Patricia ORTELLI acquired the CHATEAU LA CALISSE in 1991. Since its purchase, the vineyard has been thoroughly restored and developped.
The vines have been replanted following a North/South orientation in soils with a chalky balanced texture. These have been subsoiled, drained and levelled and spread over several terraces with excellent sun exposure. The Romans already grew vines on this suitable type of soil located at an altitude of 380 metres in a depression that generates a microclimate.
Encépagement
It relates to – AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) Côteaux Varois en Provence – guaranteed vintage:
WHITE WINES : 3,50 hectares
– Rolle
– Grenache Blanc
– Clairette
RED WINES : 5,75 hectares
– Syrah
– Grenache
– Cabernet Sauvignon
Growing techniques
The soil is prepared according to the traditional methods – claws, ploughing, no chemical weed killer or fertiliser.
The vines are fastened onto 3 threads (1m80) and some stalks are removed before ripening in order to not exceed the maximum production of 35 hectolitres per hectare.
The treatments are traditional, mainly using copper and sulphur.
The vineyard has been awarded since 1996 the – Organic Agriculture Certification (Contrôle ECOCERT).
The harvest
The grapes are harvested by hand while fully riped and the selected bunches are carried to the cellar in 20kg boxes.
The Wines
The wine processing takes place using the latest techniques (pneumatic wine press, thermo-adjusted stainless steel vats). The rosé wines are vinified after trapping. The fermentation occurs at low temperature. As far as the red wines are concerned, the vinification is traditional but some are matured in new oak casks.
The whole harvest of AOC COTEAUX VAROIS EN PROVENCE is bottled.
Every year, the production consists of:
- 15 000 bottles of Blanc de Blancs (white wine made with white grapes)
- 20 000 bottles of rosé wine
- 15 000bottles of red wine
