Château Saint Jean-Lez-Durance

The family farm "Le Château Saint Jean-Lez-Durance" was founded in 1754.

Henri d'Herbès, one of the ancestors of the current owner, restructured it in 1880 and adapted it to the changed conditions.

Jean - Guillaume d'Herbès took over the management of the winery in 2014 from his father and immediately introduced organic viticulture. Since 2016, all wines are certified Organic wines. At the same time, he gradually introduces biodynamic working methods of Demeter and intends to certify his wines in a few years by Demeter.

As was often the case in France, viticulture survived all the crises through the centuries, such as phylloxera, thanks to the clergy who needed wine not only for their cerrmony in the churches. In the Alpes de Haute Provence region, it was the Knights Templar and then the Knights of John of Jerusalem who, through the centuries, managed to maintain the cultivation of vines.

The wines of this region have long been valued at the table of European royalty, before being forgotten in the 19th century.

Château Saint-Jean-Lez-Durance has been owned by the d'Herbès family since 1754 and is very close to Manosque in Haute-Provence.

We are certainly the oldest independent domain of the Alpes de Haute - Provence," says Jean - Guillaume d'Herbès, "with vineyards on rocky terraces between the Luberon and the Durance, 450m above sea level, at the confluence of alpine and Mediterranean climates "Ripen our grapes later than in the plain, but our organic wines are more fruity and alive".

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grown on the floodplain on the banks of the Durance and produce full-bodied and fragrant wines with impressive aromas.
The vineyards with Syrah and Grenache vines are laid out in easterly to westerly
direction and enjoy full sunshine. From here come aromatic, warm organic wines with the scent of red fruits.

Origin of the domain and the family - situation in Provence

The Chateau Saint Jean lez Durance is located in the heart of Haute-Provence, along the mythical Durance, not far from the famous Gorges du Verdon and the Luberon away. It is a property of the d'Herbes family since 1754. The farm was built by Victor d'Herbes, who, although master weaver in Manosque, always had a strong interest in agriculture.

At that time, the Château Saint Jean was a typical farm of the region: cereals and vegetables were grown and a sheep farm was operated. In addition, some vines were used to produce the wine needed for the families.

The great-grandfather of today's winemaker, Henri d'Herbes, professor of law, inherited this estate during the Second Empire and decided to to build a vineyard and create own vineyards