The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal in the ancient village of Ampuis, home of the wines of the Cotes-Rotie. In these vineyards of over 2400 years old you can still see the small terraced walls characteristic of the Roman period. Etienne Guigal arrived in this region in 1923 at the age of 14. He made wine over 67 vintages and, at the beginning of his career, participated in the development of the Vidal-Fleury establishment. Despite his young age, Marcel Guigal took over from his father in 1961 when the latter was victim to a brutal illness rendering him blind. Marcel's hard work and perseverance enabled the Guigals to buy out Vidal-Fleury in 1984, although the establishment retains its own identity and commercial autonomy. In 2000, the Guigals purchased the Jean-Louis GRIPPAT estate in Saint-Joseph and Hermitage as well as the Domaine de VALLOUIT in Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage.

The vineyards of Crozes Hermitage surround the hill of Hermitage and so are subject to similar climatic conditions, though they do not rise as high, nor are they on the steepest slopes. The difference between the wines of Crozes Hermitage and Hermitage can be mainly attributed to the soil. As you come down the Hermitage slopes the soil profile schanges from hard granite rock to denser, sandier, clay rich soils. Alain Graillot has been producing wines reflecting his integrity and high standards since 1985. Born in the Northern Rhône, he left to pursue a career in business, but returned home to his dream of creating great wines. Without the opportunity of stepping into an existing family winery, Alain undertook formal studies in Burgundy while seeking the guidance and inspiration of the best of the new generation of winemakers including Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac. He now has some 15ha in Crozes Hermitage itself as well as 1ha in St-Joseph. He matures his red wines in one year old french oak barrels from Burgundy.

The Giraud family is one of Châteauneuf du Pape’s oldest, and has been growing vines in the area since the 13th Century. The wines are phenomenal and absolutely bowled us over when we first visited in 2005. Their success derives from holdings in top vineyards, and an approach that effectively combines the experience of several lifetimes with up-to-date oenological techniques. The estate is run by Marie and François Giraud, children of Michel Maret’s cousin, Pierre. Marie is Châteauneuf du Pape’s only woman oenologist, and Pierre exudes pride in her achievement of bringing some approachability and charm to the wines, without sacrificing their longevity. François follows in Pierre’s footsteps in being the vineyard specialist, and attributes the estate’s success in the difficult 2003 vintage to his father’s long experience.