Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux
“The Férigoule family combines ancestral know-how and environmentally friendly modern practices.”
Our history
Founded in 1975, the Le Sang des Cailloux estate took off with the arrival of Serge Férigoule. Hired in the 80s as an agricultural worker, Serge became owner of the estate in 1990 with a clear vision: to abandon chemical products for viticulture respectful of nature. His choices initiated a transition to a new era.
In 2003, his son Frédéri joined the family adventure. Self-taught and driven by a strong commitment to their terroir, they obtained the organic certification in 2007. Three years later, they led the estate towards biodynamics, an avant-garde approach in the region. Today, alongside his wife, Marion, he upholds Le Sang des Cailloux as an essential reference of the Vacqueyras appellation.
The vineyard
Le Sang des Cailloux is located in the southern Rhône Valley, on the Garrigues plateau. In the background, the Dentelles de Montmirail offer a sublime panorama. Its 17 hectare vineyard extends over land where 15 hectares of red grape variety vines and 2 hectares of white grape variety vines are mixed, planted in co-plantation. The vines, planted on clay-limestone soils covered with pebbles (“cailloux” in French), inspired the poetic name of the estate. This unique geological composition gives the wines a unique minerality and a remarkable aromatic depth.
With an average age of 50 years, the estate’s vines, some planted over 80 years ago, testify to a precious heritage. The main grapes are Grenache, Syrah, and to a lesser extent, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise, which faithfully reveal the typicality of the Vacqueyras appellation.
The vineyard is mostly pruned in gobelet form, spread over three distinct terroirs:
- Safres: perfect soils for producing well-defined white wines which are long in the mouth and marked by a beautiful minerality.
- Clayey garrigue: a rich terroir, producing the Lopy cuvée.
- Limestone pebbles and gravel on brown clay: the heart of the initial cuvée. The grapes are cultivated biodynamically on plots where heat and drought naturally limit yields. In order to preserve the freshness and balance of our grapes, harvests begin among the first of the appellation. This knowledge of the terroir allows us to produce fair and fine wines.
In the vineyard
The Férigoule family has always been committed to an approach in harmony with nature. Certified organic since 2007 and biodynamic since 2010, the estate favours a global approach to the vine and the terroir.
Frédéri, attentive to natural cycles, opts for minimalist work in order to preserve biodiversity and living ecosystems. This involves maintaining plant cover, providing organic matter and minimal soil work. Furthermore, like a natural barrier, the mistral protects against mildew and powdery mildew, thus reducing human intervention.
Biological diversity and mycorrhizal life play an essential role in the balance of the terroir.
Philosophy
The philosophy of Le Sang des Cailloux is based on a deep respect for the terroir and for nature, guided by biodynamic viticulture. Each action, in the vineyard and in the wine cellar, is designed to reveal the authenticity and uniqueness of the great terroirs of Vacqueyras.
This artisanal approach, where human intervention is non-intrusive, allows sincere, lively vintages marked by the nature of the soils to be obtained.
