Wine on the island of Oléron! Vignoble Vincent Tour

On the island of Oléron , there are not only beaches and warm sand ... Stroll to meet a flourishing wine activity , here the grapes also enjoy the sun and can be transformed in quality wines . Come to visit Vignoble Vincent , in Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron , a company on a human scale that Christophe will present you during a visit or a tasting (they take place all year round). Dry or deliciously sweet rosé, dry white wine to accompany oysters, Cognac or Pineau, gourmet liqueurs, come and taste in moderation and enjoy great rates , for quality wines! Let's go ?

Oleron wine, an ethic too!

Christophe and his wife Géraldine took over the Vignoble Vincent on the island of Oléron in 2008. They are under the label of the Independent Winegrowers , that is to say that they follow a charter of quality and values, it is is a guarantee of know-how . Christophe is not at his first fixed price in viticulture ... This is a job he already worked in a previous field, but he wanted to build skills, make bottling to control perfectly all its production and also discover the joys of distilling and making Cognac (and therefore Pineau ).

This vineyard , he wished it the most respectful of the environment possible. He settles on the island of Oléron because he appreciates the landscapes, the fauna and the flora, so he has at heart to respect this soil . The 50 hectares of Domaine Vincent are home to 8 grape varieties , to produce the 3 colors of wine, Cognac , Pineau and a very aromatic and fruity grape juice . Christophe and his team work all year long in the care of the domain, with proven techniques to fight against the predators of the vine . Small capsules that contain pheromones that will sexually disorient predators are hanging everywhere. Between the rows of vines, Christophe leaves the plant cover , to amend the soil and feed the feet. He has equipped himself with an improved equipment to maintain the vineyard , like this machine which makes it possible to recover the spread products: this limits the use of the products, the useless propagation in the air and on the ground. The work team follows the specifications of the HVE (High Environmental Value) farms. It is easier for Christophe to work in this way and control its impact on the environment , because he manages his product from the vine to the hand delivery of the bottle to the customer!

Christophe, during a visit of the vineyard

The vegetation cover

An educational guided tour

Pheromone capsules: a natural struggle with limited impact

An advanced and economical machine

A harrow adapted to work between rows of vines

The products of the vineyard, Cognac and Pineau des Charentes

Vignoble Vincent produces several types of country wines with poetic and inspired names:

The insolent, a dry white wine to enjoy with oysters and other shells, perfect to accompany the wonders of our region!
The elegant, white wine with Sauvignon, which matches fish, and cheeses.
Authentic, a white wine with Colombard grape, which also loves seafood and fish.
L'enchanteur: a rosé, dry, fruity wine that won the silver medal at the Regional Flavors Competition
The eccentric: a wonderful fruity rosé, sweet, sweet, that will rival your favorite mellow and will be a companion of choice for desserts and ice cream. My favorite !
The endearing: a light red
The audacious: a red oak barrel, about 5 months. A wine of character and quality that will be paired with a beautiful piece of meat or a racy cheese platter.

Christophe has also chosen to take over and develop this exploitation thanks to the presence of a still , for the development of Cognac . From November to March 31, it is the season of the manufacture of this eau-de-vie in Charente, Charente-Maritime, in a part of the Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres. The Cognac is distilled in a Charentais still , which allows a continuous distillation or a double distillation: that is to say that one boils wine and a part of its lie by heating the liquid and by extracting the product of evaporation . You are interested in this subject, do you want more details? 2 solutions:

Visit Christophe during the season conducive to distillation, you can visit and see the still in operation.
As a scheme is better than a long speech, go to this page to understand everything

The Charentais still, explained. It's easier to drink than to understand!

Cognac is stored for aging in the cellar , along with wine and other vine products. It is thanks to Cognac that a well known product of the region, Pineau , is developed. It is appreciated as an aperitif and also for the preparation of cocktails , the Pineau des Charentes (which can be white or red) is composed of mashed grapes and brandy Cognac.

The Vineyard Vincent shop is open all year , you will also find sparkling wines and a wonderful sparkling traditional method , which filled us during the celebration of a birthday!

I recommend you crack for one or more bottles of flavored liqueurs , the coffee is a treat with milk and served very fresh ... The cherry and vine peach also seduced us a lot.

Pneumatic press to extract juice from grapes

Visit the cellar with aging barrels

Explanation on the still and the Cognac production area

The visit of Vincent Vineyard: viticulture on the island of Oléron

If you pass close to Saint-Pierre-D'oléron , do not miss the visit of the vineyard . Visits are held all year, in summer they are held twice a day and are free . In low season , you must make a phone call before and a small participation will be required. The tastings that follow are free and it is the opportunity to choose bottles carefully, with knowledge and with tasting tips . Boxes are available, it's a nice gift! In the shop, other products from the island of Oléron will allow you to compose a well-stocked gift basket.