Domaine Vallon des Glauges: Young Vintners in Provence
They are located on an exceptional site in Provence and intend to make the most of it. Romain Baehni and Lorraine Oddo have joined forces at the Vallon des Glauges estate, primarily to produce the wine they love, but also to develop a meaningful project centered on the estate and its wine.
Romain and Lorraine: The Synergy of a Partnership
Romain and Lorraine are both in their thirties; he is the son of a winemaker from the countryside and knows the wine business and the region well; she, on the other hand, is new to the world of wine, is discovering it with enthusiasm, and plans to learn quickly in order to develop the estate.
Romain arrived at the estate 10 years ago: “I’m the estate’s winemaker—an agricultural engineer and oenologist. I took over the estate 10 years ago. I come from a family of winemakers going back three generations. When the family estate was sold, I looked around and took over the Vallon des Glauges estate.”
Lorraine joined the team more recently: “The young man, for his part, was looking for a fresh start: ‘We had reached a point where we needed a new source of energy. I met Lorraine, and we decided to team up.’”
Thanks to these two passionate young people, their drive, and their energy, the organization is a real success: “It’s essential to have two people working together—to bring energy, ideas, and motivation. It takes a team to carry out an ambitious project like ours,” notes Romain.
There is no doubt that the project is ambitious.
Romain and Lorraine have joined forces to share their passion for the Vallon des Glauges estate
They share more than just a passion for wine; their awe for the craft, their enthusiasm for their work, and their delight in the results are the ingredients of a recipe that is bound to succeed.
“I’ve always been passionate about the many facets of the wine industry: from planting the vine to the moment the wine is bottled for a consumer to enjoy, it’s fascinating. Every year becomes an exciting adventure where we write the story of the vintage. It’s incredibly absorbing and deeply rewarding to be part of history in this way. We plant vines that will remain in production for years; and every year, we harvest the fruit of our labor. On the other hand, we bring our passion for our wine to life by tasting and championing our products in front of consumers. It’s a process of self-reflection, a journey of self-improvement and of refining our vineyard. It all comes together and makes the profession truly fascinating,” confides the young winemaker.
“I love everything that happens between the moment you start the winemaking process and the moment your product is distributed. It’s incredibly rewarding and exciting,” adds Lorraine.
Youth and passion bring a unique burst of energy, renewal, modernity, and a fresh dynamic to the wine industry in Provence: “I’ve seen how rosé has evolved over the generations, and I believe we have a very promising role to play. Today, rosé is a product that has found its audience. Many of us young winemakers are investing heavily in the rosé industry in Provence: time, money, and energy. We believe in its growth. We want to help the region’s flagship products evolve,” say the young, pragmatic, and determined managers.
Our Estate's Favorite Cuvées:
The Vallon des Glauges Estate: “Here, the word ‘terroir’ really means something”
“It’s a place of unique beauty,” Lorraine begins. “It’s an area I didn’t know at all. I happened to end up there by chance, and I was blown away by the power of the landscape,” recalls the winemaker. “It’s unlike anything else. It has a very strong and unique character.”
When Romain describes his terroir, we are convinced by its uniqueness and exceptional quality. A terroir like this can only produce fine wines.
“Geologically speaking, we’re dealing with a very rich history. From the very first glance, it’s impossible to miss that something special is happening here. Here, the word ‘terroir’ has real meaning. We’re in an environment that allows us to grow vines with character. No matter what we do during winemaking, we’ll certainly end up with wines that may be diametrically opposed, but they’ll always share the same underlying structure. Our wines are recognizable because they allow the identity of their terroir to shine through. We can never erase the character of the terroir,” explains Romain. And that’s a good thing!
An exceptional terroir, combined with the meticulous and rigorous work undertaken over the past 10 years to identify specific plots and grape varieties, enables Romain and Lorraine to craft a diverse range of wines that truly reflect the terroir. That is precisely the goal.
Through meticulous work in the vineyards, Romain and Lorraine produce high-quality terroir-driven wines
“We conducted a large number of small-scale vinifications to determine which plots we wanted to use for red or rosé wine. This process allowed us to assess the quality of each plot,” explains Romain.
A selection of wines to suit every taste, with rosé taking center stage
The wine selections are comprehensive, although the estate’s flagship wine remains, of course, a traditional Provençal rosé.
“ The Tradition Rosé is our best-selling wine,” notes Romain. “It’s a very pale rosé, with an elegant, refined appearance. It’s very versatile and can be enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with what I would call Mediterranean cuisine.”
Up to the Réserve des Opies Rosé, made from old-vine Syrah and Grenache and aged in barrels, which has a very different profile. “The idea is to keep the rosé refined and taut. The barrel adds a touch of sweetness, but we chose one with very little toasting. This wine is more tannic than the previous one and has a beautiful complexity. It’s a table rosé that’s highly prized by fine-dining restaurants,” notes the winemaker.
White, rosé, and red! For every taste, every palate, every desire, and every whim.
The selection begins right in the vineyard, as is the case with the Réserve des Opies Rouge, as Romain explains: “The Réserve des Opies Rouge is much more concentrated. It’s a wine meant for aging, with exceptionally fine tannins. The vines grow on rounded pebble soils. They are 60 years old and have very low yields. That’s what guarantees the wine’s concentration.”
Romain and Lorraine have plenty of plans for the Vallon des Glauges estate
With such a competitive spirit, Romain and Lorraine are eager to set their sights on new ambitions, projects, and growth. Naturally, in such an exceptional setting, wine tourism is a top priority. It will help attract visitors to the estate and foster connections. Developing the new “Bulles” cuvée, expanding exports, and supporting the local hospitality industry…
In addition, the young winemakers plan to continue developing the estate and, who knows, perhaps discover new vintages as they go through the winemaking process, different vintages, and tastings… The adventure has only just begun!
Latest Releases
Newly Arrived Vintages in Cellar
