After three years of conversion to organic farming, we have picked this year our first organic grapes, certified by Ecocert. Having abandoned methods like chemical weed control more than 10 years ago, our work naturally evolved towards sustainable use of our farmland and environment. In 2010 we choose to install VITIFIL© on our estate for wastewater treatment. VITIFIL® collects, stores and processes the residual waters, before distributing them through an irrigation system to surrounding olive groves and orchards. Thus it seemed evident to us to “officialise” our commitment to sustainable and organic farming by a demand for certification.

Yves Gras Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas

2012 is an important vintage for us, but also for organic wine. It is indeed the first vintage that will produce truly certified organic wines, due to the new European regulation for organic wine making. Up to now, wines could only be labelled as “made from organically grown grapes”. This year, they will be fully organic, from grapes to bottles. At Domaine Santa Duc we welcome this new regulation with joy and tranquillity. Restrictions like for the use of enzymes or lower sulphite concentrations do not bother us, as we keep our wine making natural and only use little amounts of sulphites on our wines.