Trévallon

The Trévallon wine estate is remarkable in many ways. First and foremost, it’s fascinating because it tells the story of a family of enthusiasts who succeeded in founding a wine estate that is now one of the very best in all of France. Initially, it was thanks to the efforts of one man, Eloi Dürrbach, that the Trévallon wine estate came into being. The son of a famous artist couple, Eloi set his sights on becoming an architect. But he soon realized that this profession would not hold his passion for a lifetime. He then decided to pursue a dream: to create a wine estate from scratch.

He began by purchasing untamed land in the Alpilles region in 1973, then undertook a massive project to integrate the vineyards into a very rocky landscape where thyme and other plants typical of the garrigue grow. He reshaped the slope, sculpting his terroir like a work of art.

Eloi Dürrbach is entirely self-taught and is fascinated by viticulture and the history of winemaking. It was while researching old writings that he discovered Cabernet Sauvignon had been grown in many parts of Provence before the phylloxera crisis. It was only natural that he decided to plant it. He then created his white wine in the early 1990s by blending grape varieties rarely found in Provence—namely Roussanne, Marsanne, and Chardonnay.

Today, he is a symbol of success and is considered the “Pétrus of Provence” by many wine tasters. His red wine is a great age-worthy wine that combines finesse, complexity, and richness. His white wine is rich, elegant, and exceptionally fresh for the region.

This is clearly a must-visit wine estate, and it’s almost a must to have a few bottles from it in your cellar.