Domaine Alain Graillot

The Alain Graillot estate is located in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation area, in the commune of Pont de l'Isère, a few kilometers south of Tain l'Hermitage. The winemaking and aging facilities are located in the middle of the vineyards, at a place called Les Chênes Verts.

The soils are made up of alluvial deposits from the Rhône and Isère rivers, with sand, very little earth, and lots of round pebbles, which make them highly permeable. The Domaine Alain Graillot vineyard covers 20 hectares, divided into 2.7 hectares planted with white grapes (80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne) from relatively young vines (25 years old) and 17.3 hectares planted entirely with Syrah grapes, ranging from 15 to 60 years old. The cultivation methods at Domaine Alain Graillot are traditional but geared towards low yields, short pruning, and light fertilization. No herbicides are used, and the soil is worked exclusively with a plow to encourage deep rooting. The grapes are harvested by hand and, as a rule, are not destemmed.