Domaine Rouaud - Jérôme et Sophie Rouaud
Our domain is located exclusively in Pézilla-la-Rivière. Consisting of 9 hectares in property including 1 islet of 6 hectares with 10 grape varieties!
Organic Agriculture since its creation in 2003, Certified by Ecocert. Respect for flora and fauna. Working the soil by traditional plowing, mowing grassy areas, maintaining hedges and scrubland bushes. Treatments at least after observations, mainly with sulfur powder and plant preparations. No insecticides. No weedkiller. Search for a vine in line with its environment, for an expression of original terroir. And gradually, since 2014, implementation of the Biodynamic method, monitoring the lunar calendar, without dogma, according to the realities and possibilities of the moment.
The harvest is manual. It is an obvious choice that is part of our approach and our philosophy. It is not always easy, but it is an accepted choice to make men work and reduce mechanization, as soon as possible. The harvest has always been a celebration, the tradition must continue.
Beyond that, it is also a qualitative choice because it allows sorting in the vineyard and therefore bringing in grapes that meet the expected quality. The reception of the harvest at the cellar is thus facilitated and managed by one (your winegrower) or two people maximum.
Upon receipt in the cellar, the white grapes are directly pressed while the red grapes are destemmed and lightly crushed before being vatted. There is no added input at this step. Organic grapes for a Natural Wine!
Fermentations last between 1 to 3 weeks. I prefer gentle fermentation, without additives (indigenous yeasts, with some exceptions). The very moderate use of sulphites will only occur after the end of the so-called malolactic fermentations.
Bottling is carried out without filtration and all our red wines are clarified by simple decanting and racking, without fining. The wines are slightly sulphite before bottling to ensure their stability, especially for periods of transport. Therefore very moderate use of sulphites (from 1/5 to 1/3 of the authorized doses). Our wines have between 20 to 60mg / l of total SO2.