Domaine des Escaravailles

Domaine del Escaravailles derives its name from Escaravay, the Occitan language word for beetle. It was a nickname for the Black Penitents – the monks of Avignon who owned the farm in the 17th Century. Thus, their logo.

In 1953, Jean-Louis Ferran, a wine broker, sold his old car to help purchase the estate, which is located in the Appellation Rasteau in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It looks across the valley to Mont Ventoux of Tour de France fame.

Jean-Louis and his two sons planted vines and, in 1964, released bottles of Vin Doux Naturel Rasteau, a signature wine of the AOC. In 1988, Gilles Ferran became the winemaker while he and his wife raised their daughter, Madeline. Madeline Ferran watched and learned, growing to become the estate’s winemaker. Now, Madeline is becoming well-known for her increasingly sought-after wines.

The vineyard is sited on the area’s highest hillsides, at about 350 meters in elevation with a southeast exposure. The blue marl clay soil has a great capacity to retain water for the vines during the summer. Stones rounded by glacial and fluvial action add minerality and complexity to the wines. The winery also manages small plots in the neighboring villages of Roaix and Villedieu.

The estate grows 15 grape varieties, and the mostly old vines are farmed using sustainable methods. Interventions in the vineyard are minimal. Plowing eliminates the need for herbicides. Hedges and olive trees line the vineyard. Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand.

The cellar is underground to better regulate temperature and humidity. Depending on the wine, aging takes place in Burgundian barrels, demi-muids, amphora, concrete tanks, or stainless-steel tanks. Wines are bottled on the estate.