As I mentioned earlier in Saladin Magic, the seed for stories featuring women winemakers was planted in my head at the Chateauneuf du Pape tasting on January 30 hosted by Le Du Wines in New York.
There was Claire who took over the winemaking in 2008 at Le Vieux Donjon.
I enjoyed her Chateauneuf Blanc 08, Fifty-Fifty Clairette and Roussane.
Don't let her small frame fool you, the young lady knows what she wants.
Also present were Veronique and Caroline Maret of Domaine de la Charbonnière (pictured below, Veronique is on the left).
The richest of the few wines they poured had to be the Cuvee Mourre des Perdrix (08).
As the tasting was winding down, I chatted mostly with Claire and Veronique for an informal interview.
Let's start with Claire.
Q: Claire were you present at the Ampuis tasting?
A: No, as this is a showcase for Northern Rhone winemakers but we will be having our own event, open to the public, named Les Printemps de Chateauneuf du Pape whose first edition will take place April 10 and 11, 2010.
Q: Can you tell us more about the wave of women winemakers?
A: In our region of the Rhone, there is a loose confederation named Femmes Vignes Rhone which was founded in 2004 by Anne Hughes and now counts about 30 members (including the Saladin sisters).
Q: Will you be present at Vinisud in late February?
A: Yes? This event bringing together winemakers from France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy and more takes place every two years.
Q: Any suggestions as to women winemakers who also offer 'chambre d'hotes', on site rooms?
A: Not that many. I believe that Isabel Ferrando of St Prefert does.
I continued with Veronique.
Q: Besides women taking the reins in a number of domaines in your area, are winemakers open-minded and opened to the world.
A: Yes, it is not a closed world as can be in some instances in Bordeaux. many young winemakers have traveled to other parts of the world and even worked across the globe and come back with a fresh perspective.
Q: How long has the property been in the family?
A: Since 1912, it was created by my great-grandfather who grew the domaine sizewise by buying a parcel for his wife as a gift.
Q: What's the size of your land now and how is it split, production wise?
A: Half an hectare of white, 18 hectares of red and 4 and a half of Vacqueyras.
Q: Did you learn from your father only?
A: I alternate between time spent at the property doing some on the job learning and the wine school I attend were I get healthy portions of both the business side and the technical know-how of winemaking.
I like to separate the instictive and structured parts of learning.
Thanks to both Claire and Veronique for taking time to speak to me.
I will return to the well and write about more girls who make wine ASAP.
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