Vacqueyras is one of Southern Rhone’s seven top village crus which also include Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

There are family run Domaines and then there is Domaine “La Garrigue”. Just like the Ewing family’s enormous expanse of oil fields required full family involvement (in the hit 70’s TV show Dallas), Domaine “La Garrigue” huge 78 hectares of vines require the hands (quite literally) of all family members. With considerably less family intrigue and a distinct absence of shoulder pads, the Domaine has established a significant international reputation for its Vacqueyras wines. It’s ironic that La Garrigue’s biggest export market is the USA - maybe there is more to this Dallas link than even I realise!

Maxime Bernard is responsible for ensuring the vineyards produce grapes of optimum quality and his brother, Pierre manages the winemaking operation. Sons, daughters, cousins, husbands, wives and even a few able parents are all involved in the vineyard and the winery.

There is traditional winemaking and then there is Domaine “La Garrigue”. Almost all wineries have abandoned the traditional wooden basket presses due to the amount of manual labour required to operate them. It is a shame, because the old wooden machines generate press wine of superior quality. But with all family hands on deck, the Domaine still uses the wooden presses that Maxime and Pierre’s father bought 60 years ago.

The other distinguishable feature of the domaine is the old age of their grenache, syrah and mourvèdre vines which are low yielding and produce wines of concentration, tannin and finesse. Needless to say, the entire 78 hectares of vineyards are harvested by hand.

Only a large tight-knit family such as the Bernards could work so seamlessly as unit, using traditional techniques that many have abandoned to produce a range of wines of such quality.