Laure Colombo of Domaine Colombo: "We all love the vine, but we can work it differently."

Identity: Laure

Profession: Winemaker

Region: Rhône Valley

Appellation: Saint Joseph , Cornas , Saint-Péray

His domain : Owner of several hectares in the Rhône Valley, north in Cornas, Saint-Péray and south in the Côte Bleue near Marseille, Jean-Luc is a man of passion! Since his very first vintage in 1987, he has constantly worked towards sustainable viticulture in order to produce a wine in his own image, an authentic and high-quality wine.

Her journey… Why wine? I was born into a family of cooks rather than winemakers. My parents didn't come from a winemaking background. They arrived here almost 30 years ago and grew up immersed in it. My parents are passionate about food. My grandmother had a restaurant in Marseille, in the Belle de Mai district. So, I was practically born surrounded by bouillabaisse, pistou soup, and cannelloni. All of these things have shaped my life, and even after my business studies and travels to the United States and India, it all came back to me. It was during this last trip that I truly grasped the concept of terroir. At that moment, I knew it was time to come home! Upon returning to France, I completed a viticulture and oenology program in Bordeaux and did my training at Château Haut-Brion.

Her current project: I settled in February as a young winemaker in the Saint-Péray appellation in Cornas. I came back to Cornas with the idea of ​​bringing something new to complement the Domaine Colombo wine range, but also to offer a truly exceptional Saint-Péray! I also wanted my independence and to work in my own way. We all love vines, but we can all work with them differently. So I planted all my vines myself. I wanted to learn!

Its reincarnation as wine: It would be a Mourvèdre from Bandol. A wine with character, yet very calm and delicate. I choose it not only for its organoleptic qualities but also for everything surrounding this wonderful product: its setting, its vineyards, the sunshine, the tranquility…

His favorite time of year: Definitely autumn. Perhaps before the harvest. For me, the vineyard is more important than anything else. During this beautiful time of year, I go to the vineyards with my mother, and we spend our time tasting wines to find the perfect moment! It's a wonderful time, a special connection with my mother. We have the opportunity to reconnect and share a common passion.

Her temperament: I think I'm a bit of a pain. I'm first and foremost a go-getter. I have trouble staying still. And I'm also stubborn.

An anecdote: When I returned to Cornas , I had to find common ground with my father. We love each other very much, but working with family isn't always easy. And then there's the fact that I'm an only child. If I'd had a brother, I think I would have been relegated to marketing behind a computer. Things are changing in the wine world, but the image of the winemaker is still very much tied to that of the man. The best solution I found was to remind my father of his roots. Following that, we created a new estate near Marseille. There, he has his boat and can go fishing whenever he wants. My mother and I joke that it's kind of his excuse to go fishing.

Her defining encounter: In the world of wine, I had the opportunity to meet Jean-Michel Comme from Château Pontet Cannet . When I was still a student, I belonged to a club that organized tastings, and it was at one of these that I found myself sitting next to him. We chatted for a while, and he inspired me greatly. I really connected with his vision of the vine, wine, and viticulture. Everything was about simplicity, passion, and without all the fancy theories. He later came to Cornas, and we had many more conversations. It was truly fascinating.

Avoid/Hate it: At the risk of repeating what all winemakers probably tell you, I hate hail. But what I really avoid are people who aren't passionate, those who don't own up to it. In fact, wine has become trendy lately, and you're starting to find all sorts of things in this profession, and sometimes you can be really disappointed. I like genuine people!

Why Les Grappes? What appealed to us was the community aspect. With Les Grappes , we work directly and give the winemaker a voice. No fuss, everything is done simply!

What do you like about your job? I love its diversity! It's a fascinating job with no two days being the same. I love this job in its entirety!

Who's the most famous person I'd like to have taste my wine? Not really any famous people. I prefer to share my wine with friends or new customers. I also enjoy introducing my wine to chefs. Recently, we had the opportunity to share our wines with friends from Maison Paul Bocuse. It was fantastic!