Milan Family: Uncompromising Provence Wines
The Milan Family: Three Generations in Provence
The story begins when the Milan family's grandfather acquired the estate. It was in this house that his family settled.
In 1986, Henri, the son, took over and decided to establish a winemaking cellar with the ambition to 'produce wines that don't cause headaches'.
Uncompromising Viticulture: The Organic Choice
To this end, he ceased using fertilizers and chemical products and focused on organic viticulture and biodynamics by studying Steiner, one of the movement's founding fathers.
He decides to meet Burgundian winemakers who have embarked on this path and learn from them. He then meets Claude Courtois, a former winemaker in the Aix region and one of the movement's pioneers. Henri then invites him to examine his land and explore the possibilities of transitioning to biodynamics.
The Milan Family Wines
A self-taught individual, and thanks to his encounter with Claude, Henri embarks on and perseveres in biodynamics. Thus, in 2000, he proudly released his first cuvée with no added sulfur!
Like any viticultural venture, Henri Milan also experienced setbacks, but this did not alter his determination to craft wines as he envisioned.
Our Signature Cuvées from Domaine Milan:
In 2002, Henri was joined by his son, Théophile. Initially part of the sales team, he gradually became involved in the winemaking process, embracing the values instilled by his father and cherishing this unique approach to work.
He is accompanied by his wife, who assists with the estate's management. A former sommelier in New York, biodynamics appealed to her, and she even dedicated her thesis to it in 1980.
Since 2011, Théophile has been developing his own cuvées with his distinct vision, and he will soon take over the reins of the estate!
To this end, he has surrounded himself with a young and dynamic team, including Sébastien Xavier, his cellar master, with whom he developed the 100% Grenache cuvée and who manages most of the cellar operations!
The estate is located at the foot of the Alpilles, straddling two municipalities: 15 hectares in Saint Rémy en Provence and another 5 in Eyragues. Its terroir is predominantly composed of clay and limestone, but also features blue marl (similar to Chablis), which is ideal for producing its white wines and yields exceptional wines for aging. He manages to maintain excellent acidity despite the hot, dry Mediterranean climate.
Unlike his neighboring winemakers, Théophile produces more white and red wines (40% of each color) than rosé. His distinctiveness is also evident in his more authentic winemaking approach; he does not seek to conform his wines to conventional standards.
Ugni Blanc and Clairette are not among the grape varieties used, despite their popularity in Provence. Instead, Grenache, Vermentino, Marsanne, Roussanne, Chardonnay, Bourboulenc, Muscat, or Pinot Gris impart this distinctiveness to his wines.
For his red wines, he has opted for Grenache, Syrah (emblematic Rhône Valley grape varieties), Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (which thrives on the blue clays), and Pinot Noir. This grape variety, atypical for the region, was planted by Henri Milan due to his nickname 'The Burgundian of Provence'! Pinot, which bears a strong resemblance to Grenache, flourishes on this clayey terroir!
Soil cultivation is carried out using horses, which helps young vines establish deeper roots without aggressively disturbing the soil.
Théophile, always seeking new experiments, plans to plant one hectare with Macabeu, Savagnin, Grenache Gris, Chardonnay, and Chenin grape varieties! A bold undertaking!
Vineyard management adheres to biodynamic principles; however, the estate has not pursued certification. Indeed, Théophile prefers to work with the grapes as he sees fit, remaining true to the family estate's vision.
Discover the estate's wines here
Latest Releases
Newly Arrived Vintages in Cellar
