at 300m altitude on the arid terroirs of Banyuls and Collioure.

Vines cultivated like a hanging garden

Bruno works his vines overlooking the magnificent Côte Vermeille, like a gardener works his vegetable garden. Here the yields are extremely low and for good reason, the vines are rooted on steep shale slopes or on steep terraces with sea views.

A harsh yet sheltered terroir

Here mechanical work of the vines is impossible, plowing is done by hand, with a winch. and/or on horseback, or on the back of a mule to be more exact! The vines are between 15 years old (for Grenache Blancs) and 70 years old. This magnificent but harsh environment nevertheless has certain advantages: thanks to the Tramontana, these plots are very little exposed to cryptogamic diseases, which therefore greatly limits the number of treatments.

A cellar without artifice

In the cellar, Bruno has chosen to work in a natural way, his goal: gentle vinification with as little intervention as possible, favoring infusions rather than extraction, and of course without adding sulfur. Barrel aging can then take place.

Fine and confidential wines

As a result, Bruno Duchêne offers us wines full of particular freshness, supple, distinguished, fine and digestible, a true work of goldsmithing! Airy wines, a bit unlike what you can find in the region, with an almost confidential production since Bruno produces on average between 7,000 and 10,000 bottles per year. Nuggets we tell you!