Domaine Darnaud Rhône Valley wines
Our history
The story began in 2001 with 1.50 hectares of vines leased in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, south of Tain-l’Hermitage. The estate has grown every year, and now covers 16 hectares of Crozes-Hermitage in the communes of La Roche-de-Glun, Pont-de-l’Isère and Mercurol (including 0.25 hectares of white Crozes-Hermitage).
Right from the start, Emmanuel Darnaud attached great importance to vinifying each of his parcels separately, in order to bring out all the subtleties and lively expressions of the terroir. His ideal is to find the right balance by taking particular care with the harvest. Soils are worked and yields limited. The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted by plot. The grapes have been partially destemmed since 2016, and vatting lasts 15 to 20 days. The wine is aged in oak barrels or ½ muids, or in vats.
Since 2010, the estate has added another appellation, Saint-Joseph, covering 1.70 hectares (including 0.20 hectares of white Saint-Joseph). Facing south-east in the commune of Tournon-sur-Rhône, this terroir is located in the locality known as “la Dardouille”, meaning “the sun that beats down”.
Finally, in January 2021, the domaine was able to take over Bernard Faurie’s 1.5 hectare Hermitage vineyard (including 0.20 hectare Hermitage Blanc) on the Bessards and Greffieux soils.
The estate has been certified organic since vintage 2023 for Crozes-Hermitage and Saint Joseph, and 2024 for Hermitage.
