Bio & Biodynamics

Biodynamic viticulture is a work of the land and the vines respectful of the rhythm of the seasons and of natural influences, in order to guarantee the health of the soil, people and animals. We have been certified organic since 2013, and we have had Demeter (biodynamic) certification since 2017. On a daily basis, we do not cease small gestures to preserve our places of life and our environment: short circuit, local supply, organic products, etc.

Soils, terroir and biodiversity

The floor of the Vieille Chapelle, located on the alluvial banks of the Dordogne, is mainly made up of: 

• Fine and deep clays

• Alluvial deposits – Silts  

 Offering an excellent, lumpy and balanced structure in which the high presence of organic matter constitutes a major agronomic advantage. 

The different grape varieties

The estate is divided into 11 different grape varieties. You can find: Merlot, Bouchalès, Castet, Mancin, Cot, Carménère and many others. These grape varieties allow us to produce organic wines, in white, red and rosé.

At Château de la Vieille Chapelle, we are concerned about respecting the environment and the work of men, in order to guarantee the quality of our wine.

From the proximity of the Dordogne ...

Biodiversity is the key to organic wines. The proximity of the Dordogne river brings specific advantages to the way we manage the vineyard, therefore to the quality of the wines: 

• Microclimate due to the river which seems to generate lighter rainfall than the higher lands nearby. We get rich, naturally concentrated and wholesome grape juices.
• A windy environment allows - even on rainy days - a rapid drying of leaves and grapes. This allows for fewer treatments thanks to well-ventilated vines. 
• The high level of sediment in the waters of the Dordogne allows this river to capture the heat and protect the vines during periods of extreme cold. Conversely, the Dordogne brings freshness during the summer. 
• For millennia the Dordogne has deposited its sediments in the soil. Which are rich in organic matter, offering full-bodied and structured wines. 
• The river and its protected environment contribute to a very active biodiversity and life: Essential for our organic vines and wines. 
• Finally, twice a day, the powerful tides (we are 90 km from the sea / 9 meters of tidal range) - produce significant respiratory movements in the soil.

The Vines of the Future

After a genetic analysis of the vines in 2009, we discovered a very old variety from the southwest: Bouchalès. In 2014, we launched an ampelographic study on 400 vines, and we found 11 grape varieties. Since 2016, we have been working on the “Vignes du Futur” project, the objective of which is to replant old grape varieties, in order to find these forgotten aromas.

Cellar and Vinification

Built on the old cemetery of the chapel, the cellar of the Château de la Vieille Chapelle is equipped with raw cement vats (allowing our wines to age slowly and naturally), stainless steel or fiber vats (for the whites and roses). But the work of the cellar is essentially done in the vineyard... . 

The wines are vinified without input: indigenous yeasts, no trituration, unfiltered, but sometimes fined (for whites only). Some cuvées, depending on the grape variety and the vintage, see a very marginal addition of sulfur (between 25 and 35 mg/L of total SO2 and between 40 and 60 for the whites), other cuvées are "plain", with no added sulphur.  ;

When you finally say that grapes don't need anything to become wine....

A barrel and storage cellar adjoins the winemaking cellar.

All vinification, bottling, labeling and storage operations are carried out at the Vieille Chapelle.