The Woillemont Vineyards perpetuate the name of a historic family from the La Clape vineyard whose wines are produced in two estates: the Château de Marmorières and the Commanderie de Saint Pierre la Garrigue.
Woillemont vineyards
The Woillemont Vineyards have played a historic role in the recognition of the La Clape appellation . It all began in 1826 when Marquis Barthélémi François de Raymond acquired the Château de Marmorières. Eight generations later, this 17th-century building remains the family's ancestral home. Among these descendants, the fifth generation was instrumental in shaping the vineyard's identity. Indeed, it was in the 1950s that Countess Marie-Louise de Woillemont, the first president and founder of the appellation syndicate, secured recognition for La Clape wines as a appellation. Today, the active generation, represented by Jehan de Woillemont and Ombline de Saint-Exupéry, has strengthened its roots in the vineyard by adding another estate, currently undergoing a renaissance: the Commanderie de Saint Pierre la Garrigue, to the historic estate. Now exploiting a potential with a strong identity and a wide spectrum of expression, the Woillemont Vineyards are establishing themselves as renowned ambassadors of the wines of La Clape.
Castle of Marmorières
The family home, wine cellars, and tasting room, which opens onto a barrel room, are all located on the grounds of Château de Marmorières . Facing the buildings stretches the 43-hectare vineyard, extending into hillsides of garrigue, woods, and pine forests facing east. Higher up, an 11th- century chapel , itself a successor to the Roman occupation, can be seen. Families of peacocks, now the emblems of the estate, roam freely between the rows of vines. The Les Paons cuvée pays homage to them, expressed in three colors. But on these rich, deep soils, Syrah reigns supreme. It finds its first expression in the Les Amandiers cuvée , where it blends with the structured character of Grenache. It also expresses itself powerfully in the Marquis de Raymond cuvée , where Grenache, Carignan, and Mourvèdre contribute their resources to an elegant union. The white wine of the same name is an equally expressive blend of the terroir through the combination of Bourboulenc, Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Vermentino.
Commandery of Saint Pierre la Garrigue
The Commanderie de Saint Pierre la Garrigue boasts exceptional terroir, allowing the wines of La Clape to reach their full potential. Under organic conversion, the vines spread across approximately sixty hectares facing south, overlooking the Mediterranean. A diverse array of flora and fauna thrives in this protected area, where a mosaic of geological nuances blends with the aromatic palette of the surrounding environment. The reds and whites achieve an expressive power that has been recognized by their Wine Spectator ratings . This is particularly true of the La Clape Cru d'Exception cuvée , which brings Grenache and Syrah to their finest expression in the reds, while the whites harmoniously blend Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Marsanne. Produced in limited quantities, the Grand Maître cuvée crowns the collection, offering Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan the opportunity for a superb union. Outside the appellation, a Commanderie de St Pierre la Garrigue rosé also offers considerable appeal.