The McKinley family founded Domaine de Mourchon in 1998 in an isolated valley between the beautiful villages of Séguret and Mont Ventoux in the Côte du Rhône. The vineyard had 20 hectares of old vines but no winemaking facilities so the McKinlay family built a cellar with the latest technology. Organic techniques have been used from the beginning, with an aim to be fully certified by 2020. Combined with modern technologies and careful cultivation, the domaine is known for producing well-structured, rich wines with pronounced fruit aromas.

You’re a family-run business, what are the challenges of working with relatives?

There are definitely pros and cons of working across generations. Experience is a fine thing to have in business as it can help mitigate risk and bring confidence and authenticity to what we do however, in these rapidly changing times experience can sometimes get in the way of innovation which is why we are waiting impatiently for the next generation to come of age.

You follow an organic viticulture approach, what’s the kind of work that you do at the winery? It is not difficult for us to work organically thanks to the nature of our terroir.  We are at 350 meters altitude and our vines are planted on steep slopes which means rainwater drains easily and the vines are exposed to plenty of sun and Mistral wind which comes from the North to dry up any lingering humidity and clear away the bugs. We are surrounded by woodland and olive groves which ensure a healthy biodiversity.  

Do you have a good anecdote about the winery? 

The winery very nearly didn’t get built and only went ahead because serendipity intervened. In the 1970s Walter’s work in oil and gas took them to Aberdeen, Scottland, where Ronnie opened a restaurant serving a house wine from Vaqueyras, a village near Séguret. Years later, searching for a vineyard they found the vines for sale in Séguret and had a coup du coeur for the place. However, they were advised not to buy because it was unlikely that they would get planning permission to build the winery and house from the local Marie who was not accustomed to outsiders coming in to the industry. Undeterred Walter went to meet the Mayor and was astonished to find that they in fact new each other as the Mayor had been a regular customer at Ronnie’s restaurant when he was working as an engineer and visited Aberdeen often. The rest is history!

En el valle del Ródano se produce vino desde hace más de 500 años, y algunos de sus viñedos figuran entre los más antiguos de Francia. El Syrah domina el sur con una mezcla de uvas mediterráneas, mientras que en el norte, las dos estrellas son el Hermitage -cultivado en una imponente ladera de granito sobre la ciudad de Tain y que es mejor guardar en el fondo de la bodega durante una década- y el Côte-Rôtie, una denominación estrella que se hizo famosa gracias a los vinos monovarietales de Guigal, pero que también alberga a docenas de excelentes productores aún menos conocidos. Las escarpadas laderas que dan al río tienen que aterrazarse para hacer posible la producción.

St Joseph y Cornas también proporcionan vinos de peso y valor, pero la mejor fuente de buena relación calidad-precio es Crozes-Hermitage, una denominación satélite que ha cobrado vida en los últimos años con la llegada de sangre joven.

El valle del río se ensancha al sur de Valence en la región de Côtes du Rhône, en las ventosas llanuras aluviales y en las laderas más bajas de las colinas. Es una vista imponente durante los fríos y despejados cielos azules del Mistral. Los mejores pueblos vinícolas de Côtes du Rhône han sido promocionados a sus propias denominaciones (Vinsobres, Vacqueyras), cercanas en calidad a las más conocidas Gigondas.

El rey del Ródano meridional es Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Aquí, los galets roulés, rocas redondeadas del antiguo lecho del río, proporcionan el contexto para unos vinos tintos gloriosamente ricos que desprenden el aroma del calor y las hierbas del sur, y que se ven realzados por la complejidad que aporta la mezcla de varias variedades de uva. Se permiten trece en total, pero la garnacha suele dominar, junto con la syrah y la mourvèdre como apoyo. Una buena añada necesita de ocho a diez años de guarda para obtener los mejores resultados.

Si su gusto se inclina por vinos blancos con más cuerpo, más ricos y relativamente exóticos, quizá le convenga más un Hermitage blanco o un Châteauneuf-du-Pape del valle del Ródano, o bien un Condrieu, sede de la uva Viognier, maravillosamente perfumado y embriagador.

Côtes du Rhône is a wine region located in the southern part of France, along the Rhône River. The region is known for producing some of the finest wines in the world, with a history that dates back to the Roman times. The region is divided into two parts, the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône, each with its own unique style of wine.

The Northern Rhône is known for producing some of the finest red wines in the world, with Syrah being the dominant grape variety. The wines from this region are known for their complexity, elegance, and ageability. The most famous appellations in the Northern Rhône include Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Cornas.

The Southern Rhône, on the other hand, is known for producing a wide range of wines, including red, white, and rosé. The most famous appellation in the Southern Rhône is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which produces rich and full-bodied red wines that are often blended with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Other appellations in the Southern Rhône include Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Tavel.

The wines from Côtes du Rhône are produced using traditional winemaking techniques, with a focus on quality and terroir. The region has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters, which allows the grapes to ripen fully and develop complex flavors. The soils in the region are diverse, with a mix of clay, limestone, and sandstone, which adds to the complexity of the wines.

Overall, Côtes du Rhône is a region that produces some of the finest wines in the world, with a rich history and a focus on quality and terroir. Whether you are looking for a complex and elegant red wine from the Northern Rhône or a rich and full-bodied red wine from the Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône has something to offer for every wine lover.