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The Vine
in
Movement
"A FAMILY OF WINNERS"
Philippe Brunel ( the grand-father )
A dynasty of Vintners



Now a historic Appellation domain, the Château de la Gardine (approximately 135 acres) is the child of the encounter between a man, Gaston Brunel, and the land of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Wine, the Côtes du Rhône, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in particular, became his raison d'être.

A wine merchant himself, Philippe Brunel contributed to the creation of the professional syndicate and devoted himself exclusively to the Château de la Gardine in later years, until 1964. To him we owe the addition of 120 acres of prestigious hillside, the Rasteau-Roaix vineyards.

To his sons he left the joy of managing and promoting this splendid heritage in France and throughout the world, where it rapidly became known as one of the jewels of the wine region.

Today, several generations work here: Maxime, Patrick and Philippe Brunel operate this beautiful 250 acre domain right in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône appellation.
Why is it called "La Gardine" ?



Theories abound. The view from the château, seems to indicate that "Gardine" developed from a "guarding" function, reminiscent of a watchtower. Or may the Gardini family, the lords of Entraigues and Fargues (near Orange), once have owned the property?

Once an episcopal domain, this land paid direct taxes to the Monsignor. As of 1963, the Bishop of Avignon's book of mortgages records the holding of the "Guardine".

Some times later, the farmer's estate is being built as a chateau and becomes the "Landlord's house"; today, a window framing still mentions the date of 1782.
Owners change. Anselme Mathieu, a well known Félibre of Provence, once owned a part of this land and wrote poems to the vineyard :

'TO THE OLDE VINEYARD"

I owe a vineyard in Château-Neuf - in a valley named Combes-Masques - way back from a steep cliff : it fills my barrel and my flasks.

The wine that flows is perfumed like a thyme bouquet ; this is health for my stomach, this is gold river streaming under the sun.
"THE MISTRESS"

The young mistress of La Gardine, so pretty and charming - on a bright morning for a walk - left us. We expect, so say the chênes, to see her back running on the campain. O Lord ! will she come again !

True or false ?


An old say pretends that the vine-plant must be deep rooted in a ground covered of pebbles and watch over the river, so that a Châteauneuf du Pape gets best. For sure : the Château de la Gardine, on its rocky plateau, faces the Rhône that flows away past its feet.