In 520, Saint Caesarius, Bishop of Arles, decided to establish an annex of his women’s convent in Nyons, in the Drôme department. His sister, Caesaria, became the first abbess of the religious edifice.
A Rich Religious Heritage
In 520, Saint Caesarius, Bishop of Arles, decided to establish an annex of his women’s convent in Nyons, in the Drôme department. His sister, Caesaria, became the first abbess of the religious edifice.
It was not until 970 that certain nuns from the Saint-Césaire priory in Nyons settled in Vinsobres to establish a new community and administer the village’s estates. These Benedictine nuns dedicated their time to prayer, work, and hospitality in accordance with the rule of Saint Benedict. A chapel, which has since disappeared, was erected by these nuns in memory of “Saint Vincent,” the patron saint of winemakers.
It was in these privileged grounds that Domaine Saint Vincent was born in 1920.
In 2012, following three generations of the same family, Domaine Saint Vincent became the property of the Lescoche family.
The destiny of this cru now rests in their hands, driven by the ambition to build upon past achievements and elevate it to the highest standards of quality and prestige.
13th Century
erected in memory of Saint Vincent, Patron Saint of Winemakers
1920
by F. DURMA
1957
on the property following the 1956 frost
of the Tanche variety—a true black pearl of the Baronnies, renowned for years—is unique in the world
September 7, 1957
“Côtes du Rhône Villages Vinsobres”
January 10, 1994
1st olive oil and table olive AOP in France
February 17, 2006
1st Cru of the Côtes du Rhône in Drôme Provençale
now stands among the 18 Crus of the Rhône Valley
August 2012
by the Lescoche family
2012-2018
Vineyards, production facilities, winemaking cellar, and tasting room
The entire estate is farmed using sustainable/integrated farming practices
September 2018
High Environmental Value certification level 3
A passion, a commitment
The estate covers 50 hectares of vineyards. It consists mainly of the Grenache and Syrah grape varieties, emblematic varieties of the Rhône Valley. The vines are cultivated with perseverance and dedication, respecting ancestral tradition.
The entire vineyard is trained using the Cordon de Royat system. We focus primarily on mechanical soil work in order to eliminate the use of herbicides.
Throughout the year, we carry out the operations necessary for the proper development of the vine, allowing it to benefit from all the essential care needed for its growth (pruning, disbudding, topping…).
The grapes are mainly harvested mechanically; however, we hand-harvest certain plots intended for the production of a few cuvées.
Our wines are crafted with patience and passion, giving them specific and recognized characteristics. So that the wines can express their full potential, we harvest and vinify each plot separately, allowing each one to bring its own typicity to the final blend.
The complete overhaul of our winemaking cellar in 2018, with the addition of thermo-refrigerated stainless steel tanks and the acquisition of oak barrels for aging our wines, has allowed us to improve our working techniques, precision, and quality. As a result, we are pleased to offer you generous, fruity, and exciting wines, born from the expression of our unique, high-altitude terroir.
After selecting our best blends, the wine is aged in 225 L barrels for our white wines and 400 L barrels for our red wines. Barrel aging contributes to achieving a fine aromatic complexity and adds roundness to the wines.
Côtes du Rhône Cru
In the Middle Ages, vine cultivation in the Vinsobres region was introduced by the Greeks. The Romans continued this tradition, and Roman legions garrisoned at Vaison-la-Romaine would rest at “Vinsobrium.”
Previously classified as Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Vinsobres red wine became the first local appellation of the Côtes-du-Rhône in the Drôme provençale on February 17, 2006, as “AOC Vinsobres.” This is how Vinsobres joined the 18 Crus of the Rhône Valley among the most prestigious (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, etc.).
According to Latin etymology, Vinsobres is said to come from “Vinsobris,” meaning “vine” and “work.” This name indicates that Vinsobres has always been a village of vines and winegrowers.
In 1633, Joseph Marie de Suarès, Bishop of Vaison and a great lover of the wine from this parish, pronounced this saying, which today remains that of all the winegrowers of this terroir: “Vinsobres or sober wine, take it soberly.”
In the Middle Ages, vine cultivation in the Vinsobres region was introduced by the Greeks. The Romans continued this tradition, and Roman legions garrisoned at Vaison-la-Romaine would rest at “Vinsobrium.”
Previously classified as Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Vinsobres red wine became the first local appellation of the Côtes-du-Rhône in the Drôme provençale on February 17, 2006, as “AOC Vinsobres.” This is how Vinsobres joined the 18 Crus of the Rhône Valley among the most prestigious (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Côte-Rôtie, Cornas, etc.).
According to Latin etymology, Vinsobres is said to come from “Vinsobris,” meaning “vine” and “work.” This name indicates that Vinsobres has always been a village of vines and winegrowers.
In 1633, Joseph Marie de Suarès, Bishop of Vaison and a great lover of the wine from this parish, pronounced this saying, which today remains that of all the winegrowers of this terroir: “Vinsobres or sober wine, take it soberly.”
A committed family estate
Historically, since the 1920s, Domaine Saint Vincent has always been a family estate. The Durma family has managed to preserve this tradition and carry on expertise passed down through three generations.
In 2012, Philippe Lescoche, an entrepreneur in wine filtration, fulfilled a long-held dream by acquiring Domaine Saint Vincent, in memory of his maternal grandfather, a winegrower in the Dordogne.
After studying international wine business and completing internships abroad, his daughter Ludivine decided to join the estate with the aim of developing it. Bringing complementary strengths together, they are now united by a shared passion for wine.
The independent winegrower cultivates their own vines, ages, and markets their own wine themselves. Responsible, the independent winegrower fully takes charge of the quality of their work, carrying it out with care and skill, respecting the environment and aiming to satisfy their customers. Committed, they choose to use innovative working methods without altering the heritage they preserve and defend. Professional, they have thorough knowledge of their trade, from vineyard management to welcoming and selling their wines to customers.
To mark this commitment and the quality of our work, we are proud to have joined the Independent Winegrower charter, which you can find below.
Aware of and committed to preserving the environment, the Estate is proud to be certified High Environmental Value Level 3. This distinction represents the highest level of an environmental certification system for agricultural and wine-growing operations. HVE certification recognizes operations engaged in particularly environmentally friendly practices, subject to very strict specific requirements.
This certification is monitored by the French State. It is based on 4 environmental performance indicators: biodiversity preservation, plant protection strategy, fertilization management, and water resource management.
In 2020, we decided to convert our vineyard to Organic Farming, meaning farming without artificial chemical fertilizers, relying solely on mechanical work of the soil and vines. After 3 years of converting our land and shifting our growing methods toward more sustainable practices, we vinified our first organic vintage in 2023.
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