Viranel ‘Tradition’ Rouge 2016

Château Viranel, the home of winegrowers and makers since 1551 has its roots in the remains of a Gallo-Roman Villa which was modernised and renovated in 1911. The property itself has been transmitted from generation to generation and is decorated with a Bacchic fresco testifying to the festive tradition and the ancient devotion to wine-making. In amongst the garrigue and olive trees, vines nestle on limestone terraces, schist and sandstone gravel (locally known as Crès) and heat storing flat pebbles.

Family features heavily at Viranel. Nicolas studied agronomy in Toulouse and traveled abroad to gain work experience in places as diverse as Peru, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and California eventually in 2003, returning to supervise the grape harvest season in Viranel, and two years later, finally moving there. Arnaud, a passionate athlete and talented volleyball player felt "the call of the Earth" and abandoned plans to become a sports teacher to make wine, joining him in 2008 and becoming the voice of the siblings in sales and marketing while remaining hands on in wine-making and blends.