I have to say that it is beyond amazing to me that I am now at the point, four and a half years in with Lost in Arles, that I need to update posts! But there is something of the “I am still here!” Happy Birthday tune to be sung about it as well, isn’t there?
When out with Remi in the pups roaming the Alpilles, I reminded Mr. Photographer that we were close to the Domaine de Valdition and why not stop by and pick up a little something to parch our dry throats? *hint, hint*
It was only after I stepped into the cool of the boutique (kept purposefully darkened during the blare of our summer, so I hope you will excuse the grain in the photos, I tried, sans trépied) that something seemed a bit off…
…despite the really gorgeous elegance around me that I had remembered from my last visit…full of pretty much everything that you could wish for to make a Provençal kitchen homey…
…from sets de table proclaiming that tomatoes have been harvested “since always”…
…ceramic hens and delicate candle holders to light up the terrace at night…
…to a range of local honey both sucré and a bit salé…
…and not to mention the absolutely quintessential tablecloth so that all of your meals are comme il faut!
It was all intensely familiar and yet…”Is this the same bou…” I started to ask a young woman whose face I recognized as she served a tasting from behind the counter. “Ah, non,” she quickly cut me off to end my confusion, “we moved the boutique two kilometers up the road from where it was before.” Oh, thank goodness, I haven’t completely lost my mind…yet.
The new boutique and tasting room is just as wonderful as before – truly one of the prettiest in this corner of Provence – but that doesn’t change what we were really there for, the wine. I am happy to report that the Domaine is continuing to bloom, winning a bronze medal at the prestigious Concours Général Agricole de Paris for their 2014 rosé Tradition (yes, we bought a few bottles of this).
The estate is huge, covering 90 hectares with a highly unusual amount of varietals for these parts – especially when you consider that Valdition’s wines are nearly all bio or organic. Here is a list of what is grown on the property:
- Cabernet-sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Marselan, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot and Syrah for the reds.
- Bourboulenc, Chardonnay, Chasan, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Muscat Petit grain, Roussane, Vermentino, Viognier and Pinot Grisfor the whites.
If you would like to find out more, then by all means please read my initial post about the Domaine by clicking here.
I definitely stand by what I wrote in 2012: “There is something so timeless and beyond time about this special place.” And I most certainly recommend that you stop by when you favor our fair corner of the world with a visit.
Domaine de Valdition
Route d’Eygalières
13660 – Orgon
Tel.: +(0)4 90 73 08 12
* As always, this is not a sponsored post – my goodness, I wish! – Just my hoping that you discover all the best that Provence has to offer…Salut!
So perfectly said, Henrik! While we usually only drink rosé in the summer, it can be nice to have a glass on a sunny winters day just to remember what the promise of the year ahead will be…And we are trying to make some tomato sauce for the winter too…
No you don't and I will keep my promise to you to do so. xo
And she will be the first to tell you that I have a TERRIBLE memory…save for when food or vintage clothing is involved!
Thank you so much, Stacey – and also for being such an important early supporter of Lost in Arles! It did and does mean so much to me…
I certainly harvest mine with love! 🙂
Edgar, it is incredibly rare to have so many varietals – quite a few of them I have not heard of being grown in the South before either.
I love that you look things up Deborah. Yes, the whole area is one of the very, very prettiest in all of Provence…and that is saying something!
Stow away! Yes! Do it! Can you imagine? We would have SO much fun. And yep, Mom called me the morning after I published this and asked, "Can we go there?" 🙂
You will have a welcoming committee if you do!!!!!
Yep, this definitely belongs in the file Judi. 🙂 I know how you love Paris but my neck of the woods isn't shabby either…
It is pretty gorgeous, I have to admit! 🙂