Mas
de La Dame incorporates the culture of Provence,
the region’s unique terroir , lavender- and thyme-scented
air and rich history into each of its organically-farmed
, estate-bottled wines and olive oils.
Meaning “The Women’s Farmstead,” Mas de la Dame has employed natural farming methods for over 30 years and is Agriculture
Biologique-certified by Qualité France. Fittingly the estate, near Les Baux de Provence, a picture-perfect medieval village perched atop a rocky outcrop in Apilles Mountains, is owned and managed by sisters Anne Poniatowski and Caroline Missoffe, who inherited the 16th-century property from their father in 1991.
Grapes are hand-harvested, from vines planted among 140 acres of land. 70 additional acres are dedicated to olive trees. The main grape varieties are Grenache,
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault for the reds and rosés, and Semillon,
Clairette, Rolle, and Roussanne for the whites. Discover
the wines of Mas de La Dame here.
Winemaking at Mas de la Dame is conducted by Jean-Claude Podechard, the property’s full-time winemaker, working closely with the internationally-renowned consulting winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo, considered by many to be the most influential winemaker in the Rhone Valley. Colombo’s mission at Mas de la Dame has been to redefine the potential of this ancient, limestone-rich terroir.
HISTORIC MILESTONES
Vincent Van Gogh too had been dazzled by Mas
de La Dame, and stopped by the side of the road to paint the estate house. After
its exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the painting was unfortunately
stolen from its Paris owner. As a tribute, today an image of this painting graces
the label of a number Mas de la Dame wines.
Simone de Beauvoir spoke of the wines
in her memoirs: "When I reached Les Baux, at night, again
for the first time, the wind was blowing...and a fire was crackling in the grate
at the Reine Jeanne, where we were the only guests. We had dinner at a little
table close to the fireplace, and drank a wine the name of which, Le Mas de la
Dame, I recall to this day."
In 1972 the Réserve 1968 and the Rosé 1970 were reserved exclusively for the Queen of England at a luncheon at "La Régalido" in
Fontvieille.
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POSTCARD FROM PROVENCE:
Land, Sea, Air
Provence: The heart of Provence is within the hills which are nestled between the sea and the French Alps. These hills are comprised of
many sloping vineyards; rich, cultivated lands and the colorful scenery that charmed Cezanne, Van Gogh, Chagall and Giono.
The Mediterranean seaside: The Côte d'Azur, the famous French Riviera which stretches from Hyeres to Menton, is set up to receive a large
and rather affluent tourist clientele. The cities and coastline abound with first-class hotels, restaurants, chic boutiques, private beaches and
luxury houses.
The Alps: A short distance from the sea are the Alpes d'Azur, which rise high above Nice . Clean, pure air and vast protected lands lend to
sunny skiing even during the winter months. In the summer, one can explore on horseback, on foot or by bike.
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