A CHALLENGE AND A GREAT FAMILY AFFAIR
La Tribune – Supplément Vins et Gastronomie – November the 10th 2022
In 1953, Jean-Louis Ferran, Madeline’s great-grandfather, fell in love with this ruined estate located in Rasteau. There was nothing there, no vines, no water, no electricity. His boss at the time even called him crazy! However, Jean-Louis Ferran fell in love with it. He sold his car and bought the estate. While continuing to work as the manager of a large wine estate in the region, he began the adventure.
After a few years, he devoted himself 100% to his new estate with the help of his two sons, Daniel and Jean-Pierre. Together, they cleared the land, planted, produced their wines and never wanted to be part of the cooperative cellar. A great family adventure that Gilles (Daniel’s son) and his wife Laurence continued in 1986 and since 2018 their daughter Madeline has taken part in this family work.
The estate consists of about 30 hectares of Rasteau, with the highest vines at an altitude of 350m. The wines are available in three colors: white, rosé and red, not forgetting the famous Vins Doux Naturels Rasteau…
They produce 13 different reds, each with its own personality. Among others, “La Ponce” the flagship of the estate and “Argilla ad Argillam” an exceptional wine from plots situated at an altitude of 340m and aged in amphorae for 9 months.
For the whites, the wine lover will find the “Petit Scarabée”, “La Ponce” and also “La Galopine” with a light yellow color and golden reflections.
As for the rosé wines, there are three cuvées, including “Les Antimagnes” with its pale pink color and silver tints.
The wines are vinified and matured in their underground cellar, in order to better regulate temperature and humidity. The grapes are mainly harvested by hand and bottled at the estate.
You will find these wines in the best restaurants of the region, but also in the cellar of the domain. Of course, the cellar is not on the side of a road, but their wines are well worth a visit.