One of the most beautiful wine estates in the Bandol appellation
The Terrebrune wine estate is a family-owned wine estate founded in 1963 by Georges Delille. Today, it spans 30 hectares of vineyards cultivated using organic and , more recently,biodynamic farming methods —thanks in particular to Reynald Delille, who continues to carry on the family legacy to bring out the best of the terroir in every wine.
Georges Delille, the wine estate’s founder, passed away in the spring of 2021. Today, his son Reynald has taken up the torch, firmly supported by Patrick Aparicio, one of the pillars of the Terrebrune wine estate. They are the guardians of this landmark of Provençal winemaking heritage bequeathed to them by Georges Delille.
Winegrowing That Respects Life
The vineyards of the Domaine de Terrebrune are situated on a terroir with exceptional geology: the Triassic. This is a Tertiary-era limestone formation dating back more than 200 million years, which creates a complex soil structure composed of limestone gravel, brown clay, and crumbly rock. The vines have been rooted in this treasure of terroir for several generations and draw their nourishment from the abundant minerals present in the soil.
The vineyard is primarily planted with Mourvèdre, the king of the Bandol appellation, but it also includes Grenache Noir and Cinsault for making Bandol rosé, as well as a multitude of white grape varieties (Marsanne, Rolle, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette, and Trebbiano) that make up the blend for Bandol white.
The winemaking process is minimally interventionist and visionary. Georges Delille has always wanted to keep the wines in his cellar in order to pass on old vintages to connoisseurs of aged wines. In fact, the red wines are not released for sale until they have spent five years aging in bottles in the estate’s cellars. The entire team is committed to making Terrebrune the most renowned wine estate in Provence. It’s safe to say they’ve succeeded—the wine estate is now prominently featured in the most prestigious wine guides. It holds a 3-star rating from RVF (Revue des Vins de France).
What Has Made the Wines of the Terrebrune Wine Estate Famous
The most famous wines are, of course, the red Bandol and Bandol rosé, which reveal incredible complexity and extraordinary ageing potential. The rosé is one of the best in the appellation, both when young and as it ages. It is not uncommon to taste rosés over 10 years old at Domaine de Terrebrune, and this is truly remarkable. As for the red Bandol, it is a wine of unparalleled precision and complexity that, over the years, has been hailed as one of the finest wines of Provence.
Domaine de Terrebrune is, without a doubt, a must-visit in the Bandol appellation and, more broadly, in the Provence region. Its success lies primarily in its innovative approach to vineyard and cellar work, as well as in the uniqueness of the terroirs it cultivates. A great wine estate that will never cease to surprise us.
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