PRODUCER: Domaine de Trévallon
REGION: Les Alpilles, Provence, France
WINEMAKERS: Dürrbach Family
The South of France was once home to little more than so called ‘country wines.’ It wasn’t until the ‘70s that a small cadre of quality-focused producers began to change the world’s perception of wines from Languedoc, Roussillon, and Provence. While the likes of Daumas Gassac, La Grange des Pères, and Peyre Rose were proving that the Languedoc could produce world class wines, it was Éloi Dürrbach of Domaine de Trévallon in Provence that preceded all of them.
WINERY HISTORY:
Domaine de Trévallon is a cult wine estate with an almost mythical status, nestled in the serene hills west of St-Rémy-de-Provence. The estate was originally acquired in 1950 by Jacqueline and René Dürrbach, close friends of Pablo Picasso, as a vacation house in the charming Alpilles. It was their son, Éloi, who would transform the domaine into one of France's greatest wine estates. Alongside his wife, Floriane, Éloi spent over 30 years reshaping Trévallon from a humble Provençal estate into a beacon of winemaking. He innovatively blended Cabernet Sauvignon, once prevalent in Provence but largely absent at the time of Trévallon's origins, with Syrah, creating unique wines that are deeply reflective of the limestone-rich terroir. Éloi's approach to winemaking, shaped by his upbringing under two renowned artists and unburdened by formal oenological training, resulted in wines that are both natural and expressive.
In the 1970s, Éloi spearheaded the transformation of winemaking in Provence, leading the region's evolution from producing simple ‘country wines’ to more sophisticated offerings. He started the vineyard from scratch, planting the initial 3 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines in 1973 after dynamiting parts of the limestone hillside, and produced his first vintage in 1976.
Despite Éloi's tragic passing in 2021, the future of the domaine remains bright. His wife and three children – Ostiane, Isoline, and Antoine – carry on his legacy, preserving Trévallon as a winery where tradition and artistry run together, protecting the allure of what has become a true cult-classic.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
Located in the Alpilles near the medieval fortress town of Les Baux-de-Provence, the 17ha property has been organically farmed since the beginning. Dedicated principally to Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the vineyard also has 2ha of Marsanne and Roussanne. Low intervention winemaking reigns supreme at Trévallon, where whole cluster, wild yeast ferments and used oak élevage create wines of an indelibly alluring character. The estate red - a 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah - is a wine of incredible character and complexity, reminiscent of a Cru Classé Claret infused with sunshine. The white is a blend of predominantly Marsanne and Roussanne, with a touch of Chardonnay and Grenache Blanc added in. It is always age worthy and complex, whether it be from a cooler, racier vintage or a warmer, more full-bodied year.
Éloi Dürrbach's legacy at Domaine de Trévallon is more than just about winemaking; it's about challenging norms, embracing nature's rhythm, and creating wines that capture the essence of Provence in every bottle. Today, Trévallon stands as a symbol of artistic rebellion and a testament to the enduring allure of a true cult classic, a legacy of a visionary who dared to follow his instincts and craft wines that transcend appellations and conventional classifications.
IN THE PRESS
"Some producers become part of the history of their region. Their romantic story, their innovative ideas, the quality of their wine. Many of these iconic estates shine for only a couple of years and burn out, few last for decades and even fewer continue to flourish with the next generation. Domaine de Trévallon is one of the success stories." - Elizabeth Gabay MW, Decanter
