The Chevron Villette Winemakers are anchored in their land by the history of two families. The vineyard is today managed by Guillaume de Chevron Villette, expert winemaker, whose success and development is thanks to a passionate knowledge of his land, vines and wine.
Our challenge is to put into place a maximum of means and technology aimed at environmental protection all along the production chain, from planting the vines right up to the consumer. As a result, each stage – planting, picking, producing, bottling, transporting and logistics – has been carefully thought out and optimised to protect that which houses and employs us: the environment. Today, the Chevron Villette vineyards cover 500 hectares and make up one of the largest wine making properties in Provence. Thanks to a clear choice of investment in new technologies, the exploitation has also become one of the most modern and well-equipped in France.
”Since taking over in 1983 I have been aware of the environmental questions and decided to take a stand as a forerunner in tackling these issues, particularly as 110 hectares of our vines are in the heart of the national natural reserve of the Plaine des Maures. With hindsight, I am sure that this environmental work ethic has improved the quality of my wines in addition to boosting the image of my produce and my company.
Guillaumede Chevron Villette
In the Vines
Organic agricultural techniques have been used on 100% of our vines for over 30 years. The Terra Vitis certificate which we obtained in 2011 means that today we can certify that our vines are cultivated respecting the principles of sustainable farming. On top of that, we have 180 hectares of certified organic agriculture.
We have eliminated herbicides and chemical fertilizers and 30 years ago we installed recuperation panels to lower the doses of pest control products.
Organic fertilizers or compost, suitable for organic farming are used on 100% of our vines.
At least, 20 hectares are cultivated in biodynamie since a few months and next vintage will be certified by Demeter (in 2016).
An ultra-modern wine cellar:
- 3 harvest reception docks equipped with heat exchangers. 100% of the harvest is cold treated.
- 3 optical sorting tables. 100% of the grape harvest is sorted to eliminate any remaining damaged grapes as well as other plant debris (leafstalks, bits of leaves….).
- Thermo regulated stainless steel vats of 40 000 hectoliters which allow vinification of each plot (3 hectares) separately.
- 7 nitrogen presses to avoid oxidation, an indispensable precaution to conserve the quality of the wines.
- A totally automatic system directed from a control room.
- This modernity, coupled with the constant quest for hygiene in the vinification and bottling processes, means that the quantities of sulphites used in the wines have been halved, while conserving all the quality of the wine.
In the wine cellar
Cross flow filtration means that there have been no additives in our wines since 1994 nor in the lees since 2010.
Cascading water stations, which are used in treating viticultural waste, avoid polluting the water tables and waterways.
For transport
For transport
Sustainable logistical choices such as grouped dispatching reduce carbon dioxide production. In the offices : Photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roof of some of the buildings (about 6000m2), thus generating more than the total electricity consumption of the company.