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!

In de Rhônevallei wordt al meer dan 500 jaar wijn gemaakt en sommige wijngaarden behoren tot de oudste van Frankrijk. Syrah heerst in het zuiden met een mix van mediterrane druiven, terwijl in het noorden de twee sterren Hermitage zijn - verbouwd op een imposante granieten heuvel boven de stad Tain en het beste weggestopt in de kelder voor een decennium - en Côte-Rôtie, een ster appellation beroemd gemaakt door Guigal's single-vineyard wijnen, maar ook de thuisbasis van tientallen fijne producenten die nog minder bekend zijn. De steile hellingen die uitkijken over de rivier moeten terrassen worden aangelegd om de productie mogelijk te maken.

St Joseph en Cornas leveren ook wijnen van gewicht en waarde, maar de beste bron voor een goede prijs is Crozes-Hermitage, een satelliet appellatie die de laatste jaren tot leven is gekomen met de komst van jong bloed.

De riviervallei breidt zich ten zuiden van Valence uit naar het Côtes du Rhône-land op de winderige alluviale vlakten en de lagere hellingen van de heuvels. Het is een indrukwekkend gezicht tijdens de koude, heldere, blauwe luchten van Mistral. De beste wijndorpen van de Côtes du Rhône zijn gepromoveerd tot hun eigen appellations - Vinsobres, Vacqueyras - die qua kwaliteit dicht in de buurt komen van de bekendere Gigondas.

De koning van de zuidelijke Rhône is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Hier vormen de galets roulés, afgeronde rotsen uit de oude rivierbedding, de context voor heerlijk rijke rode wijnen die de warmte en kruiden van het zuiden uitstralen en die worden versterkt door de complexiteit die ontstaat door het mengen van verschillende druivenrassen. In totaal zijn er dertien toegestaan, maar Grenache domineert meestal, samen met Syrah en Mourvèdre als ondersteuning. Een goed wijnjaar heeft acht tot tien jaar kelder nodig voor de beste resultaten.

Als je voorkeur uitgaat naar vollere, rijkere, relatief exotische witte wijnen, dan past een witte Hermitage of Châteauneuf-du-Pape uit de Rhônevallei misschien beter, of anders een heerlijk geparfumeerde, bedwelmende Condrieu - het hoofdkwartier van de Viognier-druif.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a wine appellation located in the southern Rhone Valley of France. The history of this region dates back to the 14th century when Pope Clement V moved the papal court from Rome to Avignon. The papacy had a significant influence on the wine production in the region, and it was during this time that the vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape were established.

The style of production in Chateauneuf-du-Pape is unique and is characterized by the use of a variety of grape varieties. The appellation allows for up to 18 different grape varieties to be used in the production of its wines. The most commonly used grape varieties are Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. The wines produced in Chateauneuf-du-Pape are known for their complexity, depth, and richness.

The vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are located on a plateau that is covered with large stones, which help to retain heat and reflect it back onto the vines. This unique terroir, combined with the Mediterranean climate, creates ideal growing conditions for the grapes. The vines are grown using traditional methods, and the grapes are hand-harvested to ensure the highest quality.

The wines produced in Chateauneuf-du-Pape are typically full-bodied and rich, with a deep ruby colour. They are known for their complex aromas of dark fruit, spices, and herbs. The tannins in these wines are firm but well-integrated, providing structure and balance. The wines are aged in oak barrels, which adds a subtle vanilla and spice flavour to the wine.

The most common wine produced in Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the red wine, which accounts for around 95% of the production. The white wine produced in the region is made from a blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Clairette grapes. The white wines are typically full-bodied and rich, with flavours of honey, apricot, and citrus.

In conclusion, Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a unique wine appellation that produces some of the most complex and rich wines in the world. The combination of the unique terroir, traditional methods of production, and the use of a variety of grape varieties creates wines that are truly exceptional. If you are looking for a wine that is full-bodied, rich, and complex, then Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the perfect choice.