MIRAVAL

The sprawling 500 ha estate of Château Miraval is located in the village of Correns in the south of France. The village is well known for being the first in France where all food and grapes produced are entirely organic. The site of the magnificent Château was first inhabited in Celtic times. Following the Roman occupation, the property served as host to monastic practice and as home to members of the French Court, appearing in the Registry of Noble Houses in the 14th century. The immense wine cellar was built in 1850 by Joseph-Louis Lambot, inventor of reinforced concrete. In the mid-20th century it was owned by French Jazz pianist Jacques Loussier who installed a recording studio on the property. Sting, Sade, The Gypsy Kings and the Cranberries all recorded there. Most notably Pink Floyd laid down tracks in ‘Le Studio de Miraval’ for their 1979 album ‘The Wall’. Miraval’s exclusive valley location embodies an exceptional terroir. At an altitude of 350 meters the vines are privileged to enjoy warm, sunny days and cool nights, bringing freshness and balance to the wines. The natural clay and chalk soils are important in retaining vital water supply while at the same time draining excess water, contributing to healthy grape maturation. The vines are planted in protective terraces.These magnificent cascading stone walls have been perfectly restored to their traditional form. The estate is cultivated without using herbicides, pesticides, or chemicals that can enter the vine and affect the evolution of the fruit. Its current owners are the celebrity couple of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. After leasing the property since 2008, they eventually purchased it for $60 Million in 2011, and were married in the Château’s chapel in 2014. They partnered with the Perrin family, owners of the legendary Château de Beaucastel to produce their new range of wines. The stunning Rosé produced here is their most famous, internationally regarded for its light, flinty and unique flavour. It won the Wine Spectator award for best Rosé in the world in 2012. There are also currently two white wines and an olive oil produced on the property. Despite their well-documented personal issues, work at the vineyard has continued without interruption. They are still involved in all aspects of running the estate with Marc Perrin, and it will remain in family hands as an investment for the children.