A Provençal treasure
Provence
A journey in harmony with the four elements.
Provence is a land of treasures. The intense midday sun casts its warmth over the region upwards of 2700 hours per year. The katabatic Mistral winds play their part by imparting force and freshness. The calm, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean tempt us with their inviting promise of coolness and intensity. The powerful and rich soils beckon us to uncover their secrets. From lavender fields to quaint villages, the diversity and beauty of the region has long been a source of inspiration for painters such as Picasso and Cézanne.
The wild and sun-drenched lands of Provence offer such incredible energy and diversity. They are here to be admired, felt, savored and experienced.
the Domaine
The history of Château Beaulieu is closely linked to that of Provence. Initially built as a fiefdom by Henri III in 1576, Château Beaulieu was for a long time owned by the Counts of Provence. Some of the region’s most reputed families later acquired the domaine including the Alamanons, Agoults, Oraisons and Pontleroys as well as the Tourneforts and the Candolles, all with the same desire to preserve this unique and distinctive terroir. 20 years ago Château Beaulieu was purchased by Pierre Guénant, an Epicurean and lover of wine and the arts. He chose to take quality to a higher level in both the vineyards and infrastructures with the objective of improving the quality of the wines and implementing a range of wine tourism activities thanks to a luxury hotel service. The domaine is situated in the commune of Rognes, just a few kilometers from Aix-en-Provence. Covering 300 hectares of land, it sits at 400 meters above sea level in the heart of Provence’s only volcano, the volcano of Beaulieu. This prestigious setting faces the Lubéron and overlooks the Valley de la Durance, the Abbey of Silvacane and the Roque d’Anthéron.
An imposing 17th century building lies at the heart of the domaine, surrounded by landscaped French gardens and fountains, together contributing to the character of what it one of the most prestigious wine domaines in Provence. In order to respect and preserve its terroir, Château Beaulieu opts to retain its traditional agricultural activities. The production of olive oils, almonds, truffles and honey enable it to broaden its range of produce whilst playing its part in preserving the traditions and diversity of the region’s ancient production methods as well as the agro-forestry systems of the Mediterranean.
The domaine covers 158 hectares of surface under vine for the production of red, white and rosé wines. Eight varietals are planted in these vineyards: Grenache, Syrah, Rolle, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. The vineyards are divided into 43 different parcels composed of basaltic and clay-limestone soils.
Château Beaulieu is a history-steeped family owned wine domaine that reflects the quintessence of the Provençal art-de-vivre.
The wines of Aix-en-Provence
Château Beaulieu is the most extensive wine domaine in the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence appellation.
This appellation surrounds the town of Aix-en-Provence and is situated in the most Western part of the region’s limestone soils. It stretches from the Durance towards the Mediterranean sea and from the Rhône Valley in the West to the Saint-Victoire in the East across over 4000 hectares of land.
This terroir is renowned for the remarkably elegant wines it produces. The rosés are most often intense and fruity on the nose with a palate characterized by a round structure which gives way to freshness and minerality on the finish. The whites offer an intense nose and fresh palate dominated by notes of citrus and exotic fruits. The reds disclose a deep hue and intensely aromatic and complex nose combined with a rich and fresh palate offering red fruits and spice.
The Appellation was awarded AOP status by the INAO in December of 1985 and now counts itself as one of France’s highest quality appellations for the production of rosé wines.
