The Negrel Family is one of the oldest family of winemakers in Provence, running the Mas de Cadenet Estate since 1813. Officially the vineyard is 200 years old but the family knows the domain is older since they found fragments of amphorae dating back to roman times on the property.
The vines are at an average age of 35 years old with the oldest being 70.
Organic viticulture is employed. Chick peas are fed into the soil to provide nitrogen in order to strengthen the leaves and the woody parts of the vines. Sheep manure is also used to provide potash.
This prestigious Estate belongs to the C�tes de Provence Sainte Victoire Designated Area. This mountain was created by an earthquake during the Jurassic period and deposited most of the stony soil in the appellation today. The soil created good drainage and air for the vine roots.
Grapes are harvested early in the morning to avoid morning dew on the grapes which would dilute flavour and also, with the grapes coming in cold, less colour will be extracted during the maceration phase (remember the French love their ros�s with as little colour as possible).The estate uses the saign�e method on the Grenache and Cinsault but direct pressing on the Syrah.
In the spring of 2011, 7th generation Maud & Matthieu Negrel created a new entity: �Famille Negrel�.
