Domaine de Clovallon
I always enjoy seeing Alix Roque and it was time for an update on Domaine de Clovallon, as it had been a while. This time she took us to enjoy the aerial view of her vineyards from the road into Bédarieux. There is Riesling, Petite Arvine, Pinot Noir, in vineyards that benefit from the cooling winds that come off the nearby cliffs and the hill of the Caroux. She has eight hectares altogether. Alix is very concerned about biodiversity and she leaves the various grasses that grow naturally between the vines. Unlike some, she does not sow anything specific. And we enjoyed the antics of a herd of sheep grazing amongst the vines. This is their winter pasture. Next we had a quick look at the cellar, which was stuffed with pallets of wine as they had just completed a large bottling. The cellar was built before the second world war and is partially underground, so Alix can work by gravity. When it rains, the back walls become very damp She always uses natural yeast, and all her
