As the Belle Epoch drew to a close at the dawn of the 20th century, Alphonse Pradelle planted his first vines on the desolate, undeveloped property of Domaine des Gravennes, which literally translates to “stony place” in old French. It was here that Pradelle farmed Grenache and Syrah on the extremely sought after soil composed of alluvial and sandy clay, scattered with the picturesque galets (pudding stones) that the Rhone is known for. He sold his wine locally until the 1960s, when his son Raphael, along with wife Marie-Louise, decided to breathe new life into the estate by replanting the vines and increasing production. Fifty years later, Gravennes experiences great success with a newly modernized cellar and viticulture practices that emphasize the common values of the family (now in it’s fourth generation of winemakers): sustainability, protection of the soil and environment, conviviality, and a constant search for balance and elegance.
Domaine des Gravennes has been practicing biodynamic for over ten years and is in the process of U.S. certification. With an average vine age of 30 years and a family history steeped in the classic wines of the Southern Rhone, Gravennes produces some of the finest examples of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre in the region.
