Château Vannières

The vineyard covers approximately 33 hectares all in one piece, situated in a veritable natural amphitheater facing due south/southwest:

Terraces and gardens: The vines are planted on gently sloping terraces (dry stone walls), which promote natural drainage and sun exposure.

Maritime microclimate: THE domaine It benefits from the immediate proximity of the sea (Baie des Lecques). Sea breezes cool the grapes during hot summer days and maintain impeccable health by eliminating humidity.

Soil and Terroir

The ground of Château Vannières is a key factor in the elegance of its wines:

Marl-limestone soils: A combination of very poor and very stony blue marls and Cretaceous limestones.

Impact on the vine: These soils force the roots to grow deep to draw water and minerals. They give the wines freshness, tension, and a pronounced saline minerality on the finish.

Grape Varieties and Vineyard Management

The vineyard gives pride of place to the flagship grape varieties of the Bandol AOP, with a remarkable average vine age (often over 40-50 years):

Mourvèdre (~90% for reds): The flagship grape variety of Bandol. In Vannières, it finds ideal sun exposure to reach perfect ripeness without excessive alcohol. It brings structure, age-worthy tannins, and complexity (black fruit, leather, spices, garrigue).

Grenache: It complements Mourvèdre in reds and rosés by adding roundness and fruity lusciousness.

Cinsault: Used primarily for rosé wines, providing suppleness, freshness and aromatic finesse.

Clairette and Bourboulenc: Dedicated to the rare and very elegant white Bandol wines of domaine.

Viticulture and Style

Drawing on its Burgundian heritage, the Boisseaux family applies a plot-based and environmentally friendly approach:

Traditional work: Mechanical tilling of the soils without herbicides, 100% manual harvesting with rigorous sorting in the vineyard.

Unique style: Vannières is known for producing Bandol reds of incomparable nobility and finesse, favoring velvety texture, freshness and aging potential (several decades) rather than raw extraction.