Bargemone Bisous Vin De France Petillant Natural

As Provence continues its growth in the global rosé market, the smaller appellations which make up the region are becoming better understood. Coteaux d’Aix en Provence is a small AOC of 4,500 hectares to the north-west of the wider Provence region with some, as the name suggests, surrounding the city of Aix. Domaine Bargemone is an organic and HVE Level 3 certificated estate, owned by the Einaudi family and consists of 120 hectares of parcels surrounded by small woods. The pretty Touloubre river winds through the centre of the Domaine and feeds a small lake – ultimately ending in the Mediterranean Sea via l’Etang de Berre. The origins of the Domaine lie in the 13th Century when the Knights Templar built a Commandery there consisting of several buildings for dining, prayer, and training in combat, as well as cultivating vines on the land around them. Several noble Provençal families took on the estate in the following years, including Thomassin Bargemon (the Count of Baux) who gave his name to the Domaine. The land was re-planted in 1968 forming the property as we know it today, and was eventually taken over by the Einaudi family in 2019. Blending 13th Century Templar heritage with a creative, modern approach to winemaking, excellence, sharing, and ecology are the principles at the forefront of everything winemaker Pierre does at Domaine Bargemone. Excellence in the quality and finesse of the wines, sharing because of how they like to connect with their customers and fellow vignerons, and ecology because of their sustainable approach to viticulture and winemaking. In the cellar, the use of sulphites is very restricted, and they aren’t used during harvest or in the press. They are only used, and even then, very sparingly, once fermentation has finished in order to help the wine stabilise.

A dedication to ecology and sustainability underpins everything the Einardi family are doing at Domaine Bargemone. In addition to their organic and HVE Level 3 certifications, they have undertaken other ecologically sound initiatives such as installing 800m2 of solar panels on the roof of their cellars. These provide enough energy to support the winemaking, even during the particularly demanding harvest time as well as enough to direct back to the national grid. In further endeavours to reduce their carbon footprint, they are currently getting ready to bring on board electric machinery and tractors by installing charging facilities on the agricultural side of the business, as well as for visitors to the cellar door. In the vineyards themselves, the organic material from the green harvest is used to make compost whilst organic matter left over from winemaking is sent to distilleries to make spirits and liqueurs, and the remaining “marc compost” which is naturally rich in nitrogen, is returned to Bargemone to use to feed the soils.

Grenache,

Domaine Bargemone, located north of the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence appellation at an elevation of 210-290 metres, have created this fun sparkling red using 100% Grenache noir grapes. Harvested slightly underripe to achieve a lower alcohol level and vibrant freshness, the ‘Petit Bois’ plot is a one-hectare Grenache block surrounded by a ‘small wood’. The de-stemmed Grenache berries underwent a three-day maceration period before being pressed. A gentle infusion is carried out to extract minimal structure and colour. The wine is then carbonated (with 3 bars of pressure).

Lively, playful, and fruit-forward!

This sparkling red has a lively palate full of crunchy red fruit flavours. It is fun, but proper, with a crisp and pleasant finish.

Great aperitif with olives, cheeses, charcuterie, or Provençal tomatoes with rustic bread.