Bees and, er, banking are the lineage of these glorious wines, says Douglas Blyde
The Chêne Bleu collection of wines from Provence estate La Verrière is crafted by Frenchman Xavier Rolet, an avid beekeeper and former CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group, and his American wife, Nicole Sierra-Rolet, who previously worked in banking and geopolitical think tanks.
Xavier became obsessed with bees while growing up on a sink estate on the fringes of Paris. When local authorities took the wrecking ball to houses to make way for utilitarian tower blocks, just one tiny cottage was left untouched. Its elderly occupant took solace in the order of beekeeping and mentored the young Xavier in the art of apiculture.
Founded on the site of a ninth-century medieval priory in the Unesco-designated Mont Ventoux biosphere, the isolated haven of La Verrière harbours a richness of flora and fauna, including 1,400 species of butterflies and soaring eagles. Here, the Rolets have embraced biodynamic farming since planting the first vines a quarter of a century ago, with a particular focus on growing the.bee population while studying how they affect biodiversity.
The estate's precise rosé (£21.99; waitrosecellar.com) is in a class of its own and draws on Grenache, a grape the Rolets rate so highly that they created the Grenache Association. Look out, too, for their 'Super Rhône' reds, Abélard and Héloïse, named after French medieval lovers.
Chêne Bleu won gold at the Wine Tourism Trophy Awards for having the best ‘bistronomique' restaurant at a winery in France and this September sees the return of the vineyard's immersive Extreme Wine course, held over five days at the property and costing upwards of £4,400 per head. (chenebleu.com)