Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe facts for kids
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe is a famous winery in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It is known for making high-quality red and white wines. These wines come from a special area called Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Many experts consider this estate one of the best in the region.
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A Look Back: The Story of Vieux Télégraphe
How It All Started
The story of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe began in 1898. A person named Hippolyte Brunier planted the first grapevines. He chose a place called Plateau de la Crau. This area is located between the villages of Bédarrides, Châteauneuf, and Courthezon. These first plantings formed the main part of what is now the Vieux Télégraphe vineyard.
Over the next few years, the vineyard grew larger. Hippolyte's son, Jules Brunier, helped a lot with this growth. He expanded the vineyard to almost 17 hectares (about 42 acres). Jules also gave the estate its unique name. He named it after an old semaphore line tower. This tower used to stand right in the vineyard. A semaphore tower was like an old-fashioned signal tower. It used movable arms to send messages over long distances.
The Family Behind the Vines
Later, the vineyard faced a big challenge. A tiny insect called phylloxera attacked many grapevines in Europe. This crisis destroyed many vineyards. Henri Brunier, from the next generation of the family, took on the important task of rebuilding the property. He worked hard to bring the vineyard back to life.
In 1986, Henri passed the estate to his own sons, Daniel and Frederic. They continue to manage the winery today. The Brunier family also owns other wine estates. These include La Roquette and Les Pallières in the Gigondas region.
What Wines Are Made Here?
Grapes and the Land
The vineyard at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe covers 70 hectares (about 173 acres). Many different types of grape varieties grow there. The main red grapes are 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre. The remaining 5% includes Cinsaut and some white grape varieties. These white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc.
Different Kinds of Wine
The main red wine from this estate is called Vieux Télégraphe. This is their "Grand vin," which means their top-quality wine. They also make a "second wine" called Vieux Mas des Papes. This wine is made from grapes that come from younger vines.
In 2002, the estate did not release their main Vieux Télégraphe wine. Instead, they produced a wine called Télégramme. This name has since become the name for their second wine in some markets. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe also produces a white wine called Vieux Télégraphe. And just like with the red wines, they have a second white wine called Vieux Mas des Papes.
Wine experts often rate the wines from this estate very highly. For example, The Wine Advocate gave the 2007 Vieux Télégraphe red wine 96 points. This shows how well-regarded their wines are.
