Clos des vins d'Amour: Love in Roussillon

This week Nicolas Dornier talks to us about love . More original than the usual Valentine's Day wishes, this oenologist tells us about his passion for the Maury vineyards with his wife Christine, and the family creation of " Clos des vins d'Amour ".

The Dorniers: a passion for wine in Roussillon

Love at Clos began with my meeting Christine in Maury, in the Roussillon region . She's also an oenologist, and she suggested that my brother Christian, his wife Laurence, and I join forces to take over her grandfather's vineyard. So, in 2004, we embarked on a 10-hectare adventure, without buildings, staff, or equipment, as the vines were previously farmed under lease agreements. With a lot of hard work and a family deeply committed to creating Clos des Vins d'Amour, our estate took shape.

Clos des Vins d'Amour goes organic

“Domaine Dornier” would have been too easy. For the name, we preferred to break away from boring conventions and refer to the love that unites us in this family adventure. This communication strategy also reflects our wines, which are more modern and spontaneous than classic, competitive wines.

In twelve years, Clos des Vins d'Amour has enjoyed considerable success, increasing sales from 6,000 bottles to over 70,000 bottles per year. The estate has also expanded to 25 hectares, with Denis Grébul as the estate manager. How then can we continue to do things with love?

Christine and I always closely monitor the harvesting, grape picking, and winemaking processes. Our children also all collaborate on the estate's development. When I talk about development today, I'm not referring to the size of the vineyard but rather to the range of products and services we offer. For example, we will soon obtain organic certification for the entire vineyard. We also want to increase the estate's value, diversify our distribution channels, and develop events related to our wines.

Clos des vins d'Amour, Cuvée Un Baiser

Clos des Vins d'Amour comprises three plots, each benefiting from a different exposure. Grenache (white, gray, and black), Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvèdre… the grape varieties are as diverse as the characters of our wines. There's youthfulness in Idylle (a feminine, dynamic, and refined white wine) or Flirt (a rosé full of pep and substance). Maturity is found, for example, in Un Baiser – a rare blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, appreciated by those who seek terroir.

Ultimately, we can modestly say that our wines appeal to all age groups. And that's precisely what we love about Clos des Vins d'Amour: sharing the love of wine with everyone, whether you're a novice or a connoisseur!

Ariane (The Grapes)