Overlooking the Mediterranean and cascading down the hills lined with olive trees, cypresses, and oleanders, the Pibarnon vineyard is a wonder to behold: a small paradise in Provence, nestled away within the highest hills of the Bandol region. Your adventure begins on a winding road from the bottom of Cadière d'Azur village, and circles round until you reach the Château de Pibarnon, climbing through the vineyards and the Aleppo pines with magnificent views of the La Ciotat Bay or the Embiez. Then, as you climb, you will come to the end of a dirt track, around one final bend, and then arrive at the breath-taking landscape. On the hill, where once stood the optical telegraph linking Toulon to Paris, stands the bastide: a replica of an 18th century Provençal bastide. Just above, the vines parade in tight rows up to 300 metres above sea level, in a succession of circles, looking to the north at the peaks of Le Castellet and to the south at the insolent blue sea. From the terrace of the cellar, the show is worthy of an ancient theater, like that of Epidaurus in the Peloponnese. Remodeled with the help of a bulldozer, the vineyard, in the shape of a semicircle, looks like a masterful Greek amphitheatre. The vines, planted on ‘restanques’ - terraces built by generations of "wall-builders" - create hanging gardens on these steep slopes.
“Making wine is a craft whose increasingly sure gesture is there to guide, to let nature, the fabric and the magic express themselves. We have been committed for several ages to producing hedonistic, sensual wines, full of light, but also complex and without fuss. They are only made to accompany, to transcend, to bring a little escapism as well as a sort of uplifting drunkenness - the kind that fulfills the mind as much as the taste buds... Making wine is a bit like inviting ourselves to dine with our customers, sharing their laughter, their emotions, and their conversations.”
In 1977, after extensive research into several vineyards in France, Catherine and Henri de Saint Victor stayed in Bandol with the secret hope of acquiring a wine estate there. As they were having lunch in a small restaurant on the Port…
Day after day, we strive to preserve the richness and diversity of our terroirs. We are convinced that only a natural balance can shape vibrant wines, rich in meaning and flavours.
The taste buds are hypnotised by its allure and personality.
DiscoverA great rosé for a meal, designed for laying down.
DiscoverLet's wait a little while for it to achieve that elegance mingled with insolence that will make your taste buds dance.
DiscoverTrès grande précision, avec juste ce qu’il faut d’insolence.
DiscoverIt is more akin to a Gothic cathedral than a Romanesque church.
DiscoverIt has now taken flight and reveals a lot of seduction.
DiscoverThe cellar is open by appointment only, Monday to Saturday.
(Closed on Sundays and public holidays).