The Hauvette spirit: sincerity, patience and great Provence wines
There are wine stories that begin by chance, and others that feel like a calling. Dominique Hauvette 's belongs to the latter category. In 1988, this former lawyer and ski instructor left everything behind to settle in Saint Rémy de Provence, at the foot of the Alpilles mountains. Surrounded by her horses and just two hectares of vines, which she had bought from her neighbor, a winemaker about to retire, she was already convinced that she had found her calling: to make a living from "working the land", which she considers to be the noblest of professions.
Guided by her instincts and nourished by the encounters that have marked her path - notably with Eloi Dürrbach(Domaine de Trévallon) and Laurent Vaillé(La Grange des Pères) - Dominique has set her course. Without giving in to fads, she chose biodynamic viticulture long before the term was coined, convinced that vines must remain in osmosis with their environment.
Gradually, her vineyard expanded: the initial 2 hectares became 15, then 17, which Dominique cultivates with patience, rigor and finesse. Nearly 25 years later, her demanding approach has made her one of the greatest names in fine Provence wines.
Alpilles terroirs, between stone and light
Domaine Hauvette stretches across the limestone plateaus on the northern slopes of the Alpilles. Here, the rock outcrops, the garrigue scents, the mistral winds sweep through the vines and cleanse the bunches. This harsh, luminous terroir gives the wines their distinctive mineral freshness, far removed from the excessive heat sometimes associated with southern wines.
The grape varieties reflect the richness of the Baux de Provence andAlpilles PGI appellations: for the reds, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. For whites, Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne and a littleUgni Blanc. Each grape variety finds its own unique expression here, shaped by the clay-limestone soils and a Mediterranean climate with cool nights.
Dominique Hauvette cultivates his vines according to the principles of organic viticulture and biodynamics : shallow ploughing, plant preparations, respect for the lunar calendar and hand harvesting. In the cellar, the same philosophy applies: indigenous yeasts, little or no sulfur, gentle winemaking to preserve the integrity of the fruit. Ageing takes place in concrete vats, large foudres or majestic cement eggs. No ostentatious wood, but containers chosen to round off the angles, reveal the purity and prolong the life of the wines.
Every decision is aimed at serving the essential: the sincerity of the terroir, the balance between strength and elegance, and that unique vibrancy that is the signature of Domaine Hauvette wines.
White, rosé and red: the great Domane Hauvette cuvées
Clairette, Dolia, Jaspe: whites that sculpt the light
At Domaine Hauvette, whites are never anecdotal. TheIGP Alpilles Clairette cuvée showcases this Provencal grape variety in its most luminous simplicity: floral, fresh, crystalline. Still in IGP Alpilles, the Dolia cuvée is inspired by ageing in amphorae, and offers a fleshy, deep body, always balanced by great mineral tension. As for the Jaspe cuvée, it unfurls notes of yellow fruit and honey, with an ample structure and racy length. These are great gourmet white wines, capable of ageing gracefully, that contradict all the standards of Provence's white wines.
Pétra: the gourmet rosé
Cuvée Pétra is a far cry from the standard "pool" rosés of Provence. This IGP Alpilles rosé has a bewilderingly deep, almost garnet-red color, and intense, complex aromas. Its texture and aromatic persistence make it an exceptional gourmet rosé, and confirm Dominique Hauvette 's ability to elevate rosé to the rank of a noble, refined wine.
Roucas, Carnelian, Amethyst: reds of soul and character
The wine estate's reds embody the depth of the Alpilles terroir. The Roucas cuvée charms with its immediate greediness, its notes of red fruit and garrigue herbs. More sensual, the blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in the Cuvée Cornaline is in a different league: a powerful, spicy wine made for laying down.
Améthyste, rare and precious, showcases a pure Cinsault, revealing unsuspected finesse and satiny freshness. In each of these cuvées, you'll find Dominique Hauvette's signature style: straightforwardness, depth and the elegance that characterizes the great wines of Les Baux de Provence.
For 30 years, Domaine Hauvette has been as much a human adventure as a hymn to Provence. Dominique Hauvette has raised her wines to the rank of benchmarks, without ever yielding to the siren song of convenience. True to her vision, she continues to produce straightforward, lively, sincere wines that speak as much of the land of the Alpilles as of the woman who makes them. Her bold choices have made Dominique Hauvette a key figure in the great wines of Provence, crowned Vigneronne de l'année 2020 and 3 stars 2026 by RVF.
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