COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
NV
GRAPE
Grenache, Carignan
PRODUCER
Val de Combrès
REGION
Rhône
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Light
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
Tannins
Medium - Low
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Val de Combrès was founded by Valentin Létoquart in the Luberon region of the Southern Rhône Valley. Before establishing his own estate in 2013, Valentin grew grapes organically but sold them to a large local cooperative. Disillusioned by seeing his carefully farmed, organic fruit blended into industrial, chemically treated tanks, he decided to strike out on his own. Based in Maubec, Valentin focuses on biodynamic farming and natural vinification to express the true, unadulterated character of his terroir. 'Les Vacances' is a playful tribute to simple pleasures and easy-drinking wines, crafted to bypass rigid local appellation rules under the Vin de France classification.
ALCOHOL
12.5%
AVG. PRICE
€15
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
NO
When to drink
Now
Ideal temperature
10-13°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Winemaker Valentin Létoquart practices animal traction, plowing some steep plots with a neighbor's horse to prevent soil compaction.
Fact 02
During winter, a herd of sheep from the Alps grazes the vineyards, providing natural mowing and organic composting.
Fact 03
Valentin refers to this light, translucent red cuvée as his 'grenadine' due to its bright red hue and high-toned crushability.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes for Les Vacances are hand-harvested early in the season to preserve high natural acidity. In the cellar, fermentation occurs spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts. Depending on the vintage, the Grenache and Carignan undergo a mix of short carbonic maceration for whole clusters and direct pressing to limit color and tannin extraction. The wine is crafted without any added sulfites (sans sulfites ajoutés), keeping total SO2 levels below 10 mg/L. It is aged for approximately six months in concrete or stainless steel tanks to maintain its fresh, fruit-forward profile, and is bottled unfined and unfiltered by gravity the following spring.
