Alexis Cornu

The 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the annual rainfall of between 600 and 800 mm and the 50 days of wind per year (more than 50 km/h) provide the Château de Berne wine estate with a particularly favorable environment for vine growing. The cool nights of the Haut Var ensure a slow and optimal maturation of the grapes. The harvest is therefore later than on the coast (generally from mid-September). If the rosés mature later, they are structured wines with good body that are particularly well suited to the food and wine pairings of contemporary cuisine. With a surface area of 145 hectares, the Château de Berne vineyard is located on the Triassic plateau and is divided into two distinct zones. Each zone is built on a limestone base of the middle and lower Jurassic. The vineyard, protected by 690 hectares of forest, is mainly oriented to the south. The Plateau (altitude 330 m) has poor soils with a high stony content. The Château (altitude 250 m) offers different soils: the proportions of sand are more consistent, the general structures are finer and the stoniness less important, offering to the rosés a lot of freshness. The soil is shallow and not overly humid, which suits the vines perfectly. This predominantly limestone soil provides freshness and minerality through a range of grape varieties ideal for the expression of the winemaker. At Château de Berne, a dozen varieties are regularly used to make the wines: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Semillon, Ugni blanc, Viognier, Cabernet-sauvignon, Carignan, Rolle and Mourvèdre.