Château Henri Bonnaud
A story of men
The story ofChâteau Henri Bonnaudis particularly recent and dates back to the first half of the 20th century. It was in 1920 that Mr. Bonnaud acquired this plot of land. Some thirty years later, this passionate winemaker embarked on a restructuring of the estate; then, at the end of the 1990s, a complete replanting of the vineyards was undertaken. At that time, the estate did not yet produce its own wine but supplied a cooperative. It was ultimatelyStéphane Spitzglouswho made wine at the estate for the first time in 2004. He decided to name this vintageChâteau Henri Bonnaudin homage to his grandfather who had passed away a few years earlier. Born on the estate and having accompanied his grandfather in the vineyards throughout his youth, Stéphane took over the reins of the property in 1996. His ambition drove him to make his own wine, and he also dreamed of building a “Château”. This wish was fulfilled in 2011, the year the foundation stone was laid.
Organic farming
A firm decision
In conversion since 2010, very shortly after the first vintage,Stéphane Spitzglousmade the choice of organic farming. This was followed in 2012 by a transition to organic winemaking. This decision came from the ambitious owner, deeply convinced that working with respect for the environment is the foundation of the product's quality. Thus, since 2013, the year of its certification “organic wineThe entire vineyard and winemaking methods used comply with European standards. Therefore, no chemical fertilizers or herbicides are used in the production of its wine. The estate holds other secrets that contribute to the quality of its wines. It is even said thatHenri Bonnaudhe was talking to his vines…
The name Palette
An exceptional terroir
The plots ofChâteau Henri Bonnaudextend across several appellations in the heart of Provence:Palette, Côte de Provence, Côte de Sainte-Victoire, AndIGP MediterraneanAmong them, at the foot of theSainte-Victoire mountain(Paul Cézanne's muse), the tiny Palette appellation takes shape. This appellation is one of the most exclusive in France. Four estates share this very specific terroir, covering only 42 hectares. On this rocky landscape, the soil is composed of limestone scree, and the vineyard benefits from a protective microclimate. Indeed, nestled in a natural amphitheater, the estate is sheltered from the mistral wind by the hills ofLangesseand of theGrand CabriThus, thanks to this exceptional terroir,Stéphane Spitzglousproduces very expressive wines of all colors, with seductive oak notes. It notably offers the trilogy “The Quintessence of Palette"which lives up to its name.
