HVE Commitment and Biodiversity: How We Protect Our Terroir in Gigondas

Biodiversity and Sustainable Farming: Our Commitment at Domaine les Teyssonnières

Since 1838, our family estate has watched over a precious treasure at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Passed down from generation to generation through six lineages of winemakers, the land of Domaine les Teyssonnières is far more than a workplace—it is a living ecosystem. To honor this heritage and leave a healthy vineyard for future generations, we place biodiversity and environmental respect at the heart of our daily practices. This philosophy is fully realized through our HVE (High Environmental Value) certification

HVE Certification: Recognition of Sustainable Pest Management

At the estate, ecology is not a passing trend—it is a core principle. From the vine to the bottle, we practice sustainable pest management. This method involves meticulously observing our vineyard plots to intervene only when strictly necessary, always prioritizing natural solutions.

Our High Environmental Value (HVE) certification officially validates our efforts based on four fundamental pillars:

  • Preserving biodiversity: Maintaining habitats for fauna and flora within and around our vineyards.

  • Phytosanitary strategy: Minimizing the use of chemical inputs as much as possible to preserve soil health and protect consumers.

  • Fertilization management: Using natural organic inputs to gently nourish the soil.

  • Water resource management: Responsible and measured water usage at every stage.

Safre: Our Living and Protective Sandy Soil

The name of our estate draws its roots from the very nature of our land. In Provençal, the term 'taissoun' refers to badgers—wild animals that love to dig their burrows into the 'safre,' a remarkably fine sand that is emblematic of our property. This exceptional sandy soil does not just bring finesse to our wines; it is also our environment's greatest ally:

  • A natural barrier against diseases: Thanks to its high permeability, the sand drains water quickly (soil drying) after rainfall. This limits stagnant moisture and naturally reduces pressure from diseases like downy mildew. Less humidity means fewer treatments are needed!

  • The secret of our century-old vines: It is thanks to this unique sand that the estate is home to a viticultural rarity: pre-phylloxera old vines that are nearly 140 years old. The sand naturally prevents the pest from spreading by suffocating its larvae. Preserving this soil means preserving the living history of Gigondas.

13 Grape Varieties for Ecological and Aromatic Richness

At Les Teyssonnières, biodiversity is also reflected in our grape varieties. Our 13.5-hectare vineyard is far from a monotonous monoculture. We cultivate 13 different grape varieties—an immense wealth that strengthens our vineyard's natural resilience to climate change. While Grenache Noir remains the king of our bottles, its cohabitation with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, or Clairette creates a perfect balance, both in nature and in our single-plot cuvées, such as the famous Cuvée Alexandre

Preserving Traditional Practices

Because machines will never replace the respect of the human hand, we preserve ancestral know-how that respects the plant's natural rhythm:

  • Gobelet pruning: A traditional, low-to-the-ground pruning method that protects the grape clusters from the harsh sun and the Mistral wind.

  • Manual harvesting: Each cluster is hand-picked and sorted directly in the vineyard, preventing damage to the vines and ensuring absolute quality without the carbon footprint of heavy machinery

Choosing a bottle from Domaine les Teyssonnières means treating yourself to the pure expression of a terroir preserved with passion. Come and discover our environmental approach during our wine tourism workshops at our estate cellar

En poursuivant votre navigation sur notre site vous acceptez l'utilisation des cookies
ou technologies similaires pour disposer des services adaptés ainsi que pour la sécurisation des transactions.
En savoir plus.